TOPIC SENTENCE

The topic sentence states the main idea or topic of the paragraph. The sentences
that follow the topic sentence must relate and support the claim or position made in
the topic sentence.

As with all writing, teachers should first model proper topic sentences to have
students identify the topic and the claim in the sentence, regardless of the academic
discipline.

For example, these models of topic sentences inform the reader about a topic and
the claim that will be supported in the paragraph:

 Topic Sentence: "Pets are important to many people because they can
improve the overall health of the pet owner."
o Topic: "Pets"
o Claim: "Improve the overall health of the pet owner."
 Topic Sentence: "Coding requires a number of different skills."
o Topic: "Coding"
o Claim: "Requires a number of different skills."
 Topic Sentence: "There are many reasons why housing in Singapore is the
best in the world."
o Topic: “Housing in Singapore”
o Claim: "Housing in Singapore is the best in the world."
 Topic Sentence: "Drama class requires students to be collaborative and
willing to take risks."
o Topic: "Drama class"
o Claim: "Drama class requires students to be collaborative and willing
to take risks."

Writing the Topic Sentence

The topic sentence should not be too general or too specific. The topic sentence
should still provide the reader with the basic 'answer' to the question being posed.
A good topic sentence should not include details. Placing the topic sentence at the
beginning of a paragraph ensures that the reader knows precisely what information
is going to be presented.

Topic sentences should also alert the reader as to how the paragraph or the essay
has been organized so that the information can be better understood. These
paragraph text structures can be identified as compare/contrast, cause/effect,
sequence, or problem/solution.

As with all writing, students should be given multiple opportunities to identify

topics and claims in models. Students should practice writing topic sentences for
many different topics in all disciplines using different test structures.

Compare and Contrast Topic Sentences

The topic sentence in a comparison paragraph would identify the similarities or

similarities and differences in the topic of the paragraph. A topic sentence in a
contrast paragraph would identify only differences in topics. The topic sentences in
compare/contrast essays may organize the information subject by subject (block
method) or point by point. They may list comparisons in several paragraphs and
then follow those with contrast points. The topic sentences of comparison
paragraphs may use transition words or phrases such as ƒ as well as,
correspondingly, ƒ compared to, just like, likewise, similarly, and the same as.
Topic sentences of contrast paragraphs may use transition words or phrases such
as: although, conversely, even though, however, in contrast, on the other hand, to
the contrary, and unlike. ƒ

Some examples of compare and contrast topic sentences are:

 "Animals in the same family share common characteristics. These

characteristics include…"
 "A purchase of a small car has both advantages and disadvantages."

Cause and Effect Topic Sentences

When a topic sentence introduces the effect of a topic, the body paragraphs will
contain evidence of causes. Conversely, when a topic sentence introduces a cause,
the body paragraph will contain evidence of effects.

Transition words used in topic sentences for a cause and effect paragraph may
include:

 Accordingly
 Because
 As a result
 Consequently
 For this reason
  Therefore
 Thus

Some examples of topic sentences for cause and effect paragraphs are:

 "I am great at a grilling a steak, but I can never seem to make a good cake.
This is because…"
 "The United States Civil War was started for a number of reasons. The
causes of the Civil War include:"
 "The Great Depression was a period of great distress and economic
problems for many Americans and individuals across the globe. The effects
of the Great Depression include:"

Some essays require students to analyze the cause of an event or action. In

analyzing this cause, students will need to discuss the effect or consequences of an
event or action. A topic sentence using this text structure can focus the reader on
the cause(s), the effect(s), or both. Students should remember not to confuse the
verb "affect" with the noun "effect." The use of effect means “to influence or
change” while the use of effect means “the result.”

Sequence Topic Sentences

While all essays follow a specific order, a text structure of sequence explicitly
alerts the reader to a 1st, 2nd or 3rd point. A sequence is one of the most common
strategies in organizing an essay when the topic sentence identifies a need to order
the supporting information. Either the paragraphs must be read in order, much like
a recipe, or the writer has prioritized the information using terms such as then, next
or finally.

In a sequence text structure, the body paragraph follows a progression of ideas that
are supported by details or evidence.

The transition words that could be used in topic sentences for sequence paragraphs
may include:

 Afterward
 Before
 Earlier
 Initially
 Meanwhile
 Later
  Previously
 Subsequently

Some examples of topic sentences for sequence paragraphs are:

 "The first reason why a real Christmas tree is preferred by many to an

artificial one is:"
 "Successful leaders of large companies often share similar traits. The most
important trait includes:"
 "Changing the oil in a car is easy only if you follow the steps."

Problem-Solution Topic Sentences

The topic sentence in a paragraph that uses the problem/solution text structure
identifies a problem for the reader. The remainder of the paragraph is dedicated to
offering a solution. Students should be able to provide a reasonable solution or
refute objections in each paragraph.

Transition words that can be used in topic sentences using the problem-solution
paragraph structure are:

 Answer
 Propose
 Suggest
 Indicate
 Solve
 Resolve
 Plan

Some examples of topic sentences for problem-solution paragraphs are:

 "Students can avoid getting sick when they go away to college by taking
certain precautions. Proposed precautions include..."
 "Various health agencies suggest that many kinds of pollution can affect
your health. The different kinds of pollution include…"
 "Texting while driving has increased the number of auto fatalities. One
answer to this problem could be…"

All of the example sentences above can be used with students to illustrate the
different types of topic sentences. If the writing assignment requires a particular
text structure, there are specific transition words that can help students organize
their paragraphs.

Crafting Topic Sentences

Crafting an effective topic sentence is a necessary skill, especially in meeting

college and career readiness standards. The topic sentence requires that student
plan what they are trying to prove in the paragraph before the draft. A strong topic
sentence with its claim will focus the information or message for the reader. In
contrast, a weak topic sentence will result in an unorganized paragraph, and the
reader will be confused because the support or details will not be focused.

Teachers should be ready to use models of proper topic sentences to help students
determine the best structure for delivering information to the reader. There must
also be time for students to practice writing topic sentences.

With practice, students will learn to appreciate the rule that a proper topic sentence
almost lets the paragraph to write itself!

Linkers and connectors

LINKERS

Contrast

. In spite of / Despite Link two contrasting ideas. Followed by a noun phrase.

. Although / (Even) though Link two contrasting ideas. Followed by a sentence.

. However / Nevertheless / Still / Yet / Even so / On the contrary / In contrast.

Introduce a new idea which marks a contrast with previously stated ideas. Introduced by
a comma.

. On the one hand ... On the other hand. Links two contrasting ideas / paragraphs.

. In contrast to / Contrary to. Link two contrasting ideas. Followed by a

noun phrase.
. Whereas Link two contrasting ideas. Not separated by commas.

Reason and cause

. Because / As / Since / Seeing that Introduce a sentence. Subordinate sentences

introduced by because always appear in final position.

. Because of / On account of / Owing to / Due to. Introduce a noun phrase.

Purpose

. In order to / So as to Introduce an infinitive of purpose.

. In order that / So that Introduce a sentence.

Consequence

. Consequently / As a consequence / As a result / Therefore

. As a consequence of / As a result of Followed by a noun phrase.

. So Introduces a sentence. No commas.

Addition

. Moreover / Furthermore / In addition / Besides / What's more Used after

a strong pause and separated from the sentences. They are introduced by a comma.

. As well as / In addition to / Besides Used to add one more piece of information.

Followed by a noun phrase.

. Exemplification

For example / For instance Introduces an example referring to previously stated

ideas.

. Such as Introduces an example referring to the last idea.

CONNECTORS
Contrast

. but / yet: followed by a noun phrase or a sentence.

‘The book is short but / yet interesting’

. in spite of / despite: It is placed at the beginning or in the middle of the sentence.

‘He arrived on time despite / in spite of getting up late’

although / though/ even though / in spite of the fact that: followed by a complete
sentence. They can be placed at the beginning or in the middle of the sentence. If it is
placed at the beginning we need to use a comma after the clause.

‘Although / though / even though / in spite of the fact that the pupils had not studied,
they all passed their exams’.

. however, nevertheless, even so, on the one hand, on the other hand, on the
contrary:

‘He was quite ill however/ nevertheless/ even so, he went to school’

. while, whereas
‘This film is very interesting, while/whereas that one is quite boring’

Reason and cause

. because, as since, seeing that:

‘Because / as / since / seeing that it’s late, we should go home’

. because of, on account of, owing to, due to:

‘Because of / on account of / owing to / due to the weather, we stayed at home’

. in order to, so as to, to:

‘She uses her video in order to / so as to / to record TV programmes’

Add information

. for example, for instante, such as:

‘Vegetables are a good source of vitamins: for example / for instance, oranges have
vitamin C’

. more over, furthermore, besides, in addition to:

‘In addition to soul music, she likes rap’

. apart from, except for:

‘Apart from English, she speaks French’.

Succession

. - First of all / Firstly / To begin with / First ….

- Second / Secondly / Then …
- Third / Thirdly / After that...
- The next stage …
- Finally / in short / to sum up / in conclusion / lastly / last but not least…

Result

. As a result of:
‘As a result of his brave action, he was awarded a military medal.

Therefore, as a result, consequently, for this reason:

‘Consequently / for this reason, it always passes its annual road test’.

Order

First parragraph

At first sight: A primera vista

First: En primer lugar
First of all: Antes que nada
In the first place: En primer lugar
To start with: Para empezar

Second parragraph

In the second place: En segundo lugar

Second: Segundo
Secondly: En segundo lugar
Third: Tercero
Thirdly: En tercer lugar

Conclusion

Finally: Por último

In conclusion: Para concluir
Lastly: Por último
And eventually: Y finalmente

Adding information

apart from: Aparte de

in addition: Además
in addition to: Además de
What’s more: Además; lo que es más
moreover: Además
on top of that: Además
besides: Además
On the one hand: Por una parte
On the other hand: Por otra parte
and eventually: Y finalmente