Topic Sentence

●In books, essays, narratives?

●THINK about what you already know

SOCIAL STUDIES BOOK

●I notice…I wonder

●What do you notice/wonder?

Authors always intentionally organize their writing

Have you ever thought about the way

writing is organized?

●Tells the reader the main idea of the paragraph

●Paragraphs normally begin with a topic sentence and this is important
because it helps organize your writing and gives readers an idea of what to
expect.

Contains:

●Topic

●controlling idea (what you say about the topic)

Topic sentences should…

●Convey the main idea (or topic) along with a position/opinion about the
topic

●Clear and concise

What is a topic sentence?

Generates questions like…

●Why? For who? Does everyone think that?

How can I change it?

Swimming is a hard sport because you have to wake up early and go to
long practices.

Swimming is a hard sport

topic

Controlling
idea

Second sentence was more meaningful because

Tells readers what to expect, but also helps the writers know how to
develop the rest of their paragraph

Explain topic sentence practice

●Watch me model first

3. Who the most important person in your life is

4. Why school is important to you

1. The best place in the world to live

2. What you should do in Michigan in the winter