The topic sentence is explained by

1
Writing Paragraphs

• The topic sentence is explained by
• the details in the paragraph.

2
What is a written paragraph?

• A paragraph has many of the elements in an essay.
• A paragraph is a group of sentences that develop
  a single topic or main idea.
• Most paragraphs in college writing have four to
  eight sentences.
• The key to writing a good paragraph is to use
  just enough sentences to develop the topic.

How literate is the secretary?
3
What kinds of sentences are there?

• In most college writing, the paragraph has two
  basic types of sentences
• the topic sentence
• the support sentences
• College students can write enough sentences to
  think that they have paragraphs and essays, but
  the writing is pointless without the topic
  sentence and clear support sentences.

Is the writers idea well-supported?
4
What is this paragraphs point?

• College students have large tests, but high
  school, students have small tests. Students also
  do other students homework so they can pass the
  class. However, this epitome doesnt work for
  college students. And college students should
  devote all their spare time in studying and
  working with other classmates for a better
  understanding of the concepts and lectures.

__1. College and high school have different
tests? __2. High school students cheat on
homework? __3. College students cannot cheat on
homework? __4. College students must study
more? __5. None of the abovethere is no clear
point?
How literate is the secretary?
How organized is this paragraph?
5
This paragraph lacks a point!

• College students have large tests, but high
  school students have small ones. Students also
  do other students homework so they can pass the
  class. However, this epitome doesnt work for
  college students. College students should devote
  all their spare time in studying and working with
  other classmates for a better understanding of
  the concepts and lectures.

__1. College and high school have different
tests? __2. High school students cheat on
homework? __3. College students cannot cheat on
homework? __4. College students must study
more? X_5. None of the abovethere is no clear
point!
How literate is the secretary?
Can a paragraph have no topic?
6
What is the topic sentence?

• The topic sentence states the main idea of the
  paragraph.
• Putting the topic sentence first helps to
  organize the paragraph.
• The topic sentence has two parts
• the topic/subject
• the controlling idea

Why are some topics safe and others not?
7
Where do topic sentences come from?

• Topic sentences come from the thesis sub-points.
• Thesis Students attend college for academic,
  social, and career-related reasons.
• Which is the topic sentence for body paragraph
  three?
• __1. Students attend college for academic
  reasons.
• __2. Students attend college for social reasons.
• __3. Students attend college for career-related
  reasons.

Arent careers bummers?
8
Good writers use topic sentences

• Topic sentences come from the thesis sub-points.
• Thesis Students attend college for academic,
  social, and career-related reasons.
• Which is the topic sentence for body paragraph
  three?
• __1. Students attend college for academic
  reasons.
• _X 2. Students attend college for social reasons.
• __3. Students attend college for career-related
  reasons.

Is college like that?
9
What is the controlling idea?

• The topic is the subject of the paragraph.
• The controlling idea states what the writer will
  develop about the subject of the paragraph.
• The controlling idea also contains the writers
  attitude toward the subject.
• Example The conventional way to start a
  paragraph is with a topic sentence.

Do the mans ideas follow?
10
Can you tell what is provable?

• Soccer is a popular high school sport.
• LeBron James is an NBA basketball player.
• Soccer is a popular high school sport because it
  doesnt cost much to fund.
• LeBron James diverse skills make him an exciting
  NBA basketball player.

• Can you match these items?
• Topic with controlling ideaa true topic
  sentence.
• Topic with only a factual statementnot a topic
  sentence.
• Topic with attitude or opinion onlya broad
  statement.

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You see what controlling ideas are.
_C_ 1. Soccer is a popular high school
sport. _B_ 2. LeBron James is a NBA basketball
player. _A_ 3. Soccer is a popular high school
sport because it doesnt cost much to fund. _A_
4. LeBron James diverse skills make him an
exciting NBA basketball player.

• You can match these items
• Topic with controlling ideatrue topic sentence.
• Topic with only a factual statementnot a topic
  sentence.
• Topic with attitude or opinion onlynot a topic
  sentence.

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Can you find the controlling idea?

• Dalton State offers some great academic programs.
• Berry College costs over five times as much as
  Dalton State does.
• Dalton State is a much better college than
  Chattanooga State.
• College helps students develop career-related
  skills.

• Can you match items?
• Topic with controlling ideatrue topic sentence.
• Topic with only a factual statementnot a topic
  sentence.
• Topic with attitude or opinion onlyjust a broad
  statement.

13
You can find the controlling idea
_C_ 1. Dalton State offers some great academic
programs. _B_ Berry College costs over five times
as much as Dalton State does. _C_ 3. Dalton State
is a much better college than Chattanooga
State. _A_ 4. College helps students develop
career-related skills.

• You can match items
• Topic with controlling ideatrue topic sentence.
• Topic with only a factual statementnot a topic
  sentence.
• Topic with attitude or opinion onlynot a topic
  sentence.

14
Can you fit topics with statements?

• is/are too expensive for many to afford.
• should be ended because it is just too expensive.
• can help to provide the nation with power.
• is/are very dangerous to the environment.
• could be nationalized to offer universal
  benefits.
• might become common if they are appropriately
  priced.

• __1. Nuclear energy
• __2. Hybrid vehicles
• __3. The Middle East war
• __4. Medical care

15
You can match topics to statements

• is/are too expensive for many to afford.
• should be ended because it is just too expensive.
• can help to provide the nation with power.
• is/are very dangerous to the environment.
• could be nationalized to offer universal
  benefits.
• might become common if they are appropriately
  priced.

• _C_ 1. Nuclear energy
• _F_ 2. Hybrid vehicles
• _B_ 3. The Middle East war
• _E_ 4. Medical care

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What are support sentences?

• Support sentences follow from the topic sentence.
• They develop the subject by using
• specific examples
• details
• facts
• Support sentences must be consistent with the
  supporting idea to unify the passage into a
  paragraph.

What kind of support does Junior have for his
idea that his dad should overlook his report
card?
17
How do we create support sentences?

• Support sentences answer unstated questions about
  the topic sentence.
• To create support sentences, the writer asks
  himself six questions about the topic
• Who
• What
• Where
• When
• Why
• How

Was this the right answer?
18
Which ones best support the topic?

• Topic sentence
• College helps students develop career-related
  skills.

__1. Speech class encourages students to build
the public speaking ability that many professions
require. __2. Physical activity courses allow
students to relax from the intellectual rigors of
the classroom. __3. Writing lets students process
logical thoughts in formal English as required in
many careers. __4. Art class develops the
students sense of free creative expression. __5.
College algebra expands the students ability to
process numerical data, a skill many positions
require.
Also, do these support sentences answer who, why,
what, or how?
19
The sentences that support the topic

• Topic sentence
• College helps students develop career-related
  skills.

__1. Speech class encourages students to build
the public speaking ability that many professions
demand. __2. Physical activity courses allow
students to relax from the intellectual rigors of
the classroom. __3. Writing lets students process
logical thoughts in formal English as needed in
many careers. __4. Art class develops the
students sense of free creative expression. __5.
College algebra expands the students ability to
process numerical data, a skill many positions
require.
These support sentences answer what and how.
20
Can you select the correct ending?

• College helps students develop career-related
  skills. Speech class encourages students to build
  the public speaking ability that many professions
  require. Writing lets students process logical
  thoughts in formal English as required in almost
  all careers.
• College algebra expands the students ability to
  process numerical data, a skill many positions
  require.
• Which ending best suits this paragraph?
• __1. Other skills such as art and music are also
  useful.
• __2. College can also help students develop
  social skills.
• __3. Thus, college builds many career-related
  abilities.

Which one is most closely related to the topic
sentence?
21
You can select the apt conclusion

• College helps students develop career-related
  skills. Speech class encourages students to build
  the public speaking ability that many professions
  require. Writing lets students process logical
  thoughts in formal English as required in almost
  all careers.
• College algebra expands the students ability to
  process numerical data, a skill many positions
  require.
• This ending best suits this paragraph
• __1. Other skills such as art and music are also
  useful.
• __2. College can also help students develop
  social skills.
• _X 3. Thus, college builds many career-related
  abilities.

The topic sentence should lead to the logical
conclusion.
22
Paraphrase the main idea

• Topic sentence That sunlight is bad and that
  people who tan are recklessly risking their lives
  has become conventional wisdom.
• Which is the best paraphrase?
• __1. Most people believe that very much exposure
  to the sun can hurt them physically.
• __2. The exposure of the sun and the concern that
  it brings to human health affects millions of
  Americans.
• __3. Many Americans believe that very much
  sunlight is excessively reckless for their health.

23
Conclusions reword topic sentences

• Topic sentence That sunlight is bad and that
  people who tan are recklessly risking their lives
  has become conventional wisdom.
• Which is the best paraphrase?
• X_1. Most people believe that very much exposure
  to the sun can hurt them physically.
• __2. The exposure of the sun and the concern that
  it brings to human health affects millions of
  Americans.
• __3. Many Americans believe that very much
  sunlight is excessively reckless for their health.

24
Can you paraphrase topic sentences?

• Original However, in 2004, Michael Holick, M.D.,
  a professor of medicine and physiology at Boston
  University School of Medicine, published a book
  entitled The UV Advantage.
• Paraphrase
• __1. Dr. Michael Holicks 2004 textbook The UV
  Advantage is by a professor of medicine and
  physiology at Boston School of Medicine.
• __2. The UV Advantage (2004) by Prof. Michel
  Holick of a Boston medical college rejects such
  common fears of the sun.

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Always paraphrase the main idea.

• Original Text
• However, in 2004, Michael Holick, M.D., a
  professor of medicine and physiology at Boston
  University School of Medicine, published a book
  entitled The UV Advantage.
• Paraphrase
• The UV Advantage (2004) by Prof. Michel Holick
  of a Boston medical college rejects such common
  fears of the sun.

How much sunshine can the guy take?
26
Always paraphrase the main idea.

• Original Text
• In his book, Holick challenges the idea that the
  sun is always bad, arguing that sunlight is
  actually necessary for good health.
• Which paraphrase is proper?
• __1. Through his book, Dr. Holick challenges the
  notion that the sun is normally bad he argues
  that solar light is really vital to abundant
  health.
• __2. Prof. Holick disagrees that the sun is
  hurtful and even states that it is vital to
  health.

27
Conclusions paraphrase topic sentences.

• Original Text
• In his book, Holick challenges the idea that the
  sun is always bad, arguing that sunlight is
  actually necessary for good health.
• Which paraphrase is proper?
• __1. Through his book, Dr. Holick challenges the
  notion that the sun is normally bad he argues
  that solar light is really vital to abundant
  health.
• X_2. Prof. Holick disagrees that the sun is
  hurtful and even states that it is vital to
  health.

Does the magic mirror have a point?
28
Conclusions paraphrase topic sentences.

• Original Text
• Wrote Holick because humans obtain 90 of
  vitamin D from the sun and it helps to strengthen
  bones and protect against illnesses like diabetes
  and multiple sclerosis, people should expose
  themselves to sunlightwithout sun blockfor 5 to
  10 minutes every day.

• Paraphrase
• Just a few minutes per day in the sun creates
  most of our vitamin D, giving us strong bones to
  resist degenerative diseases, Holick notes.