Have a language expert improve your writing
Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.
- Knowledge Base
- Research paper
- How to Write Topic Sentences | 4 Steps, Examples & Purpose
How to Write Topic Sentences | 4 Steps, Examples & Purpose
Published on July 21, 2022 by Shona McCombes . Revised on November 29, 2022.
Every paragraph in your paper needs a topic sentence . The topic sentence expresses what the paragraph is about. It should include two key things:
- The topic of the paragraph
- The central point of the paragraph.
After the topic sentence, you expand on the point with evidence and examples.
To build a well-structured argument, you can also use your topic sentences to transition smoothly between paragraphs and show the connections between your points.
Table of contents
Writing strong topic sentences, topic sentences as transitions between paragraphs, topic sentences that introduce more than one paragraph, where does the topic sentence go, frequently asked questions about topic sentences.
Topic sentences aren’t the first or the last thing you write—you’ll develop them throughout the writing process. To make sure every topic sentence and paragraph serves your argument, follow these steps.
Step 1: Write a thesis statement
The first step to developing your topic sentences is to make sure you have a strong thesis statement . The thesis statement sums up the purpose and argument of the whole paper.
Thesis statement example
Food is an increasingly urgent environmental issue, and to reduce humans’ impact on the planet, it is necessary to change global patterns of food production and consumption.
Step 2: Make an essay outline and draft topic sentences
Next, you should make an outline of your essay’s structure , planning what you want to say in each paragraph and what evidence you’ll use.
At this stage, you can draft a topic sentence that sums up the main point you want to make in each paragraph. The topic sentences should be more specific than the thesis statement, but always clearly related to it.
Topic sentence example
Research has consistently shown that the meat industry has a significant environmental impact .
Step 3: Expand with evidence
The rest of the paragraph should flow logically from the topic sentence, expanding on the point with evidence, examples, or argumentation. This helps keep your paragraphs focused: everything you write should relate to the central idea expressed in the topic sentence.
In our example, you might mention specific research studies and statistics that support your point about the overall impact of the meat industry.
Step 4: Refine your topic sentences
Topic sentences usually start out as simple statements. But it’s important to revise them as you write, making sure they match the content of each paragraph.
A good topic sentence is specific enough to give a clear sense of what to expect from the paragraph, but general enough that it doesn’t give everything away. You can think of it like a signpost: it should tell the reader which direction your argument is going in.
To make your writing stronger and ensure the connections between your paragraphs are clear and logical, you can also use topic sentences to create smooth transitions.
As you write each topic sentence, ask yourself: how does this point relate to what you wrote in the preceding paragraph? It’s often helpful to use transition words in your topic sentences to show the connections between your ideas.
Emphasize and expand
If the paragraph goes into more detail or gives another example to make the same point, the topic sentence can use words that imply emphasis or similarity (for example, furthermore , indeed , in fact , also ).
Indeed , cattle farming alone is responsible for a large proportion of greenhouse gas emissions.
Summarize and anticipate
If the paragraph turns to a different aspect of the same subject, the topic sentence can briefly sum up the previous paragraph and anticipate the new information that will appear in this one.
While beef clearly has the most dramatic footprint, other animal products also have serious impacts in terms of emissions, water and land use.
Compare and contrast
If the paragraph makes a comparison or introduces contrasting information, the topic sentence can use words that highlight difference or conflict (for example, in contrast , however , yet , on the other hand ).
However , the environmental costs of dietary choices are not always clear-cut; in some cases, small-scale livestock farming is more sustainable than plant-based food production.
You can also imply contrast or complicate your argument by formulating the topic sentence as a question.
Is veganism the only solution, or are there more sustainable ways of producing meat and dairy?
Here's why students love Scribbr's proofreading services
Discover proofreading & editing
Sometimes you can use a topic sentence to introduce several paragraphs at once.
All of the examples above address the environmental impact of meat-eating versus veganism. Together, they make up one coherent part of a larger argument, so the first paragraph could use a topic sentence to introduce the whole section.
In countries with high levels of meat consumption, a move towards plant-based diets is the most obvious route to making food more sustainable. Research has consistently shown that the meat industry has significant environmental impacts.
The topic sentence usually goes at the very start of a paragraph, but sometimes it can come later to indicate a change of direction in the paragraph’s argument.
Given this evidence of the meat industry’s impact on the planet, veganism seems like the only environmentally responsible option for consumers. However, the environmental costs of dietary choices are not always clear-cut; in some cases, small-scale livestock farming is more sustainable than plant-based food production.
In this example, the first sentence summarizes the main point that has been made so far. Then the topic sentence indicates that this paragraph will address evidence that complicates or contradicts that point.
In more advanced or creative forms of academic writing , you can play with the placement of topic sentences to build suspense and give your arguments more force. But if in doubt, to keep your research paper clear and focused, the easiest method is to place the topic sentence at the start of the paragraph.
View topic sentences in an example essay
A topic sentence is a sentence that expresses the main point of a paragraph . Everything else in the paragraph should relate to the topic sentence.
Topic sentences help keep your writing focused and guide the reader through your argument.
In an essay or paper , each paragraph should focus on a single idea. By stating the main idea in the topic sentence, you clarify what the paragraph is about for both yourself and your reader.
The topic sentence usually comes at the very start of the paragraph .
However, sometimes you might start with a transition sentence to summarize what was discussed in previous paragraphs, followed by the topic sentence that expresses the focus of the current paragraph.
Let’s say you’re writing a five-paragraph essay about the environmental impacts of dietary choices. Here are three examples of topic sentences you could use for each of the three body paragraphs :
- Research has shown that the meat industry has severe environmental impacts.
- However, many plant-based foods are also produced in environmentally damaging ways.
- It’s important to consider not only what type of diet we eat, but where our food comes from and how it is produced.
Each of these sentences expresses one main idea – by listing them in order, we can see the overall structure of the essay at a glance. Each paragraph will expand on the topic sentence with relevant detail, evidence, and arguments.
Cite this Scribbr article
If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.
McCombes, S. (2022, November 29). How to Write Topic Sentences | 4 Steps, Examples & Purpose. Scribbr. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://www.scribbr.com/research-paper/topic-sentences/
Is this article helpful?
Shona McCombes
Other students also liked, example of a great essay | explanations, tips & tricks, how to write a thesis statement | 4 steps & examples, transition words & phrases | list & examples, what is your plagiarism score.
Site-wide links
- Skip to content
- RIT Home Rochester Institute of Technology
- NTID Home National Technical Institute for the Deaf
- Search Search
- Directories
- Instructions
- Contributors
- Basic Order
- Interruption
- Overgeneralization
- Extent of Deviation
- Identifying
- Action Steps
- Definition of Articles
- Count and Non-Count
- Singular and Plural
- Specific and General
- Known and Unknown
- Selection of Articles
- Expressing Quantity
- Plural Forms
- Specific Versus General
- Known Versus Unknown
- Judging Usage
- Articles in Sentences
- Articles in a Paragraph
- Introduction
- Emotional States
- Comprehension
- Implications
- Simplifying
- Specific Activities
- What is a Verb?
- Verb Formation
- Emotional Response Verbs
- Participles
- Using Concept Sentences
- Verb or Adverb?
- Analyzing Sentences
- Appropriate Participles
- Creating Concept Sentences
- Description
- Types of Wh-Questions
- Other Structures
- Research Findings
- Identifying Gaps
- Judging Difficulty
- What is Reading?
- Before Reading
- During Reading
- After Reading
- Before-Reading Activities
- During-Reading Activities
- After-Reading Activities
- Other Activities
- Vocabulary Building Ideas
- Topic Sentence
- Topic Placement
- Paragraph Body
- Concluding Sentence
- Rhetorical Organization
- Identifying Errors
- Controlling Ideas
- Identifying Topic
- Basic Essay Structure
- Introductory Paragraphs
- Concluding Paragraphs
- Basic Essay Sample
- Guided Practice
- Parts of Speech
- Direction of Reference
- Antecedents
- Summary of the Overview of Reference Words
- Anaphoric, Cataphoric, Exophoric Words
- Reference Words
- Connectives
- Oppositional/ Contrastive
- Reason - Result
- Conditional
- Additive and Oppositional
- Clauses for Time
- Conjunctions to Prepositions
- Conjunctions to Conjunctive Adverbs
- Reasons and Results
- Appropriate Conjunctions
- Appropriate Conjunctive Adverbs
- Appropriate Prepositions
- Appropriate Connectives
- English Clauses
- Properties of Verbs
- From Outside
- In Passive Sentences
- Purpose or Reason
- Knowledge of Infinitives
- Assessing Deaf Students' Knowledge
- Explanation of Results
- Judging Sentence Difficulty
- Sample Test
- Alternative Test
- What are Morphemes?
- Models of Word Knowledge
- Morphographic Approach
- Morphemes Representing Numerals
- Identifying Root Morphographs
- Parts of Speech Practice
- Word Formation in Context
- Word Families
- Productivity
- Introducers
- Knowledge of Sentence Types
- More Difficult Relativized Positions
- Implications and Action Steps
The Topic Sentence
The "topic sentence" is the sentence in which the main idea of the paragraph is stated. It is unquestionably the most important sentence in the paragraph. The topic sentence generally is composed of two parts: (a) the topic itself and (b) the controlling idea.
The topic is the subject of the paragraph. It is what the paragraph is all about. The following are topics suitable for a paragraph:
The SLR camera Vegetarianism Tokyo Pottery A wedding cake
Writing effective topic sentences, however, involves more than merely stating the subject of the paragraph. A good topic sentence is specific and well focused, guiding the entire paragraph. A good topic sentence:
Has new information. It is not a fact that everyone already knows to be true (for example, A dictionary has meanings for words. ). Is specific. If the topic is too general (for example, I like camping. ), the reader will not know what to expect in the paragraph. Is general enough to invite exploration of the topic. If the topic sentence is too specific (for example, Webster's New World Dictionary has more than 40,000 words. ), there will be nothing else to say on the subject. Is strong. Starting a topic sentence with there is/are (as in There are several ways to cook rice. ) is a weak opener. Is stated in positive language. Negative language (for example, You might hate to do it, but you should keep your room clean. ) should not be part of the topic sentence. Is not an announcement. A topic sentence should draw the reader into the paragraph. Announcements (like This paragraph will discuss how to build a bird house. ) hold little attraction for readers.
The Controlling Idea
Even if all of the above conditions for a topic sentence are met, an effective topic sentence needs one additional element, the "controlling idea." The controlling idea is the point of the paragraph. It guides the ideas that provide support for the paragraph and limits the scope of the paragraph. Here is an example of a topic sentence with a controlling idea that guides the support for the paragraph:
Running provides many healthful benefits.
The topic of this topic sentence is running . The controlling idea is healthful benefits . That is, the reader knows from this sentence that the paragraph is generally about running. And the reader also knows that the point of the paragraph will be to enumerate the healthful benefits of running. Limiting the scope of the paragraph through the controlling idea may happen in one of two ways.
1. The controlling idea may reveal the writer's opinion, point of view, or attitude toward the subject of the paragraph, which automatically will set parameters for discussion of the topic. OR…
2. The controlling idea itself may provide specific limitation. In either case, this limited scope, then, serves to unify the paragraph, since any discussion must be within the parameters of the controlling idea.
Here is an example of a topic sentence with a controlling idea that states the writer's opinion-the first way to limit the scope of the paragraph:
The basics of using an SLR camera can be mastered with considerable practice.
The topic of this sentence is an SLR camera . The controlling idea is mastered with considerable practice . From this single sentence the reader knows that the topic of the paragraph is the SLR camera and that the paragraph will discuss mastering the basics of using this camera. Additionally, the reader knows that such mastery comes with practice, the writer's opinion or perspective.
Here is an example of a topic sentence with a controlling idea that specifically sets limitations for the scope of the paragraph.
When writing a laboratory report, you must complete four sections.
The topic of this sentence is a laboratory report . In this sentence, the controlling idea specifically states the limitation- four sections . Thus, the reader can predict that the writer will list and describe the four sections in order.
Topic Sentence and Paragraph Organization
Paragraph organization refers to the way sentences are structured and ordered to create a unified and cohesive body of text.
The principal features to consider in paragraph organization are the topic sentence and controlling idea, supporting details, organizational patterns, and signal words. Together, these features develop a topic and connect ideas from one point to the next, logically and fluidly. This resource explains these features and provides numerous examples of paragraph organization.
The Topic Sentence and Controlling Idea
Similar to a thesis statement, which establishes the central focus or point of a whole piece of writing, a topic sentence works at the paragraph level to express the focus and general point of an individual paragraph. A topic sentence has two parts: 1) the topic that is being discussed throughout the paragraph and 2) a controlling idea that limits the focus on the topic to one point or idea. Each additional sentence in the paragraph then develops or expounds on that point with supporting details. The example topic sentence below is from a body paragraph in an informative essay.
Example Topic Sentence and Controlling Idea
The economy also plays a role in an increase in prescription pain reliever addiction.
The example topic sentence suggests the paragraph topic is “the economy,” and the controlling idea about the economy is how it “plays a role in an increase” in opioid addition. The signal word “also” connects this topic as an additional example or contributing factor to the opioid epidemic, the focus of the paper. The example below shows the topic sentence in the context of the complete paragraph.
The economy also plays a role in an increase in prescription pain reliever addiction. According to Jungeun Olivia Lee, a social work professor at University of Southern California, “The relationship between joblessness and substance abuse is strongest among people from low socioeconomic brackets, who might not be able to afford healthier ways to relieve their stress” (2017, as cited in Khazan, 2017, para. 8). Additionally, every point the unemployment rate rises, opioid-related death rates rise by almost 4 percent (Khazan, 2017). Unemployment makes it not only difficult for those suffering from pain to afford medication or healthy alternatives, but it can also contribute to depression and varying degrees of self-medication and addiction.
Supporting Details
In a paragraph, the topic and controlling idea are developed with supporting details. Listed here are some types of supporting details found in paragraphs along with an example of each in a sentence.
Facts: statistics or evidence from research that can be verified
- The office sold seven million dollars of real estate during the boom years.
Opinions: statements, quotes, or paraphrases from subject matter experts
- According to expert tea maker, Millie Stoff, there are three easy steps to making tea.
Definitions: explanations of what a term or concept means
- A crossover is a family vehicle with the features of a sedan, a mini-van, and an SUV.
Examples: parts, pieces, instances, traits, or specimens that illustrate the essence or character of a greater whole.
- Mario is a shy, introverted young man. For example, he has few friends and mostly keeps to himself.
Anecdotes: narrative accounts of one time or recurring events
- When I visited the Washington Monument, I enjoyed the 180-degree view the most.
Descriptions: a visual or sensory depiction of a person, place, event, activity, or idea
- Frostbit leaves crunched beneath our winter boots on the path through the snow-frosted trees.
Example Paragraph and Analysis of the Supporting Details
Hiking can be exhilarating during snowy winter months. When my friend and I visited North Carolina last January, we hiked in the Blue Ridge Mountains near the highest peak, Mount Mitchell, which is6,684 feet above sea level. We first crossed a foot bridge over a rapidly moving, ice-cold river and then followed a wooded trail up to a waterfall. Frostbit leaves crunched beneath our winter boots on the path through the snow-frosted trees. We saw deer and rabbits as we trekked up the path. I assure you that nothing feels better than inhaling crisp mountain air, but the neatest part of hiking in winter, besides the beauty of the mountain, is exhaling and seeing my breath turn to frost when it hits the cold air!
The topic sentence in the example paragraph indicates that the paragraph is on “hiking,” and the focus is that hiking is “exhilarating” during winter. The sentences in the paragraph support and develop this idea with an anecdote of the writer’s experience hiking up a mountain during winter. An anecdote is a narrative account that helps a reader understand an event or situation. Had the writer said hiking was “dangerous” instead of “exhilarating,” the anecdote in addition to the visual and sensory details, facts, and opinions about the experience would have been different. Additionally, while the sample paragraph is a personal account, writers in many professions use anecdotal evidence to report events from an objective point-of-view, where the writer is not a participant but rather a witness or observer.
Paragraph Organization
Along with having topic sentences and supporting details, paragraphs are also organized to achieve a certain purpose. However, just as a paragraph can contain different types of supporting details, a paragraph may also include more than one organizational pattern. Listed here are some common patterns for organizing a paragraph:
- Cause and Effect for showing how one thing leads to another
- Chronological Order for narrating events that occurred over time
- Classification for grouping things together according to their features
- Comparison and Contrast for showing how things are similar or different
- Definition and Example for defining a term or idea and then expanding it with examples
- Description for listing details
- Episode for presenting details or information about a specific event or anecdote
- General/Specific Order for presenting a general idea followed by specific examples
- Generalization/Principle for making a general statement or applying a broad principle to explain the supporting details
- Listing for presenting ideas from least to most important
- Order of Importance for building up to or leading away from the most important point.
- Problem and Solution for presenting an issue and a way to address it
- Process/Cause for explaining what or how something happens and then why
- Spatial Order for ordering details directionally
Signal Words
Signal words are signposts or clues to a paragraph’s organization. If the word “type” is used in a sentence, for example, it signals that the ideas involve types or classification, which is an organizational pattern. Signal words are context clues that hint at what the paragraph is about and how it is organized.
Listed here are signal words associated with different types of paragraph organization.
- Cause and Effect : because, consequently, for this reason, hence, and on account of
- Chronological Order : after, at last, at (time), as long as, at the same time, as soon as, before, during, eventually, finally, in (month or year), later, meanwhile, next, on (day or date), since, second, subsequently, then, until, and whenever
- Classification : categories, classes, classifications, elements, features, groups, kinds, methods, types, varieties, and ways
- Comparison and Contrast : another, both, however, likewise, one difference, on the other hand, on the contrary, similarity, similarly, unlike, and while
- Definition and Example : concept, defined as, described as, e.g., for example, for instance, i.e., illustrates, is, is called, is stated, known as, means, refers to, specifically, such as, term, and that is to say
- Description : above, across, along, appears to be, as in, behind, below, beside, between, down, in back of, in front of, looks like, near, onto, on top of, outside, over, such as, to the right/left, and under
- Episode : a few days/weeks later, around the same time, as a result of, as it is often called, because of, began when, consequently, for this reason, just, lasted for, led to, shortly thereafter, since then, subsequently, this led to, and when
- General/Specific Order : for example, for instance, indeed, in fact, in other words, like, namely, such as, and that is
- Generalization/Principle : additionally, always, because of, clearly, conclusively, first, for instance, for example, furthermore, generally, however, if…then, in fact, it could be argued that, moreover, most convincing, never, not only…but also, often, second, therefore, third, truly, and typically
- Listing : additionally, also, and, as well as, besides, furthermore, in addition, in fact, moreover, or, plus, and too
- Order of Importance : central, chief, ending with, finishing with, key, lastly, least, main, major, finally, primary, principal, and significant
- Problem and Solution : answer, challenge, difficulty, dilemma, enigma, indicate, improve, issue, need, plan, problem, propose, resolve, respond, solve, and suggest
- Process/Cause : accordingly, as a result of, because, begins with, consequently, effects of, finally, first, for this reason, how to, how, if…then, in order to, is caused by, leads/led to, may be due to, next, so that, steps involved, therefore, thus, and when…then
- Spatial Order : above, below, behind, beside, down, east, feels, highest, looks, lowest, next to, north, smells, sounds, south, tastes, under, and west
Sample Paragraphs and Analyses of the Organization
The sample paragraphs in this section illustrate topic sentences, supporting details, organizational patterns, and signal words in context. Read each paragraph to identify the type of paragraph organization on your own, and then proceed to the analysis to check your comprehension.
Sample Paragraph 1
- In 1995, Lawrence started his real estate business, and it has since become a huge success. When Lawrence Real Estate opened its door in Oviedo, Florida, it sold seven million dollars of real estate during the first few boom years. By 2000, Lawrence decided to open two branch offices: one in Tampa in 2003 and one in Miami in 2004. By 2007, the home office and both the branch offices had survived the economic slowdown, so Lawrence and his associates expanded their business to the Carolinas and opened a branch office in Charlotte in 2020. It can be safely said that Lawrence Real Estate has become a model for success despite economic struggles and real estate devaluation.
Analysis of Paragraph 1: According to the topic sentence, which contains two coordinating clauses and therefore two subjects and two topics, this paragraph is about Lawrence and his real estate business, and the controlling idea is that they have been successful.
To understand how the supporting details are organized to present information about this topic and idea, the reader can consider the supporting details. To do this, they look at the way the sentences begin and at any signal phrases that lead readers along a certain line of thinking. Here are some key signal words: “in 1995,” “By 2000,” “By 2007,” and “in 2020.” These dates make a pattern. They go back to 1995 and then in a chronological order, they move forward to when the success of the business happened.
This paragraph uses chronological order . The reader will notice too that the last sentence returns to the beginning idea of 15 years ago. In this sentence, a final comment about the time period overall is given with respect to the new information
Sample Paragraph 2
- Making a great cup of tea is easy if you follow these three steps. First, heat a cup of water to the boiling point. Then put the tea bag in the hot water, and let it steep for at least three minutes. Finally, add creamer and sugar to taste. There is nothing tastier than a strong cup of tea early in the morning.
According to the topic sentence, which is the first sentence of the paragraph, making a cup of tea is the topic, and the controlling idea is that it’s easy to do if you follow three steps. Signal words open the following sentences: “first,” “then,” and “finally.” These indicate a sequence of steps, not times or dates as in a narrative story, but steps that happen in a specific order as in the process of doing something or informing others how to do something.
This paragraph uses process order (or process/cause). In the last sentence of this paragraph, the process is completed with a return to the original topic—a cup of tea—and a new comment about it—that a strong cup is tasty in the morning, making those three steps not only easy but also worthwhile.
Sample Paragraph 3
- The Washington Monument is divided into three main areas. The lowest section of the building houses the entrance, a gift shop, and a restaurant. The middle section consists of elevators and stairways to the top. The top section of the monument includes an observation deck with a spectacular view of the Washington D.C. area. When I visited the Washington Monument, I toured every section but enjoyed the spectacular 180-degree view the most.
Based on the topic sentence at the beginning of the paragraph, the topic is the Washington Monument, and the controlling idea is that it is divided into three main areas. The paragraph presents information about the lowest section first, the middle section second, and the top section third. The last sentence makes a remark about the most enjoyable of all the sections. This is an example of spatial organization . The information is given in the order you might see it if you were there.
Sample Paragraph 4
- There are three types of family vehicles made in the United States. The first type is the minivan. All American car manufacturers make a version of the minivan. Some say that the comfort and amenities of the minivan compare to none. The second type of family vehicle is the SUV. Some SUVs offer four-wheel-drive to navigate tough terrains, and they also offer seating for a large crowd. A third type of family vehicles is called the crossover. These vehicles supposedly have the best features of the sedan, minivan, and SUV. They are easy to maneuver, look much like a regular sedan, and sit up to six people. All of these vehicles are family friendly; they offer safety, roomy comfort, and many extra features to accommodate the special needs of families.
This paragraph shows another way to organize the details of a topic. The topic sentence of this paragraph is structured differently than the previous ones. Typically, the topic of a sentence is also the grammatical subject, but the subject in this sentence is “there,” a pronoun, and the topic that tells what the paragraph is about, “family vehicles,” is in the predicate of the sentence. The controlling idea is that there are three types made in the U.S.
The paragraph is organized according to those three types: the first type, the second type, and the third type. To conclude, there is a comment about “all of these vehicles” or all of these types of vehicles. When information is organized by types or features, the information is classified. This type of organization is classification .
Sample Paragraph 5
- Although the twin brothers share many physical characteristics, they handle themselves differently in social situations. Mario is a shy introverted young man. He has few friends and mostly keeps to himself. On the other hand, Gino is outgoing and the life of the party. Unlike Mario, Gino has many friends and feels totally at ease among big crowds. The best way to tell these identical twins apart is to invite both to a party and observe how differently they interact with the other guests.
When the topic sentence is complex (having more than one clause) as in this paragraph, there may be two subjects and therefore two topics; however, here, the subject of the first clause is “the twin brothers” and the subject for the second clause is “they,” so both subjects refer to the same topic—the twin brothers. The controlling idea is that the twin brothers share many physical characteristics but handle themselves differently socially.
The paragraph then progresses with descriptions of these similarities and differences. Contrast is created by signal phrases and words such as “although, “on the other hand,” and “unlike.” Words such as “apart” and “differently” also indicate that the organizational pattern of this paragraph is comparison and contrast .
Sample Paragraph 6
- There are many reasons why I enjoy walking tours when visiting new cities. For starters, walking through a city allows the visitor to see the details of an area without having to hurry. This often results in meeting locals and experiencing their lives and traditions first hand. Furthermore, walking tours are flexible and inexpensive because there are no strict schedules or transportation expenses. Travelers taking walking tours are rewarded with firsthand experiences in the places they visit and the opportunity to personally interact with the people who live there.
Because the first sentence begins with “there are,” the reader must move beyond the subject and verb to find the topic. Additionally, this is a complex sentence with an independent and dependent clause connected by “why,” so there may be two topics. Looking at the objects of both clauses, the reader finds “many reasons” and “walking tours.” These two topics are linked together by the controlling idea: the writer enjoys walking tours while visiting new cities for many different reasons.
The signal words build on this idea of “why” with terms such as “results” and “because.” The last sentence then sums up the ultimate effect of walking tours: Travelers are rewarded. This is an example of cause and effect organization.
Sample Paragraph 7
- Hiking can be especially exhilarating during snowy winter months. When my friend and I visited North Carolina last January, we hiked in the Blue Ridge Mountains near the highest peak, Mount Mitchell, which is 6,684 feet above sea level. We first crossed a footbridge over a rapidly moving, ice-cold river and then followed a wooded trail up to a waterfall. Frostbit leaves crunched beneath our winter boots on the path through the snow-frosted trees. We saw deer and rabbits as we trekked up the path. I assure you that nothing feels better than inhaling crisp mountain air, but the neatest part of hiking in winter, besides the beauty of the mountain, is exhaling and seeing my breath turn to frost when it hits the cold air!
In the first sentence, the topic of the paragraph is “hiking,” and the comment or main idea is that it “can be especially exhilarating during snowy winter months.” Based on this, the reader can expect supporting details to illustrate this exhilaration, but they do not know how it is organized until they look at the signal words that help progress the topic from one idea to the next.
Taking inventory of the signal words, the reader will find several time markers: “When” and “last January” set the narrative in the past while “first” and “then” develop a chronological order of events. The final summarizing sentence about hiking “in winter” reminds the reader of the season.
Within this chronology , signal words are associated with spatial organization: “over,” “up,” “beneath,” “through,” “crunched” (sounded), “saw,” “feels,” and “seeing.” Narratives typically include descriptive elements about the setting. Additionally, the concluding thought contrasts “inhaling” to “exhaling.” The reader can thus conclude that this paragraph has multiple patterns of organization that are intricately connected.
Share this:
- Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
- Click to print (Opens in new window)
Follow Blog via Email
Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive email notifications of new posts.
Email Address
- RSS - Posts
- RSS - Comments
- COLLEGE WRITING
- USING SOURCES & APA STYLE
- EFFECTIVE WRITING PODCASTS
- LEARNING FOR SUCCESS
- PLAGIARISM INFORMATION
- FACULTY RESOURCES
- Student Webinar Calendar
- Academic Success Center
- Writing Center
- About the ASC Tutors
- DIVERSITY TRAINING
- PG Peer Tutors
- PG Student Access
Subscribe to Blog via Email
Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.
- College Writing
- Using Sources & APA Style
- Learning for Success
- Effective Writing Podcasts
- Plagiarism Information
- Faculty Resources
- Tutor Training
Twitter feed
- Celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day purdueglobalwriting.center/2023/02/17/cel… 3 weeks ago
- How to be SMART About Goal-setting purdueglobalwriting.center/2023/01/20/how… 1 month ago
- Happy 2023! purdueglobalwriting.center/2023/01/06/hap… 2 months ago
- Happy Holidays! purdueglobalwriting.center/2022/12/23/hap… 2 months ago
- Words with Friends Cheat
- Wordle Solver
- Word Unscrambler
- Scrabble Dictionary
- Anagram Solver
- Wordscapes Answers
Make Our Dictionary Yours
Sign up for our weekly newsletters and get:
- Grammar and writing tips
- Fun language articles
- #WordOfTheDay and quizzes
By signing in, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy .
We'll see you in your inbox soon.
Examples of Topic Sentences That Make the Purpose Clear
- DESCRIPTION Cat icon with Topic Sentence Example
- SOURCE Cat: VikiVector / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Background: Tolchik / iStock / Getty Images Plus
- PERMISSION Used under Getty Images license
What is a topic sentence? A topic sentence is the most important sentence in a paragraph. Sometimes referred to as a focus sentence, the topic sentence helps organize the paragraph by summarizing the information in the paragraph. In formal writing, the topic sentence is usually the first sentence in a paragraph (although it doesn't have to be). Keep reading for the two main parts of a topic sentence as well as topic sentence examples in different subjects.
Topic Sentences and Controlling Ideas
Topic sentences introduce a paragraph and connect to an essay's thesis statement , which is the topic sentence of your entire essay . Every topic sentence has two parts: a topic (what the paragraph is about) and a controlling idea (the direction the paragraph will take). Take a look at these topic sentence examples in which the topic is bold and the controlling idea is in italics.
- Cats are very good pets for several reasons .
- Our school's dress code policy has many negative consequences for girls .
- The world population is strongly impacted by a lack of access to water .
The topic tells your audience what the paragraph will be about and connects to the thesis. The controlling idea tells them how you will explain it in this particular paragraph.
Topic Sentence Examples
Now that you know the main parts of a topic sentence, take a look at how they look in different subjects. Note that each example includes both a topic and a controlling idea.
- Topic Sentence : There are many reasons why pollution in ABC Town is the worst in the world.
- The topic is "pollution in ABC Town is the worst in the world" and the controlling idea is "many reasons."
- Topic Sentence : To be an effective CEO requires certain characteristics.
- The topic is "To be an effective CEO" and the controlling idea is "certain characteristics."
- Topic Sentence : There are many possible contributing factors to global warming.
- The topic is "global warming" and the controlling idea is "contributing factors."
- Topic Sentence : Fortune hunters encounter many difficulties when exploring a shipwreck.
- The topic is "exploring a shipwreck" and the controlling idea is "many difficulties."
- Topic Sentence : Dogs make wonderful pets because they help you to live longer.
- The topic is "dogs make wonderful pets" and the controlling idea is "because they help you to live longer."
- Topic Sentence : Crime in poverty-stricken areas occurs as a result of systemic discrimination.
- The topic is "crime in poverty-stricken areas" and the controlling idea is "systemic discrimination."
Examples of Topic Sentences as Transitions
Skillful writers use topic sentences to both introduce their paragraph and to transition from the previous paragraph . Topic sentences as transitions help the essay feel smoother and more cohesive to the reader.
Examples of topic sentences as transitions include:
- Another way to reduce teen pregnancy rates is improved education.
- In addition to needing the correct tools, cooking requires a number of different skills.
- While purchasing real estate can be a good investment, it is important to be ready before buying a house.
- Likewise, graduating from high school is important for many different reasons.
- Even though having a baby can be a joyful event, having a first child is difficult because of the significant adjustments in your life.
- Because there are so many options out there, remodeling a kitchen requires research and a good eye.
Supporting Your Topic Sentence
Coming up with a strong topic sentence is one thing, but how do you support it? Using your topic sentence as a frame, you can then fill in the reasons or evidence you have outlined in your controlling idea. For example, a paragraph that supports a topic sentence might look like this:
Cats are very good pets for several reasons . They are naturally good caregivers because they take care of their kittens, so they want to take care of their owners as well. Cats are quite clean, and if you train them to use a litter box, they require almost no cleanup in their areas. Finally, cats are independent, so you don't need to worry about them being lonely when you're at school all day. They really are the ideal pet for almost any owner.
Notice how the writer provided three reasons to back up the phrase "several reasons" in the controlling idea. All three reasons related to the topic "cats are very good pets." Also, the last sentence in the paragraph connects directly back to the topic sentence (though you can also make this sentence a transition sentence into your next paragraph).
Staying on Topic
Remember that topic sentences set the tone for the paragraph and should relate back to the thesis or the main idea of the paper. A carefully thought-out topic sentence helps you, the author, to stay focused. It also gives readers the tools they need to clearly understand what you have to say. If you're ready to get started on your next writing assignment, learn how to create a five-paragraph essay outline that is sure to keep your writing organized.
- Literary Terms
Topic Sentence
I. what is a topic sentence.
A topic sentence in a paragraph is like the GPS in a car. It shows you (and others) where you are going and explains the point of the paragraph. Everything else is used as supporting details. The topic sentence contains two parts: the topic and a controlling idea. The topic is WHAT the paragraph is going to be about, and the controlling idea explains WHY the paragraph is being written. The topic sentence helps your reader understand the purpose of your paragraph.
II. Examples of a Topic Sentence
The purpose of your paragraph will be made clear in your topic sentence. The most common reasons for writing are to persuade, to inform, and to entertain. It is also possible that a sentence could do more than one of these.
You will often use a persuasive topic sentence when writing for school, such as in literary essays .
The character Pip in the novel Great Expectations learns the importance of loyalty through his interactions with the convict Abel Magwitch.
An informative topic sentence is often found in scientific articles.
White blood cells help fight infections by attacking bacteria, viruses and germs that invade the body.
Topic sentences that entertain are sometimes found in magazines or other less formal writing.
It’s not hard to raise a bad child if you follow these simple instructions.
III. Parts of a Topic Sentence
There are just two parts in a topic sentence, the topic and the controlling idea. The topic is WHAT the paragraph is about, and the controlling idea explains WHY you are writing the paragraph. In the examples below, the topic is in orange and the controlling idea is in green .
Joseph loves to spend time with his friends .
What/who is this paragraph about? Joseph. Why is this paragraph being written? To explain something that Joseph loves to do.
Disneyland is the happiest place on Earth .
What/who is this paragraph about? Disneyland. Why is it being written? To show why Disneyland is the happiest place on Earth.
IV. Placement of Topic Sentences
A. initial placement.
The most common place for a topic sentence is at the beginning of the paragraph because it explains what the paragraph is going to discuss. The initial placement helps the writer organize the paragraph and tells the reader what to expect right in the beginning.
The best things in life are free . Although most people work hard to buy a good home or a nice car, those are not the things that they care about the most. At the end of their lives, they don’t want to hug their cars, or the walls of their fine houses. They want to be surrounded by the people they care about and who care about them. Kindness is free. Love is free. Friendship is free (or at least it should be!). Of course it is important to make money to survive, but love is important to live happily.
b. Final Placement
Sometimes the topic sentence is at the end of the paragraph, especially when the paragraph is a narrative or a mysterious story. Placing it at the end creates suspense or sometimes works to tell the point of the story.
The wealthy man was dying. He called for his friends and family to be near him and placed a hand on each one’s shoulder. They cried because they would miss him, and he cried because he had no more time to share with them. The beautiful things that he’d purchased over the years held no meaning. He didn’t care about his diamonds or his yacht or his large home. He cared for his children and the love they shared. They were here with him now and held his hands. He was glad he’d learned the most important lesson in life: the best things in life are free .
c. Medial Placement
The last place, the least common place for a topic sentence, is in the middle of the paragraph. The medial topic sentence usually functions as a transition between two ideas or details. This works when you want to show that there are two (sometimes opposite) points to an issue, but the one you are arguing, the second point, is stronger, more specific, or more important. This topic sentence is generally introduced with a transition signal.
You can’t survive on love alone. People need money for basic necessities: food, shelter and clothing. Without money, life would be uncomfortable and difficult. However, time and energy should not be completely spent on making money because the best things in life are free . Having fun with friends and family is more important and more satisfying than buying a new car or nice clothes. People provide warmth, affection, understanding, and most of all, love. Money can’t love you back, and it does not guarantee happiness. Some of the richest people in the world are miserable, while some of the poorest people in the world are happy because they have the simple joy of loving people in their lives.
V. How to Write a Topic Sentence
A. the best way to write your topic sentence is to consider why you are writing the paragraph.
- Decide on your reason for writing the paragraph
- After you have figured that out, write down the important details you want to include and see what they all have in common.
- Summarize the details into one sentence.
For example, if you want to write about your favorite movie, think about all the reasons that you like it. Is it funny? Exciting? Dramatic? Romantic? Be sure not to include too many things or else you will end up with an essay instead of a simple sentence. Once you have decided on your details, you are ready to write the topic sentence.
Here’s an example, the topic will be in orange and the controlling idea will be in green :
The best movie ever made was “Star Wars: the Force Awakens” because it was exciting and surprising .
An important point to remember is that the topic sentence should contain all relevant information that’s going to be in the paragraph. There should be no information about romance or comedy. It should only talk about what made the movie exciting.
b. Mistakes to Avoid
One of the biggest problems students face is keeping a paragraph or essay on topic. Sometimes they will write a good topic sentence but halfway through the paragraph, they think of another good idea and follow that. Without revision and editing, the topic sentence will not serve its purpose in the paragraph.
The best vacation I ever had was in Hawaii. The beaches were so beautiful and clean that swimming in them was like a dream . I especially loved the Waikiki beach. At night, there were free shows with dancers and live music. The music was so good that it made me want to dance. Dancing is my favorite thing to do in the world. When I was young, I studied ballet and tap dance. I’m thinking about taking it back up again. I might even study hip-hop!
The paragraph started out with Hawaii and end up with hip-hop dancing. You can see how the writer’s train of thought began to wander in the seventh sentence. With a different topic sentence, it would be possible to save this paragraph. Consider how different the direction would be with the following topic sentence.
The best vacation I ever had was in Hawaii. I especially loved the Waikiki beach. At night, there were free shows with dancers and live music. The music was so good that it made me want to dance and reminded me that dancing is my favorite activity in the world. In fact, when I was young, I studied ballet and tap dance. The dancing that I saw in Hawaii inspired me to get back into dancing . I might even study hip-hop!
With this new topic sentence, the second sentence would have to be eliminated or changed a bit. You can see how easy it is to get off-topic, but with a good topic sentence, and constant reference back to it, you are less likely to have that problem.
VI. So remember
- A topic sentence needs to contain the topic of your paragraph and a controlling idea.
- Everything in the paragraph should be connected to the topic sentence.
- The placement of the topic sentence depends on the type of paragraph.
VII. Exercises
Each of the paragraphs in this exercise has three possible topic sentences following it. Choose the best one and make sure that it includes the main idea of the paragraph.
1. _____________________________________________. In fact, he usually shows up five minutes early everywhere he goes. Because he’s so considerate, he hates to keep people waiting. He also believes that being early creates a better expereince. One time, when we were going to a movie together, John arrived thirty minutes earlier just so he could get the best seats in the theatre. I’m glad to have such a punctual friend.
a. John loves going to the movies.
b. John is always on time.
c. John hates to be kept waiting.
2. _________________________________________. The place is never crowded, but the service is still terrible. It seems like the staff has better things to do than wait on customers. Once I waited ten minutes just to buy a slice of pizza, and I was the only person in the whole store! I recommend staying away from Billy Bob’s Pizzeria.
a. Billy Bob’s Pizzeria has the worst pizza.
b. Billy Bob’s Pizzeria is an unpopular place to eat.
c. Billy Bob’s Pizzeria has terrible customer service.
3. I walked slowly down the dark path, afraid of my own shadow. But the tug on the leash propelled me forward. Buck, my golden retriever, was determined to take the most deserted trails through the forest. I could hear unfamiliar noises on all sides and urged Buck to do his business quickly. Oh, why couldn’t he be toilet trained? That would be better for everyone! _____________________________________.
a. Buck is an inconsiderate dog.
b. I hate walking my dog at night.
c. The forest is a dangerous place to walk at night.
4. Generally speaking, zoos these days are losing popularity. Many people feel that it’s unfair to lock up wild animals to entertain humans. ________________________________ . Some zoos go to great lengths to build a good environment for its animals. The good zoos treat their animals well and provide opportunities for the public to learn about the natural world. The best zoos protect endangered species and raise awareness about animals and their habitats.
a. Zoos perform a valuable service to society and should be part of every person’s childhood memory.
b. Zoos are horrible places that should be shut down because it’s not humane to lock up wild animals.
c. Zoos that do their best to make a pleasant habitat for the animals can be a pleasant place to visit.
List of Terms
- Alliteration
- Amplification
- Anachronism
- Anthropomorphism
- Antonomasia
- APA Citation
- Aposiopesis
- Autobiography
- Bildungsroman
- Characterization
- Circumlocution
- Cliffhanger
- Comic Relief
- Connotation
- Deus ex machina
- Deuteragonist
- Doppelganger
- Double Entendre
- Dramatic irony
- Equivocation
- Extended Metaphor
- Figures of Speech
- Flash-forward
- Foreshadowing
- Intertextuality
- Juxtaposition
- Literary Device
- Malapropism
- Onomatopoeia
- Parallelism
- Pathetic Fallacy
- Personification
- Point of View
- Polysyndeton
- Protagonist
- Red Herring
- Rhetorical Device
- Rhetorical Question
- Science Fiction
- Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
- Synesthesia
- Turning Point
- Understatement
- Urban Legend
- Verisimilitude
- Essay Guide
- Cite This Website
What are the two parts of a topic sentence?
Topic sentence and controlling idea
Add your answer:
What are the two types of topic sentence?
There are two types of topic sentences: 1. Stated topic sentence - One that is correctly expressed. 2. Implied topic sentence - One that is not stated in the paragraph.
What three parts make up an illustration paragraph?
The topic sentence, the body with supporting sentences, and the clincher sentence
The three parts of a process paragraph are?
the topic sentence, the body with supporting sentences, and the clincher sentence.
What are the three parts of a restatement sentence?
There are three parts of a restatement sentence. These parts include restating the topic, summarizing the key points, and leaving the audience thinking.
What are the three parts of a cause-and-effect paragraph?
Top Categories
Topic Sentence In A Paragraph: Definiton, Formula, & Examples
Topic Sentence In A Paragraph – In a nutshell, a paragraph consists of several sentences. Some of the sentences have their own respective functions, such as giving an explanation of the main points of the paragraph. And that is the main function of topic sentences.
Table of Contents
What is a Topic Sentence in a Paragraph?
The most important sentence in a paragraph is the topic sentence. Why is it called “ topic sentence “? Because it tells the reader about what topics are discussed in a paragraph.
In other words, the topic sentence tells the reader about the main idea of the paragraph itself and it is usually the first or last sentence in a paragraph.
The Two Parts of Topic Sentences
A topic sentence has two parts: Topic and Controlling Idea . The Topic section would be telling the reader that the paragraph will discuss some things related to that topic.
For example, there’s a paragraph which has a topic about Flight Attendants. So, the Topic section tells readers that they will read a paragraph about things related to flight attendants. But Controlling Idea will limit them.
If in the example above is a paragraph that discusses Flight Attendants, then the Controlling Idea could be: “ …, they have three characteristics. “
With the Controlling Idea, that paragraph will only discuss the characteristics of flight attendants, not other things. Get it?
Okay, now please pay attention to some examples of the Topic and Controlling Idea about English below:
- English is constantly adding new words.
- English borrows words from other language.
- English is necessary for many different jobs.
Finding Topic and Controlling Idea in the Main Sentence
In the main sentence, the Topic section is usually at the beginning of the sentence, then followed by the Controlling Idea section. However, it doesn’t rule out the possibility to put the Controlling Idea in the beginning of a sentence.
Take a look at a few examples below.
The Topic section is at the beginning of the sentence, then followed by the Controlling Idea
- English borrows words from other languages.
- Other languages give words to English.
- Many different jobs require English.
Examples of Topic Sentences
The paragraphs below show the function of the Controlling Idea of a topic sentence in a paragraph. The topic of these paragraphs is the same, which is about beaches. However, the contents of each paragraph are different because the Controlling Idea in each paragraph are also different.
Paragraph 1
Beaches always give different pleasures to different kinds of people. Solitary people can enjoy sunbathing or reading. For social people, they can usually find someone to talk to or take a walk with at the beaches. Individuals who are very curious can collect seashells or study the habits of seashore creatures, such as sand crabs or seagulls. Active people or athletes can jog, surf, swim or play football or volleyball. In conclusion, every type of person can find enjoyment at a beach.
Paragraph 2
Beaches are fun in summer and in winter. You can swim and do many other water sports in summer. You can play beach games or relax on the warm sand if you don’t like water sports. Beaches are less crowded in winter, so they are good places for solitary walks. In addition, nothing is more fun than sitting with a group of friends around a big bonfire, talking, laughing, and singing on a clear winter night. A beach, indeed, is a place to have fun all year.
Paragraph 3
Beaches differ in various parts of the world. Thailand has miles of empty beaches. The beaches there are beautiful, clean, and uncrowded, even in summer. People can spend the whole afternoon on a beach and not see many people there. However, in Japan, the beaches are very crowded. When you visit some popular Japanese beaches you can hardly find a place to sit down. The beaches in Northern Europe are different in another way. Most people go to the beach only to sunbathe because the water is cold. The beaches are rocky along the French Riviera, not sandy as they are on tropical islands. Each type of beaches – empty or crowded, sandy or rocky – has its own special characteristics to enjoy.
We hope you guys do understand about topic sentences in a paragraph. If you find any incorrect statement we made, please tell us by writing down a comment below! Feel free to share this and as always, thanks!
Share this:
- Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Notify me of follow-up comments by email.
Notify me of new posts by email.
- Utility Menu
- Questions about Expos?
- Writing Support for Instructors
Essay Structure
Writing an academic essay means fashioning a coherent set of ideas into an argument. Because essays are essentially linear—they offer one idea at a time—they must present their ideas in the order that makes most sense to a reader. Successfully structuring an essay means attending to a reader's logic.
The focus of such an essay predicts its structure. It dictates the information readers need to know and the order in which they need to receive it. Thus your essay's structure is necessarily unique to the main claim you're making. Although there are guidelines for constructing certain classic essay types (e.g., comparative analysis), there are no set formula.
Answering Questions: The Parts of an Essay
A typical essay contains many different kinds of information, often located in specialized parts or sections. Even short essays perform several different operations: introducing the argument, analyzing data, raising counterarguments, concluding. Introductions and conclusions have fixed places, but other parts don't. Counterargument, for example, may appear within a paragraph, as a free-standing section, as part of the beginning, or before the ending. Background material (historical context or biographical information, a summary of relevant theory or criticism, the definition of a key term) often appears at the beginning of the essay, between the introduction and the first analytical section, but might also appear near the beginning of the specific section to which it's relevant.
It's helpful to think of the different essay sections as answering a series of questions your reader might ask when encountering your thesis. (Readers should have questions. If they don't, your thesis is most likely simply an observation of fact, not an arguable claim.)
"What?" The first question to anticipate from a reader is "what": What evidence shows that the phenomenon described by your thesis is true? To answer the question you must examine your evidence, thus demonstrating the truth of your claim. This "what" or "demonstration" section comes early in the essay, often directly after the introduction. Since you're essentially reporting what you've observed, this is the part you might have most to say about when you first start writing. But be forewarned: it shouldn't take up much more than a third (often much less) of your finished essay. If it does, the essay will lack balance and may read as mere summary or description.
"How?" A reader will also want to know whether the claims of the thesis are true in all cases. The corresponding question is "how": How does the thesis stand up to the challenge of a counterargument? How does the introduction of new material—a new way of looking at the evidence, another set of sources—affect the claims you're making? Typically, an essay will include at least one "how" section. (Call it "complication" since you're responding to a reader's complicating questions.) This section usually comes after the "what," but keep in mind that an essay may complicate its argument several times depending on its length, and that counterargument alone may appear just about anywhere in an essay.
"Why?" Your reader will also want to know what's at stake in your claim: Why does your interpretation of a phenomenon matter to anyone beside you? This question addresses the larger implications of your thesis. It allows your readers to understand your essay within a larger context. In answering "why", your essay explains its own significance. Although you might gesture at this question in your introduction, the fullest answer to it properly belongs at your essay's end. If you leave it out, your readers will experience your essay as unfinished—or, worse, as pointless or insular.
Mapping an Essay
Structuring your essay according to a reader's logic means examining your thesis and anticipating what a reader needs to know, and in what sequence, in order to grasp and be convinced by your argument as it unfolds. The easiest way to do this is to map the essay's ideas via a written narrative. Such an account will give you a preliminary record of your ideas, and will allow you to remind yourself at every turn of the reader's needs in understanding your idea.
Essay maps ask you to predict where your reader will expect background information, counterargument, close analysis of a primary source, or a turn to secondary source material. Essay maps are not concerned with paragraphs so much as with sections of an essay. They anticipate the major argumentative moves you expect your essay to make. Try making your map like this:
- State your thesis in a sentence or two, then write another sentence saying why it's important to make that claim. Indicate, in other words, what a reader might learn by exploring the claim with you. Here you're anticipating your answer to the "why" question that you'll eventually flesh out in your conclusion.
- Begin your next sentence like this: "To be convinced by my claim, the first thing a reader needs to know is . . ." Then say why that's the first thing a reader needs to know, and name one or two items of evidence you think will make the case. This will start you off on answering the "what" question. (Alternately, you may find that the first thing your reader needs to know is some background information.)
- Begin each of the following sentences like this: "The next thing my reader needs to know is . . ." Once again, say why, and name some evidence. Continue until you've mapped out your essay.
Your map should naturally take you through some preliminary answers to the basic questions of what, how, and why. It is not a contract, though—the order in which the ideas appear is not a rigid one. Essay maps are flexible; they evolve with your ideas.
Signs of Trouble
A common structural flaw in college essays is the "walk-through" (also labeled "summary" or "description"). Walk-through essays follow the structure of their sources rather than establishing their own. Such essays generally have a descriptive thesis rather than an argumentative one. Be wary of paragraph openers that lead off with "time" words ("first," "next," "after," "then") or "listing" words ("also," "another," "in addition"). Although they don't always signal trouble, these paragraph openers often indicate that an essay's thesis and structure need work: they suggest that the essay simply reproduces the chronology of the source text (in the case of time words: first this happens, then that, and afterwards another thing . . . ) or simply lists example after example ("In addition, the use of color indicates another way that the painting differentiates between good and evil").
Copyright 2000, Elizabeth Abrams, for the Writing Center at Harvard University
- How to Read an Assignment
- How to Do a Close Reading
- Developing A Thesis
- Counterargument
- Topic Sentences and Signposting
- Transitioning: Beware of Velcro
- How to Write a Comparative Analysis
- Ending the Essay: Conclusions
- Brief Guides to Writing in the Disciplines
Quick Links
- Schedule an Appointment
- Drop-in Hours
- English Grammar and Language Tutor
- Harvard Guide to Using Sources
- Writing Advice: The Harvard Writing Tutor Blog
- Departmental Writing Fellows
- Videos from the 2022 Three Minute Thesis Competition
Follow @HCWritingCenter
Stronger together!
PARTS OF PARAGRAPHS
The three parts of a paragraph:.
A paragraph is a group of related sentences about a single topic. The topic of a paragraph in one, and only one, idea. A paragraph has three main parts:
Topic sentence: the first sentence in a paragraph that names the topic and tells what the paragraph will explain about the topic.
Supporting sentences: supporting sentences give examples or other details about the topic.
Concluding sentence: a concluding sentence often repeats the topic sentence in a different way or summarizes the main points.
TOPIC SENTENCE:
The most important sentence in a paragraph is the topic sentence. It is called the topic sentence because it tells the reader what the topic of the paragraph is. In other words, it tells the reader what he or she is going to read about. The topic sentence is usually the first sentence in a paragraph.
The world population is strongly impacted by a lack of access to water .
Many deep areas of the Pacific Ocean have never been studied by humans.
A topic sentence has two parts: a topic and a controlling idea. The topic part names the topic. The controlling idea part tells what the paragraph will say about the topic. It promises what aspect of the subject the writer will discuss. It tells the reader: This paragraph will discuss these things-and only these things-about this topic.
Hong Kong has a fascinating mixture of European and Asiatic traditions.
This topic sentence promises the reader that the paragraph subject is Hong Kong. The controlling idea promises the reader that a discussion of Hong Kong’s European and Asiatic traditions will follow. Indeed, the paragraph will not cover Hong Kong’s crime rate, economy, or population. Other paragraphs may do that, but not this one.
To be an effective CEO requires certain characteristics.
The topic is “To be an effective CEO” and the controlling idea is “certain characteristics.” Obviously, this paragraph will cover the characteristics that qualify a CEO to be effective in his job.
There are many possible contributing factors to global warming.
The topic is “global warming” and the controlling idea is “contributing factors.”
HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE TOPIC SENTENCE:
- Limit the subject and the controlling idea. Do not promise a reader more than you can deliver. Topic sentences should not be too general or you will not be able to contain the development within a single paragraph. You must limit your topic sentence by making it less general and more specific.
General topic sentence: Bolivia is unstable.
Limited subject: Bolivia’s military government is unstable
Limited controlling idea: Bolivia’s military government is being threatened by peasant revolutionaries in the countryside.
- Write a topic sentence that can be developed. The controlling idea of a topic sentence must lend itself to development; that is, it has to be one that can be developed and illustrated.
- The most important part of topic sentences is clarity. Even if you get the reader excited and eager to read more, it won’t matter if they don’t know what they’re reading about.
EXAMPLE OF A DEVELOPED PARAGRAPH WITH A TOPIC SENTENCE AND A CONTROLLING IDEA:
Beaches offer different pleasures to different kinds of people . Solitary people can enjoy sunbathing or reading. Social people can usually find someone to talk to or take a walk with. Curious individuals can collect seashells or study the habits of seashore creatures, such as sand crabs or seagulls. Athletes can swim, surf, jog, or play football or volleyball. Indeed, every type of person can find enjoyment at a beach.
SUPPORTING SENTENCES
The middle sentences of a paragraph are the supporting sentences. Supporting sentences explain or prove the idea in the topic sentence. They are used to support, explain, illustrate, or provide evidence for the idea expressed in the topic sentence.
Supporting sentences should focus on the following: – They should provide the main supporting points for the paragraph’s main idea (topic sentence) – There are usually 2 – 4 supporting sentences in a paragraph. – They should be arranged in a logical order. – They should NOT begin a new topic or introduce a new idea.
Good roommates have four characteristics.
Potential supporting ideas:
- They are neat, tidy
- They are cheerful
- They share housework
- They pay their share of the rent on time
Along with the topic sentence, these supporting ideas will be expanded to develop a full paragraph.
TRANSITIONS:
A transition signal is a word or phrase that shows how one idea is related to another idea. They are used to move smoothly from one idea to another.
- In a listing-order paragraph, use transition signals such as First, Second, and Third to tell your reader that these are main points.
- To introduce an example you can use: To illustrate, for instance, for example, to demonstrate, specifically, etc.
- To introduce an additional idea you can use: As well as, in addition, also, besides, moreover, furthermore, etc.
PARAGRAPH UNITY:
A paragraph must follow the rule of unity. All the sentences in a paragraph are about one main idea. Another way of expressing the rule of unity is to say that all the supporting sentences in a paragraph must be relevant. Relevant means “directly related to the main idea.” For example, if your paragraph is about the education system in England, an idea about the weather or population is not relevant because your paragraph is about England’s education system, and not the weather!
THE CONCLUDING SENTENCE
- Paragraphs that stand alone (that is, paragraphs that are not part of a longer composition) often have a concluding sentence at the end. A concluding sentence closes the paragraph so that the reader is not left expecting more.
- Sometimes a concluding sentence reminds the reader of the main point by restating the topic sentence in different words. Sometimes it summarizes the main points.
- Use a transition signal to tell your reader that this is the end of your paragraph such as: to summarize, in conclusion, to conclude, to sum up, in brief, in short, etc.
- Do NOT introduce a new idea in your concluding sentence. Just review or repeat the ideas you have already discussed. Don’t add anything new!
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
- Language by Definition
- The Nature of Language
- Key Concepts in Modern Linguistics
- The Properties of Human Language
- Characterizing Human Language
- Human and Non-Human Language
- Language and Medium
- De Saussure’s Dichotomies
- Phonetics and Phonology
- American Structuralism
- European Structuralism
- Voicing and Consonants
- Manners of Articulation
- English Vowels
- Phonetics VS. Phonology
- Allophonic Variants of English Consonants and Vowels
- The Syllable
- Literary Genres
- The Old English Period 450-1066
- The age of Chaucer
- The Renaissance Period
- The Elizabethan Age 1558-1603
- The Jacobean Age 1603-1625
- Caroline Age 1625-1649
- Commonwealth Age 1649-1660
- The Restoration Period (1660-1700)
- The Augustan Period (1702-1745)
- The Romantic Period
- Prehistoric Britain
- Roman Britain (55 B.C) 43 A.D_ 410 A.D
- Anglo-Saxons 410_ 1066
- The Vikings
- House of Plantagenet
- House of Lancaster
- House of York
- House of Tudor
- House of Stuart
- The First Americans
- Explorers From Europe
- Colonial America
- The Roots of The American Revolution
- Words and Word Classes
- The Structure of Words: Morphology
- Special Classes of Words
- Function Word Classes
- Types of Determiners
- Lexical Word Classes
- Types of Nouns
- Introduction to Phrases
- Clause Elements
- Clause Patterns
- Types of Paragraphs
- Parts of Paragraphs
- The Writing Process
- Unity and Coherence in a Paragraph
- Academic Writing
- From Paragraph to Essay
- Feelings and Relationships
- Families, Weddings and Funerals
- The Climate and Natural Disasters
- Animals and Insects
- Money and Sleep
- Injuries, Cars and Driving
- Travel Problems and Accidents
- Clothes and Fashion
- Morphological Errors
- Syntactic Errors Part 1
- Syntactic Errors Part 2
- Pronounciation
- Introduction to research methods and traditions
- Learning Styles and Strategies
- Time Management
- Note-Taking
- Key Concepts in the Didactics of ELT
- Language Teaching Approaches and Methods
- Teaching-Learning Environment & Classroom Management
- Setting Goals & Objectives
- Lesson Planning
- Teaching Receptive and Productive Skills
- Cognitive Processes
- Approaches to The Study of Cognition
- Experimental Cognitive Psychology
- Top-Down and Bottom-Up Processing
- Computer Models of Information Processing
- Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychology
- Information Storage in the Brain
- Automatic Processing
- Conscious Awareness
- Minds, Brains and Computers
- Contrastive Analysis
- Privacy Policy
Topic Sentence Generator – Free & Fast Tool
A vital element of any text is topic sentences in the introduction and body paragraphs. Your ideas should be structured for readers to understand the central thesis and its supporting arguments. Well-formulated topic sentences perform this function: aid in understanding the essay's logic. Use our essay topic sentence generator to create a compelling beginning for each paragraph.
- 📍 All About the Tool
- ✍️ How to Write a Topic Sentence
🧩 Parts of a Topic Sentence
- 🎬 Topic Sentence Starters
🔗 References
📍 topic sentence generator – what is it.
Our topic sentence generator for essays and research papers is a free online tool that will help students formulate an excellent topic sentence for their writing.
What Is a Topic Sentence?
A topic sentence is the first sentence of a paragraph that conveys the general concept or theme of the work.
It includes enough information to support numerous subtopics and examples but doesn't obscure the purpose of the text. A strong topic sentence is brief , powerful , and emphasizes critical thought with supporting information.
- The positioning of the topic sentence varies depending on the author's intentions. Starting with the topic sentence guides readers to the key message immediately.
- When significant details lead to a generalization, it is sensible to place the topic sentence at the end of the paragraph.
The Purpose of a Topic Sentence
A topic sentence's purpose is to direct the reader to the subject of the paragraph . It presents the particular issue of the text section and relates to the essay's thesis statement . Moreover, topic sentences structure an essay by dividing it into key points.
Topic Sentence Vs. Thesis
Although the topic and thesis statements should be precise, concise, and explicit, they differ:
✍️ How to Write a Body Paragraph Topic Sentence
There are four practical steps you have to take to create a solid topic sentence .
Determine the main idea of the paragraph . To write a topic sentence, you must understand the subject matter of your paper. A thesis statement will help you identify the fundamental concept of the paragraph.
Create a statement . Creating a statement that includes what and why questions and leads to your core idea is essential. You must describe the issue and explain why it is crucial.
Formulate the topic sentence . Write a statement that introduces the subtopic of a particular paragraph and leads readers back to the thesis statement. You can keep using the what and why structure as you write new topic sentences for each section.
Add transitions between paragraphs . Topic sentences should also establish a throughline in your research paper by drawing on the previous sections. Utilize transition words to refer to the previous paragraph while heading to the next section.
A topic sentence consists of 2 parts:
- The topic . This is the paragraph's subject, indicating what the paragraph is about.
- The controlling idea. This is the point that leads to the supporting arguments and limits its scope.
Here are some examples from our topic sentence generator with the topics in bold and the controlling ideas in italic .
A Good Topic Sentence Features
A solid topic sentence has the following features:
- Novelty . A good topic sentence is well-focused on a fresh concept since it always provides new information for the reader.
- Specificity . If the beginning of a paragraph is too broad, the reader will be confused about what to expect next.
- Strength . The topic sentence should provide explicit and unambiguous information.
🎬 Essay Topic Sentence Starters
Some of the most powerful words in writing are those opening a sentence, for they introduce the mood of the sentence. We have prepared some catchy starters that you can use as your opening phrases:
- Views on …. range from...
- Emphasized are...
- Here, we discuss...
- The key aspect discussed...
- The central theme...
- The issue focused on...
- As shown below...
- Resulting from this...
- While this may be true...
- Latest research corroborates the view that...
- The focus of discussion is...
- The premise of (the topic) is based on...
- The supposition drawn from this is that...
- There is growing support for the notion that...
- The data gathered in the study strongly suggests that...
- Leading to the supposition that...
- The source suggests...
- A sensible idea would be to...
Thank you for reading this article! If you have already written your topic sentence, try our free concluding sentence maker .
❓ Topic Sentence Generator FAQ
- The topic of the paragraph;
- The controlling idea of the paragraph.
- How to Write a Topic Sentence (With Examples and Tips) | Indeed.com
- The Topic Sentence | SEA - Supporting English Acquisition
- What Are Good Sentence Starters for Essays? | Grammarly
- Tips on Writing a Thesis Statement | Writing Center
- Write Your Essay | UNSW Current Student
- Free Essays
- Writing Tools
- Lit. Guides
- Donate a Paper
- Referencing Guides
- Free Textbooks
- Tongue Twisters
- Job Openings
- Expert Application
- Video Contest
- Writing Scholarship
- Discount Codes
- IvyPanda Shop
- Terms and Conditions
- Privacy Policy
- Cookies Policy
- Copyright Principles
- DMCA Request
- Service Notice
This page contains a free essay topic sentence generator that will help you create a killing first phrase for each paragraph. A topic sentence is a vital element of any text, as it structures your arguments and introduces the body paragraph. Find here a fast and effective generator as well as helpful tips on how to formulate an impressive topic sentence.
- Skip to Content
- Skip to Main Navigation
- Skip to Search
Indiana University Bloomington Indiana University Bloomington IU Bloomington
- Mission, Vision, and Inclusive Language Statement
- Locations & Hours
- Undergraduate Employment
- Graduate Employment
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Students Referred by Instructors
- Newsletter Archive
- Paid External Editing Services
- Support WTS
- Online Tutoring
- Schedule an Appointment
- Before your Appointment
- WTS Policies
- Group Tutoring
- Writing Guides
- Scholarly Write-in
- Dissertation Writing Groups
- Journal Article Writing Groups
- Wednesday Writing Workshop
- Workshops for Graduate Students
- Teaching Resources
- Syllabus Information
- Course-specific Tutoring
- Nominate a Peer Tutor
- Tutoring Feedback
- Schedule Appointment
- Campus Writing Program
Writing Tutorial Services
Paragraphs & topic sentences.
A paragraph is a series of sentences that are organized and coherent, and are all related to a single topic. Almost every piece of writing you do that is longer than a few sentences should be organized into paragraphs. This is because paragraphs show a reader where the subdivisions of an essay begin and end, and thus help the reader see the organization of the essay and grasp its main points.
Paragraphs can contain many different kinds of information. A paragraph could contain a series of brief examples or a single long illustration of a general point. It might describe a place, character, or process; narrate a series of events; compare or contrast two or more things; classify items into categories; or describe causes and effects. Regardless of the kind of information they contain, all paragraphs share certain characteristics. One of the most important of these is a topic sentence.
TOPIC SENTENCES
A well-organized paragraph supports or develops a single controlling idea, which is expressed in a sentence called the topic sentence. A topic sentence has several important functions: it substantiates or supports an essay’s thesis statement; it unifies the content of a paragraph and directs the order of the sentences; and it advises the reader of the subject to be discussed and how the paragraph will discuss it. Readers generally look to the first few sentences in a paragraph to determine the subject and perspective of the paragraph. That’s why it’s often best to put the topic sentence at the very beginning of the paragraph. In some cases, however, it’s more effective to place another sentence before the topic sentence—for example, a sentence linking the current paragraph to the previous one, or one providing background information.
Although most paragraphs should have a topic sentence, there are a few situations when a paragraph might not need a topic sentence. For example, you might be able to omit a topic sentence in a paragraph that narrates a series of events, if a paragraph continues developing an idea that you introduced (with a topic sentence) in the previous paragraph, or if all the sentences and details in a paragraph clearly refer—perhaps indirectly—to a main point. The vast majority of your paragraphs, however, should have a topic sentence.
PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE
Most paragraphs in an essay have a three-part structure—introduction, body, and conclusion. You can see this structure in paragraphs whether they are narrating, describing, comparing, contrasting, or analyzing information. Each part of the paragraph plays an important role in communicating your meaning to your reader.
Introduction : the first section of a paragraph; should include the topic sentence and any other sentences at the beginning of the paragraph that give background information or provide a transition.
Body : follows the introduction; discusses the controlling idea, using facts, arguments, analysis, examples, and other information.
Conclusion : the final section; summarizes the connections between the information discussed in the body of the paragraph and the paragraph’s controlling idea.
The following paragraph illustrates this pattern of organization. In this paragraph the topic sentence and concluding sentence (CAPITALIZED) both help the reader keep the paragraph’s main point in mind.
SCIENTISTS HAVE LEARNED TO SUPPLEMENT THE SENSE OF SIGHT IN NUMEROUS WAYS. In front of the tiny pupil of the eye they put , on Mount Palomar, a great monocle 200 inches in diameter, and with it see 2000 times farther into the depths of space. Or they look through a small pair of lenses arranged as a microscope into a drop of water or blood, and magnify by as much as 2000 diameters the living creatures there, many of which are among man’s most dangerous enemies. Or , if we want to see distant happenings on earth, they use some of the previously wasted electromagnetic waves to carry television images which they re-create as light by whipping tiny crystals on a screen with electrons in a vacuum. Or they can bring happenings of long ago and far away as colored motion pictures, by arranging silver atoms and color-absorbing molecules to force light waves into the patterns of original reality. Or if we want to see into the center of a steel casting or the chest of an injured child, they send the information on a beam of penetrating short-wave X rays, and then convert it back into images we can see on a screen or photograph. THUS ALMOST EVERY TYPE OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION YET DISCOVERED HAS BEEN USED TO EXTEND OUR SENSE OF SIGHT IN SOME WAY. George Harrison, “Faith and the Scientist”
In a coherent paragraph, each sentence relates clearly to the topic sentence or controlling idea, but there is more to coherence than this. If a paragraph is coherent, each sentence flows smoothly into the next without obvious shifts or jumps. A coherent paragraph also highlights the ties between old information and new information to make the structure of ideas or arguments clear to the reader.
Along with the smooth flow of sentences, a paragraph’s coherence may also be related to its length. If you have written a very long paragraph, one that fills a double-spaced typed page, for example, you should check it carefully to see if it should start a new paragraph where the original paragraph wanders from its controlling idea. On the other hand, if a paragraph is very short (only one or two sentences, perhaps), you may need to develop its controlling idea more thoroughly, or combine it with another paragraph.
A number of other techniques that you can use to establish coherence in paragraphs are described below.
Repeat key words or phrases. Particularly in paragraphs in which you define or identify an important idea or theory, be consistent in how you refer to it. This consistency and repetition will bind the paragraph together and help your reader understand your definition or description.
Create parallel structures. Parallel structures are created by constructing two or more phrases or sentences that have the same grammatical structure and use the same parts of speech. By creating parallel structures you make your sentences clearer and easier to read. In addition, repeating a pattern in a series of consecutive sentences helps your reader see the connections between ideas. In the paragraph above about scientists and the sense of sight, several sentences in the body of the paragraph have been constructed in a parallel way. The parallel structures (which have been emphasized ) help the reader see that the paragraph is organized as a set of examples of a general statement.
Be consistent in point of view, verb tense, and number. Consistency in point of view, verb tense, and number is a subtle but important aspect of coherence. If you shift from the more personal "you" to the impersonal “one,” from past to present tense, or from “a man” to “they,” for example, you make your paragraph less coherent. Such inconsistencies can also confuse your reader and make your argument more difficult to follow.
Use transition words or phrases between sentences and between paragraphs. Transitional expressions emphasize the relationships between ideas, so they help readers follow your train of thought or see connections that they might otherwise miss or misunderstand. The following paragraph shows how carefully chosen transitions (CAPITALIZED) lead the reader smoothly from the introduction to the conclusion of the paragraph.
I don’t wish to deny that the flattened, minuscule head of the large-bodied "stegosaurus" houses little brain from our subjective, top-heavy perspective, BUT I do wish to assert that we should not expect more of the beast. FIRST OF ALL, large animals have relatively smaller brains than related, small animals. The correlation of brain size with body size among kindred animals (all reptiles, all mammals, FOR EXAMPLE) is remarkably regular. AS we move from small to large animals, from mice to elephants or small lizards to Komodo dragons, brain size increases, BUT not so fast as body size. IN OTHER WORDS, bodies grow faster than brains, AND large animals have low ratios of brain weight to body weight. IN FACT, brains grow only about two-thirds as fast as bodies. SINCE we have no reason to believe that large animals are consistently stupider than their smaller relatives, we must conclude that large animals require relatively less brain to do as well as smaller animals. IF we do not recognize this relationship, we are likely to underestimate the mental power of very large animals, dinosaurs in particular. Stephen Jay Gould, “Were Dinosaurs Dumb?”
SOME USEFUL TRANSITIONS
(modified from Diana Hacker, A Writer’s Reference )
Produced by Writing Tutorial Services, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Purdue Online Writing Lab College of Liberal Arts
On Paragraphs
Welcome to the Purdue OWL
This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.
Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.
The purpose of this handout is to give some basic instruction and advice regarding the creation of understandable and coherent paragraphs.
What is a paragraph?
A paragraph is a collection of related sentences dealing with a single topic. Learning to write good paragraphs will help you as a writer stay on track during your drafting and revision stages. Good paragraphing also greatly assists your readers in following a piece of writing. You can have fantastic ideas, but if those ideas aren't presented in an organized fashion, you will lose your readers (and fail to achieve your goals in writing).
The Basic Rule: Keep one idea to one paragraph
The basic rule of thumb with paragraphing is to keep one idea to one paragraph. If you begin to transition into a new idea, it belongs in a new paragraph. There are some simple ways to tell if you are on the same topic or a new one. You can have one idea and several bits of supporting evidence within a single paragraph. You can also have several points in a single paragraph as long as they relate to the overall topic of the paragraph. If the single points start to get long, then perhaps elaborating on each of them and placing them in their own paragraphs is the route to go.
Elements of a paragraph
To be as effective as possible, a paragraph should contain each of the following: Unity, Coherence, A Topic Sentence, and Adequate Development. As you will see, all of these traits overlap. Using and adapting them to your individual purposes will help you construct effective paragraphs.
The entire paragraph should concern itself with a single focus. If it begins with one focus or major point of discussion, it should not end with another or wander within different ideas.
Coherence is the trait that makes the paragraph easily understandable to a reader. You can help create coherence in your paragraphs by creating logical bridges and verbal bridges.
Logical bridges
- The same idea of a topic is carried over from sentence to sentence
- Successive sentences can be constructed in parallel form
Verbal bridges
- Key words can be repeated in several sentences
- Synonymous words can be repeated in several sentences
- Pronouns can refer to nouns in previous sentences
- Transition words can be used to link ideas from different sentences
A topic sentence
A topic sentence is a sentence that indicates in a general way what idea or thesis the paragraph is going to deal with. Although not all paragraphs have clear-cut topic sentences, and despite the fact that topic sentences can occur anywhere in the paragraph (as the first sentence, the last sentence, or somewhere in the middle), an easy way to make sure your reader understands the topic of the paragraph is to put your topic sentence near the beginning of the paragraph. (This is a good general rule for less experienced writers, although it is not the only way to do it). Regardless of whether you include an explicit topic sentence or not, you should be able to easily summarize what the paragraph is about.
Adequate development
The topic (which is introduced by the topic sentence) should be discussed fully and adequately. Again, this varies from paragraph to paragraph, depending on the author's purpose, but writers should be wary of paragraphs that only have two or three sentences. It's a pretty good bet that the paragraph is not fully developed if it is that short.
Some methods to make sure your paragraph is well-developed:
- Use examples and illustrations
- Cite data (facts, statistics, evidence, details, and others)
- Examine testimony (what other people say such as quotes and paraphrases)
- Use an anecdote or story
- Define terms in the paragraph
- Compare and contrast
- Evaluate causes and reasons
- Examine effects and consequences
- Analyze the topic
- Describe the topic
- Offer a chronology of an event (time segments)
How do I know when to start a new paragraph?
You should start a new paragraph when:
- When you begin a new idea or point. New ideas should always start in new paragraphs. If you have an extended idea that spans multiple paragraphs, each new point within that idea should have its own paragraph.
- To contrast information or ideas. Separate paragraphs can serve to contrast sides in a debate, different points in an argument, or any other difference.
- When your readers need a pause. Breaks between paragraphs function as a short "break" for your readers—adding these in will help your writing be more readable. You would create a break if the paragraph becomes too long or the material is complex.
- When you are ending your introduction or starting your conclusion. Your introductory and concluding material should always be in a new paragraph. Many introductions and conclusions have multiple paragraphs depending on their content, length, and the writer's purpose.
Transitions and signposts
Two very important elements of paragraphing are signposts and transitions. Signposts are internal aids to assist readers; they usually consist of several sentences or a paragraph outlining what the article has covered and where the article will be going.
Transitions are usually one or several sentences that "transition" from one idea to the next. Transitions can be used at the end of most paragraphs to help the paragraphs flow one into the next.
- U.S. Locations
- UMGC Europe
- Learn Online
- Find Answers
- 855-655-8682
- Current Students
Paragraph Structure
Explore more of umgc.
- Writing Resources
Contact The Effective Writing Center
E-mail: [email protected]
Use effective paragraph structure to explain and support your thesis statement.
Effective paragraphs are important in all types of writing. Your paragraphs guide your reader through the paper by helping to explain, substantiate, and support your thesis statement or argument. Each paragraph should discuss one major point or idea. An effective paragraph has three parts: claim, evidence, and analysis.
This is also sometimes called a topic sentence. This will be your way of announcing the main focus of your paragraph; it should tell the reader what your paragraph will be about.
It may be helpful to think of your claims as mini arguments that support the paper’s main argument or thesis. Just as in the thesis statement, your topic sentences should be debatable. In other words, they should be arguable claims that you will try to "prove" with your evidence.
If you get stuck developing these claims, try to think of reasons why your thesis is true. Each claim should be a reason why the reader should believe your paper’s main idea. For example, perhaps you’re writing an essay about whether people should drink soy milk instead of cow’s milk. Your "reasons" for this might include health benefits, environmental benefits, cost-effectiveness, and safety, so you would focus one paragraph on each of these topics.
One of the most common mistakes is to present a topic sentence that is actually an observation of facts or a description of events rather than an active argument. When you make a claim based on a fact or event in your topic sentence, you aren’t presenting an arguable claim that you can back up with your evidence in that paragraph.
Here are some sample claims for the "health benefits of soy" paragraph:
- Claim based on a fact or event (weak): Soy milk contains healthy isoflavones and nutrients.
- Claim based on an active argument (stronger): The isoflavones and nutrients in soy milk help to protect the body from disease and promote good health, so soy is a better choice.
- The first example is weak because it presents facts that cannot be disputed; the second example is stronger because it uses those facts to make an argument. As you can see, the second example not only tells the reader that soy contains healthy isoflavones and nutrients, but it also argues that these facts make soy milk a better choice.
To evaluate whether your paper contains effective claims in each paragraph, read only the first sentence of each paragraph. You should be able to follow the development of the paper’s thesis by reading only the claim sentences. These should tell you the main points that you are making throughout the paper. Your claims will also prepare the reader for the second section of your paragraph.
This is how you support, or back up, your claims. The evidence will help to "prove" each claim to the reader.
In a paper that incorporates research from secondary sources, your evidence may include information from articles, books, electronic sources, or any of the research you gathered. The evidence may take the form of a direct quotation, paraphrased material, statistical data, or any other information from one of your sources that helps to support your claim.
Try to incorporate information from several sources into each paragraph. Avoid just "retelling" the information from a single author or article. Aim to represent a variety of opinions and views. This way, you’re not just telling the reader what one expert says, but you’re explaining how your claim is supported by research from several experts in your field.
Here are some examples of weak and strong evidence sections:
Evidence that includes information from one source (weak evidence):
According to Collins, soy milk has more protein than cow’s milk, and doesn’t contain the saturated fat or cholesterol (1). Soybeans are "complete protein" because they contain all eight amino acids (Collins 1). Collins points out that "as little as 25 mg of soy protein a day may decrease levels of LDL cholesterol and Triglycerides" (1) and this may reduce the chance of heart disease. Since soy is a "low-glycemic index" food, it may help people trying to lose weight "feel more satisfied and less hungry until your next meal, which is beneficial for weight management and control" (1).
Evidence that includes information from a variety of sources (stronger evidence):
Scientists believe that soy milk has the potential to balance cholesterol levels in humans: "A diet with significant soy protein reduces Total Cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) and triglycerides" (Tsang 1). Since soy milk is one of the easiest ways to incorporate soy into the diet, this is a good choice for people seeking to lower their LDL and triglycerides. Soy milk also may reduce the potential for heart disease. Asian countries, which traditionally consume more soy protein, have a much lower incidence of heart disease and many types of cancer (Berkeley 4). The benefits of soy aren’t just limited to the heart, however. Soy milk and cheese made from soy milk may help with weight loss since they contain less saturated fat than regular dairy products, although they contain about the same amounts of fat as reduced-fat milk and cheese (Collins 1). Some researchers even believe that soy may help to stimulate the metabolism (Duke 4).
Note that the second example seems more "balanced," because the author demonstrates knowledge of the subject and incorporates several expert opinions to back up the claim.
Sometimes your assignment will not require you to conduct research into secondary sources, and you may need to use your own ideas or experiences as evidence to back up your claims. Try to be very specific. If you include detailed examples and explanations, your evidence will be more interesting and more persuasive to the reader, and you will seem like more of an authority on your topic:
Evidence that isn’t specific (weak evidence):
My mother’s cholesterol was bad, and the doctor said that soy might help with this. Our family started eating more soy and soy milk, and her levels eventually got much better. During this time, all of us also lost quite a bit of weight.
Evidence that is specific (stronger evidence):
Two years ago, my mother’s LDL ("bad") cholesterol level was 242, and her HDL ("good") cholesterol was 37, so she was considered "high risk." Since she was hesitant to take cholesterol-lowering medications, her internist suggested that she try to incorporate more soy into her diet. He believed that it was worthwhile to try this before placing her on medications. In order to support her, our entire family started drinking soy milk and walking in the evenings. After six months, her LDL dropped to 198 and her HDL rose to 45, which was a dramatic improvement. Our family all lost quite a bit of weight, as well: my mother lost fifteen pounds and my father lost more than twenty. Her doctor tells her that if she continues this lifestyle change, she will significantly reduce her chance of heart problems in the future.
The second example not only contains more information, but it presents it in a believable and interesting way. By including specific details, the author appears to be an "expert," so the evidence is more persuasive.
Your analysis or concluding observation is your way of "wrapping up" the information presented in your paragraph. It should explain why the evidence supports your claim and why this supports the main thesis in your paper.
It’s important to end with your own analysis of the information rather than with evidence. This keeps you "in control" of the paper; if you end with evidence, you’re emphasizing ideas from your sources rather than your own. The reader relies on you to analyze the evidence in the paragraph and explain why it matters to the claim and to the rest of the paper.
Here are some examples of weak and strong analysis/concluding observation sections:
Analysis that is really evidence (weak): Experts at Duke University’s School of Medicine agree that soy milk is a healthy choice.
Analysis that doesn’t relate evidence to claim and thesis statement (weak): Soy milk therefore prevents disease.
Analysis that explains why evidence supports the claim and why this is important to the paper’s thesis (strong): The disease-fighting and health-promoting components of soy milk have the potential to change people’s health and to improve their lives by affecting both cholesterol and weight. This makes soy milk an important factor in heart health, so people should consider switching to soy milk.
Our helpful admissions advisors can help you choose an academic program to fit your career goals, estimate your transfer credits, and develop a plan for your education costs that fits your budget. If you’re a current UMGC student, please visit the Help Center .
Personal Information
Contact information, additional information.
By submitting this form, you are giving your express written consent without obligation for UMGC to contact you regarding our educational programs and services using e-mail, phone, or text, including automated technology for calls and/or texts to the mobile number(s) provided. For more details, including how to opt out, read our privacy policy or contact an admissions advisor .
Please wait, your form is being submitted.
By using our website you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more about how we use cookies by reading our Privacy Policy .
Thesis Sentences
Parts of a thesis sentence.
A thesis sentence has to contain two parts:
- Topic – what the essay is about.
- Angle – your idea about the topic. This second part, your idea/insight/claim/argument about a topic, is the important characteristic in creating a thesis sentence for a college essay. The angle makes a promise to your reader about your insight into, claim, or logical argument about the topic. Your angle in your thesis sentence indicates and controls what the rest of the essay will be about.
Note above that I’ve called the angle a number of different things: idea, insight, claim, argument. Even though you may have slightly different angles when you’re writing for different purposes, all of these variations of the angle have one really important thing in common: they all offer your own viewpoint on your topic. Your own viewpoint, backed up by examples and evidence, is the important thing in a college essay.
One mistake that a lot of beginning college writers make is to focus on the topic as opposed to the angle in a thesis sentence. Beginning writers often think it’s enough to describe a management theory or a historical event or a psychological philosophy to show knowledge gained. However, if a writing assignment is to write an essay or “paper,” the likely expectation is that you’ll offer your own argument or angle to show how you’ve evaluated and applied knowledge gained, e.g., Although management theory Y supports the worker’s own initiative much more fully than management theory X, contingency theory is most often applied in the contemporary workplace, because of a number of characteristics of 21st century businesses.
Note that the sample thesis you just read has a third part, what’s often called a “because clause,” or some indication of reasons why you are making the claim you’re making in the angle. You may decide to use a “because clause” in certain cases and not in others; decide if your thesis would be clearer to both you as a writer and to your reading audience with the inclusion of these additional reasons in your thesis.
As you start to develop a working thesis sentence for an essay, take time to review and analyze that working thesis to make sure that all of the parts are feasible:
- Is there an actual thesis sentence with a topic and an angle? Relying only on an essay topic, or relying only on an essay title, is not enough.
- Does the angle offer a debatable insight (again, not just a topic and not just a statement of fact)?
- Is the angle supportable with examples and evidence?
- Is the angle appropriate for the scope of the essay (e.g., angle is not too broad or too narrow)?
- If there are reasons included in a “because clause,” are those reasons clear, direct, and related to the claim in the angle?
The following video is lengthy, but contains some useful information about writing the different parts of a thesis.
- Parts of a Thesis Sentence. Authored by : Susan Oaks. Provided by : Empire State College, SUNY OER Services. Project : College Writing. License : CC BY-NC: Attribution-NonCommercial
- video Academic Writing Tutorial: Writing Effective Thesis Statements. Authored by : David Wright. Provided by : [email protected] CTL, Furman University, Ultimate YouTube Resource. Located at : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIaUowHUNsg&t=19s . License : Other . License Terms : Standard YouTube License
We're sorry, this computer has been flagged for suspicious activity.
If you are a member, we ask that you confirm your identity by entering in your email.
You will then be sent a link via email to verify your account.
If you are not a member or are having any other problems, please contact customer support.
Thank you for your cooperation
True or False
Students also viewed
Writing Conclusions: Writing Conclusions
CGS 1060 Windows 8 part b
Sets found in the same folder
True or false_2, time clauses, other sets by this creator, verified questions.
What does the Ghost Dance phenomenon tell us about how the Sioux of the 1890 1890 1890 s saw their recent history?
Benvolio Montague and Tybalt Capulet come upon the servants fighting. How do they react to the fight?
What do you think was the most effective method Ghana used to regulate its economy? Explain your answer in a short paragraph in which you touch upon trade routes, gold, and taxes.
Churchill's speech features the use of Parallelism-the repetition of similar grammatical structures to express related ideas. Find two or three examples of parallelism in the speech. What do they add to the speech's effectiveness?
Recommended textbook solutions
Technical Writing for Success
The Language of Composition: Reading, Writing, Rhetoric
Literature and Composition: Reading, Writing,Thinking
Other quizlet sets.
Peds 201 Ch. 1 Reflexes Test Position, Appear…
- I nfographics
- Show AWL words
- Subscribe to newsletter
- What is academic writing?
- Academic Style
- What is the writing process?
- Understanding the title
- Brainstorming
- Researching
- First draft
- Proofreading
- Report writing
- Compare & contrast
- Cause & effect
- Problem-solution
- Classification
- Essay structure
- Introduction
- Literature review
- Book review
- Research proposal
- Thesis/dissertation
- What is cohesion?
- Cohesion vs coherence
- Transition signals
- What are references?
- In-text citations
- Reference sections
- Reporting verbs
- Band descriptors
Show AWL words on this page.
Levels 1-5: grey Levels 6-10: orange
Show sorted lists of these words.
Any words you don't know? Look them up in the website's built-in dictionary .
Choose a dictionary . Wordnet OPTED both
Main body How to write a good essay paragraph
As the name suggests, the main body is the main part of your essay. It is a collection of paragraphs related to your topic, and in order to understand how to write a good main body, you need to understand how to write good paragraphs. This section will help you understand the three main structural components of any good paragraph: the topic sentence , supporting sentences , and the concluding sentence . An example essay has been given to help you understand all of these, and there is a checklist at the end which you can use for editing your main body.
The topic sentence
The topic sentence is the most important sentence in a paragraph. It is usually the first sentence, though may sometimes also be placed at the end. It indicates what the paragraph is going to discuss, and thus serves as a useful guide both for the writer and the reader; the writer can have a clear idea what information to include (and what information to exclude), while the reader will have a clear idea of what the paragraph will discuss, which will aid in understanding.
The topic sentence comprises two separate parts: the topic of the paragraph, and the controlling idea, which limits the topic to one or two areas that can be discussed fully in one paragraph.
Consider the following topic sentence (from the example essay below):
The most striking advantage of the car is its convenience .
The topic of this short essay is the advantages and disadvantages of cars, as a result of which each paragraph has either the advantages or the disadvantages of cars as its topic. In this case, the topic is the advantage of cars . The controlling idea is convenience , which limits the discussion of advantages of cars to this one idea. This paragraph will therefore give supporting ideas (reasons, facts, etc.) to show why convenience is an advantage of cars.
Here is another topic sentence from the same example essay :
Despite this advantage, cars have many significant disadvantages , the most important of which is the pollution they cause.
The topic of this paragraph is the disadvantage of cars . The controlling idea is pollution . This paragraph will therefore give supporting ideas (reasons, facts, etc.) to show why pollution is a disadvantage of cars.
Here is the final topic sentence from the same example essay :
A further disadvantage is the traffic problems that they cause in many cities and towns of the world.
The topic of this paragraph is again the disadvantage of cars . The controlling idea this time is traffic problems . This paragraph will therefore give supporting ideas (reasons, facts, etc.) to show why traffic congestion is a disadvantage of cars.
The following are key points to remember about the topic sentence:
- it should be a complete sentence
- it should contain both a topic and a controlling idea
- it is the most general statement in the paragraph, because it gives only the main idea with any supporting details
Supporting sentences
Supporting sentences develop the topic sentence. They are more specific than the topic sentence, giving reasons, examples, facts, statistics, and citations in support of the main idea of the paragraph.
Below is the whole paragraph for the second topic sentence above. The supporting sentences are in bold.
Despite this advantage, cars have many significant disadvantages, the most important of which is the pollution they cause. Almost all cars run either on petrol or diesel fuel, both of which are fossil fuels. Burning these fuels causes the car to emit serious pollutants, such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrous oxide. Not only are these gases harmful for health, causing respiratory disease and other illnesses, they also contribute to global warming, an increasing problem in the modern world. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists (2013), transportation in the US accounts for 30% of all carbon dioxide production in that country, with 60% of these emissions coming from cars and small trucks. In short, pollution is a major drawback of cars.
The paragraph above has the following support:
- burning fuels (petrol and diesel) in car engines emits pollutants - fact
- cars emit carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide - examples (of pollutants)
- the pollutants are harmful for health - fact
- the pollutants cause respiratory disease - example (of how they harm our health)
- the pollutants contribute to global warming - fact
- 30% of carbon dioxide in the US comes from transport - statistic
- 60% of the these emissions come from cars and small trucks - statistic
- this information comes from Union of Concerned Scientists (2013) - citation
The concluding sentence
The concluding sentence is an optional component of a paragraph. In other words, it is not absolutely necessary. It most useful for especially long paragraphs, as it will help the reader to remember of the main ideas of the paragraph.
Below is the concluding sentence from the paragraph above:
In short, the harm to our health and to the environment means that pollution from cars is a major drawback.
Here the concluding sentence not only repeats the controlling idea of the topic sentence , that cars cause pollution, but also summarises the information of the paragraph, which is that the pollution from cars is harmful to both our health and the environment.
The following are useful transition signals to use for the concluding sentence:
- In conclusion...
- In summary...
- In brief...
- Therefore...
- In short...
- These examples show that...
- This evidence strongly suggests that...
if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'eapfoundation_com-banner-1','ezslot_3',121,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-eapfoundation_com-banner-1-0'); Example essay
Below is a discussion essay which looks at the advantages and disadvantages of car ownership. This essay is used throughout the essay writing section to help you understand different aspects of essay writing. Here it focuses on topic sentences and controlling ideas (mentioned on this page), the thesis statement and general statements of the introduction, and the summary and final comment of the conclusion. Click on the different areas (in the shaded boxes to the right) to highlight the different structural aspects in this essay.
Although they were invented almost a hundred years ago, for decades cars were only owned by the rich. Since the 60s and 70s they have become increasingly affordable, and now most families in developed nations, and a growing number in developing countries, own a car. While cars have undoubted advantages , of which their convenience is the most apparent, they have significant drawbacks , most notably pollution and traffic problems . The most striking advantage of the car is its convenience. When travelling long distance, there may be only one choice of bus or train per day, which may be at an unsuitable time. The car, however, allows people to travel at any time they wish, and to almost any destination they choose. Despite this advantage, cars have many significant disadvantages , the most important of which is the pollution they cause. Almost all cars run either on petrol or diesel fuel, both of which are fossil fuels. Burning these fuels causes the car to emit serious pollutants, such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrous oxide. Not only are these gases harmful for health, causing respiratory disease and other illnesses, they also contribute to global warming, an increasing problem in the modern world. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists (2013), transportation in the US accounts for 30% of all carbon dioxide production in that country, with 60% of these emissions coming from cars and small trucks. In short, pollution is a major drawback of cars. A further disadvantage is the traffic problems that they cause in many cities and towns of the world. While car ownership is increasing in almost all countries of the world, especially in developing countries, the amount of available roadway in cities is not increasing at an equal pace. This can lead to traffic congestion, in particular during the morning and evening rush hour. In some cities, this congestion can be severe, and delays of several hours can be a common occurrence. Such congestion can also affect those people who travel out of cities at the weekend. Spending hours sitting in an idle car means that this form of transport can in fact be less convenient than trains or aeroplanes or other forms of public transport. In conclusion, while the car is advantageous for its convenience , it has some important disadvantages , in particular the pollution it causes and the rise of traffic jams . If countries can invest in the development of technology for green fuels, and if car owners can think of alternatives such as car sharing, then some of these problems can be lessened. References
Union of Concerned Scientists (2013). Car Emissions and Global Warming. www.ucsusa.org/clean vehicles/why-clean-cars/global-warming/ (Access date: 8 August, 2013)
GET FREE EBOOK
Like the website? Try the books. Enter your email to receive a free sample from Academic Writing Genres .
Below is a checklist for the main body of an essay. Use it to check your own writing, or get a peer (another student) to help you.
Next section
Find out how to structure the conclusion of an essay in the next section.
Previous section
Go back to the previous section about the essay introduction .
Author: Sheldon Smith ‖ Last modified: 26 January 2022.
Sheldon Smith is the founder and editor of EAPFoundation.com. He has been teaching English for Academic Purposes since 2004. Find out more about him in the about section and connect with him on Twitter , Facebook and LinkedIn .
Compare & contrast essays examine the similarities of two or more objects, and the differences.
Cause & effect essays consider the reasons (or causes) for something, then discuss the results (or effects).
Discussion essays require you to examine both sides of a situation and to conclude by saying which side you favour.
Problem-solution essays are a sub-type of SPSE essays (Situation, Problem, Solution, Evaluation).
Transition signals are useful in achieving good cohesion and coherence in your writing.
Reporting verbs are used to link your in-text citations to the information cited.
The Ultimate Guide to Paragraphs
Like a scene in a movie or a verse in a song, paragraphs are the building blocks of any good piece of writing . Paragraphs lend a natural rhythm to your writing that makes it a joy to read. The question is, how do you handle them successfully?
Below, we take a close look at what makes up an effective paragraph and explain how to write one that suits your needs. We also cover some advanced tips. But first, let’s start with the fundamentals.
Improve your writing Grammarly helps you wherever you write. Write with Grammarly
What is a paragraph?
Simply put, a paragraph is a collection of sentences all related to a central topic, idea, or theme. Paragraphs act as structural tools for writers to organize their thoughts into an ideal progression, and they also help readers process those thoughts effortlessly. Imagine how much harder reading and writing would be if everything was just one long block of text.
There’s a lot of flexibility when it comes to writing paragraphs, but if there’s one steadfast rule, it’s this: Paragraphs should relate to one main topic or point. The paragraph itself often contains multiple points spanning several sentences, but they should all revolve around one core theme. Just as sentences build upon each other to communicate the paragraph’s core theme, paragraphs work together to communicate the core theme of the writing as a whole.
That’s the basic idea, but in practice there’s more to it. Let’s look at the four main types of paragraphs to learn how and when to use them.
Expository paragraphs
Essays, academic papers, and journalistic articles mainly use expository paragraphs to thoroughly explain an individual point. These paragraphs rely on data, statistics, or citations from other sources to present facts and build up to an irrefutable conclusion .
Descriptive paragraphs
Common in fiction and certain styles of journalistic or other nonfiction writing, a descriptive paragraph contains various details of the same thing, with each sentence adding new insight. A paragraph in a horror novel might describe how it feels walking around the woods alone; a love letter’s paragraph might focus on the details of your significant other’s eyes. No matter the context, descriptive paragraphs are meant to provide the clearest picture of your subject.
Persuasive paragraphs
For editorials and opinion pieces, persuasive paragraphs are meant to convince the reader of a specific point, with each sentence presenting evidence or reasoning to support that point. Like expository paragraphs, persuasive paragraphs may contain data and statistics, but here, these work to support an opinion rather than verify a fact. The trick to writing persuasive paragraphs is knowing how to assert your opinion without sounding preachy .
>>Read More: How to Write a Persuasive Essay
Narrative paragraphs
If you’re telling a story, fiction or nonfiction, you’ll need to break up the action into digestible segments so your reader doesn’t get confused. That’s the purpose of narrative paragraphs: they break up sequential actions into related chunks, with one leading into the next, so that the reader can remain focused on the storyline. They don’t use evidence or supporting arguments like the other paragraph types, but they still abide by the main rule of paragraphs about unity.
How to write a paragraph
Knowing the different types of paragraphs is helpful for outlining a piece, but it doesn’t tell you how to write one. Let’s move on to some hands-on tips for writing a perfect paragraph, starting with a sample written in the academic paragraph structure of essays and school papers:
Despite the typos we see in texts and social media, professional environments still value good grammar. For hiring managers, a command of grammar offers honest insight into an applicant’s intelligence, dedication, attention to detail, and professionalism, not to mention communication skills. Good grammar can even land you that promotion: According to a 2013 study , professionals who have been promoted six to nine times made 45 percent fewer grammar mistakes than those promoted one to four times. Learning the difference between there , their , and they’re isn’t just about speaking properly—it’s also a good career move!
Academic paragraphs use a simple-but-efficient structure consisting of four parts:
1. Topic sentence
Despite the typos we see in texts and social media, professional environments still value good grammar.
Also known as the “paragraph leader,” your topic sentence should introduce the concept and communicate what the paragraph is about. Be careful not to squeeze your entire point into this first sentence—you just need to say enough so that the reader knows what the rest will be about.
2. Development
For hiring managers, a command of grammar offers honest insight into an applicant’s intelligence, dedication, attention to detail, and professionalism, not to mention communication skills.
Your second and maybe third sentences are where you elaborate on your point. All the nonessential information that didn’t fit in your topic sentence goes here. The goal is that the reader fully understands the point, so feel free to include citations or assertions from other sources for stronger communication.
Good grammar can even land you that promotion: According to a 2013 study , professionals who have been promoted six to nine times made 45 percent fewer grammar mistakes than those promoted one to four times.
Here’s where you get down to brass tacks: Present your evidence, data, statistics, logical conclusions, persuasive opinion, real-life or hypothetical examples, etc.—anything that confirms your initial statement.
Learning the difference between there , their , and they’re isn’t just about speaking properly—it’s also a good career move!
Last, you want to end by summing up or evaluating your main point—what conclusion can your reader draw from your argument? In addition to wrapping things up, your summary should also follow the best practices for writing conclusions .
Advanced tips for writing paragraphs
How long should a paragraph be.
There are no hard limits to how long or short a paragraph can be, but typically three to five sentences will suffice. Sometimes you may opt for only a single sentence to add emphasis or effect, while other times you’ll need more than five sentences to present all your evidence. Use your discretion—but err on the side of too short instead of too long.
Parallel structure
In sentence construction, parallelism refers to using consistent structure between two clauses or phrases (i.e., saying I prefer trains over buses instead of I prefer trains over a bus ). That same principle applies to paragraphs within a greater text: Each paragraph should have a similar structure for the sake of consistency.
Parallelism is crucial when writing about comparisons or using a point-counterpart format. If you’re comparing two or more arguments, it’s best to maintain the same structure for both arguments (and the paragraphs that explain them). Typically, the two most common formats are known as block and point-by-point .
Let’s say you’re writing an essay comparing apples and oranges. Block structure would use an individual paragraph discussing everything about apples—taste, appearance, etc.—and then follow it with another individual paragraph discussing those same attributes for oranges.
Point-by-point structure, however, would mix it up a little. The first paragraph might center around taste and include data about both apples and oranges. Then the second paragraph would move on to a new point, like appearance, and would likewise include information on both apples and oranges.
Neither format is inherently better than the other—the best choice depends on the topic and context. The important thing is that you stick with your choice throughout the entire piece; switching randomly between formats is considered poor writing.
Transitions
One of the hardest parts of writing involves transitions. Good writing appears seamless, flowing from one point to another. But what do you do if the individual points on their own are disjointed or unrelated? That’s when transitions come in handy—they’re a way to move to a new point without being abrupt or jarring.
Basic transitions can be as simple as adding linking words to the beginning of a sentence: however, by contrast, in addition, on the other hand, etc. If you’re creating a list, you can link each item together using ordinals ( first , second , etc.) or more casual connectors like for starters, next, and last . The same rules for transitioning from sentence to sentence apply just as well when transitioning from paragraph to paragraph.
Here’s a tip: You don’t have to guess whether you’re using certain words correctly or breaking grammar rules in your writing. Just copy and paste your writing to check your grammar and get instant feedback on whether your sentences have misspellings, punctuation errors, or any structural mistakes.
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Every paragraph in your paper needs a topic sentence. The topic sentence expresses what the paragraph is about. It should include two key things: The topic of the paragraph The central point of the paragraph. After the topic sentence, you expand on the point with evidence and examples.
A topic sentence, usually the first sentence in a paragraph, introduces the main idea of that paragraph and sets its tone. A topic sentence is especially important in essays, where topics change from paragraph to paragraph. This makes knowing how to write a topic sentence crucial for any student or writer.
Sometimes topic sentences are actually two or even three sentences long. If the first makes a claim, the second might reflect on that claim, explaining it further. ... in a sentence or two at the beginning of a paragraph or in whole paragraphs that serve as transitions between one part of the argument and the next.
The topic sentence generally is composed of two parts: (a) the topic itself and (b) the controlling idea. The Topic The topic is the subject of the paragraph. It is what the paragraph is all about. The following are topics suitable for a paragraph: The SLR camera Vegetarianism Tokyo Pottery A wedding cake
A topic sentence has two parts: 1) the topic that is being discussed throughout the paragraph and 2) a controlling idea that limits the focus on the topic to one point or idea. Each additional sentence in the paragraph then develops or expounds on that point with supporting details.
Every topic sentence has two parts: a topic (what the paragraph is about) and a controlling idea (the direction the paragraph will take). Take a look at these topic sentence examples in which the topic is bold and the controlling idea is in italics. Cats are very good pets for several reasons.
The topic sentence contains two parts: the topic and a controlling idea. The topic is WHAT the paragraph is going to be about, and the controlling idea explains WHY the paragraph is being written. The topic sentence helps your reader understand the purpose of your paragraph. II. Examples of a Topic Sentence
There are two types of topic sentences: 1. Stated topic sentence - One that is correctly expressed. 2. Implied topic sentence - One that is not stated in the paragraph. The parts of...
A topic sentence has two parts: Topic and Controlling Idea. The Topic section would be telling the reader that the paragraph will discuss some things related to that topic. For example, there's a paragraph which has a topic about Flight Attendants.
It has two parts; a topic & a controlling idea a) the topic part names the topic b) the controlling idea tells what the paragraph will say about the topic. 2. Supporting Sentences : The middle part of the paragraph is called the body, and it consists of sentences that explain, or support, the topic sentence by giving more information.
Essay Structure. Writing an academic essay means fashioning a coherent set of ideas into an argument. Because essays are essentially linear—they offer one idea at a time—they must present their ideas in the order that makes most sense to a reader. Successfully structuring an essay means attending to a reader's logic.
A paragraph is a group of related sentences about a single topic. The topic of a paragraph in one, and only one, idea. A paragraph has three main parts: Topic sentence: the first sentence in a paragraph that names the topic and tells what the paragraph will explain about the topic. Supporting sentences: supporting sentences give examples or ...
Here are some examples from our topic sentence generator with the topics in bold and the controlling ideas in italic . Topic Sentence 1. The world population is strongly impacted by a lack of access to water . Topic Sentence 2. Research has shown that the meat industry has severe environmental impacts .
A topic sentence has several important functions: it substantiates or supports an essay's thesis statement; it unifies the content of a paragraph and directs the order of the sentences; and it advises the reader of the subject to be discussed and how the paragraph will discuss it.
A paragraph is a collection of related sentences dealing with a single topic. Learning to write good paragraphs will help you as a writer stay on track during your drafting and revision stages. Good paragraphing also greatly assists your readers in following a piece of writing. You can have fantastic ideas, but if those ideas aren't presented ...
An effective paragraph has three parts: claim, evidence, and analysis. Claim. This is also sometimes called a topic sentence. This will be your way of announcing the main focus of your paragraph; it should tell the reader what your paragraph will be about. ... Two years ago, my mother's LDL ("bad") cholesterol level was 242, and her HDL ...
A thesis sentence has to contain two parts: Topic - what the essay is about. ... Is there an actual thesis sentence with a topic and an angle? Relying only on an essay topic, or relying only on an essay title, is not enough. Does the angle offer a debatable insight (again, not just a topic and not just a statement of fact)? ...
There are two parts to the topic sentence: the topic itself and the controlling idea. Effective topic sentences involve more than simply stating the subject of the paragraph. The topic sentence should be specific and focused. What is the main point of a topic sentence?
Follow these ideas to create a topic sentence for multiple paragraphs: 1. Identify the main point in your piece of writing Think about the overall topic for your writing. Decide how you can introduce this idea to your readers with an interesting opening sentence. 2. Write a sentence that connects to your main idea with a what and a why
Blank 2: topic sentence Blank 3: repeated Blank 4: general or overall Write Your Own Topic Sentence Read the paragraph below about the racehorse Secretariat. Then, come up with your own topic...
Two parts of a topic sentence are the topic and support. False-' the topic and controlling idea' Supporting sentences develop and explain the topic sentence. True All paragraphs must have a concluding sentence. False-' concluding sentences are not always necessary' The most important sentence of a paragraph is the topic sentence. True
The topic sentence comprises two separate parts: the topic of the paragraph, and the controlling idea, which limits the topic to one or two areas that can be discussed fully in one paragraph. Consider the following topic sentence (from the example essay below): The most striking advantage of the car is its convenience.
Academic paragraphs use a simple-but-efficient structure consisting of four parts: 1. Topic sentence Despite the typos we see in texts and social media, professional environments still value good grammar. Also known as the "paragraph leader," your topic sentence should introduce the concept and communicate what the paragraph is about.
The world's learning company | Pearson