How can i find topic sentence

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. A well-organized paragraph supports or develops a single controlling idea, which is expressed in a sentence called the topic sentence. Readers generally look to the first few sentences in a paragraph to determine the subject and perspective of the paragraph. 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. 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. 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:. 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. 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.

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 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.

The topic of this sentence is a laboratory report. Scribbr Plagiarism Checker. 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. 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 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. Here are three examples of topic sentences you could use for each of the three body paragraphs :.

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. Have a language expert improve your writing. Check your paper for plagiarism in 10 minutes. Do the check. Generate your APA citations for free!