Topic sentence facts for kids
A topic sentence is like the main idea of a paragraph, usually found at the very beginning. It tells you what the whole paragraph is going to be about, giving you a quick summary of the information that follows. Think of it as a mini-thesis statement for just one paragraph. It helps keep your writing organized and makes it easier for readers to understand your ideas.
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What is a Topic Sentence?
A topic sentence acts as a guide for your readers. It gives them a clear idea of what to expect in the paragraph. It also helps you, the writer, stay focused on one main idea per paragraph. This makes your writing clear and easy to follow. A good topic sentence is broad enough to cover all the details in the paragraph, but also specific enough to introduce the main point.
Different Ways to Write Topic Sentences
Topic sentences can be written in several ways. Each style helps connect ideas and guide the reader through your writing.
Using Complex Sentences
A complex sentence has two parts: one part that can stand alone as a sentence (the main idea) and another part that cannot. You can use this type of sentence to link your current paragraph to the one before it. The first part of the sentence might refer to what you just talked about. The second part introduces the new idea for the current paragraph.
For example:
While ants usually work for their community, they also do things for themselves.
In this example, "While ants usually work for their community" might refer to the previous paragraph. The second part, "they also do things for themselves," tells you what the new paragraph will be about. It shows how ants also focus on their own needs.
Asking Questions
Sometimes, you can start a new paragraph with a question. This type of topic sentence can remind the reader of what was just discussed. It also introduces a new idea or problem that the current paragraph will explore.
For example:
But will the current budget cuts be enough to balance the school district’s budget?
This question refers to the topic of budget cuts from the previous paragraph. However, it also sets up the new paragraph. The new paragraph will likely discuss why these cuts might not be enough to fix the budget.
Showing a Change in Direction (Pivots)
A "pivot" topic sentence usually appears in the middle of a paragraph. It signals that the information is about to change direction. This is often used when you want to show different opinions or ideas about a topic. These sentences often include words like "yet," "however," or "sometimes."
For example, a paragraph might start by explaining one idea. Then, a pivot sentence will introduce a different view:
Some experts have identified 5 stages of grief – denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. They have explained the symptoms of each stage to help people understand their feelings. However, since their original work, other psychologists have created different models of grief that question some of these ideas….
The underlined part is the pivot point. The first part of the paragraph talks about the first group of experts. The pivot sentence then introduces the idea that other experts have different opinions. The rest of the paragraph would then discuss these new ideas.
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