Module 1 Good Topic Sentences

A good topic sentence should include 2 things:  One clear topic.  An opinion or idea about the topic. (Topic and controlling idea)

In the first topic sentence, there is not one clear topic. Will the paragraph be about friends or about school?

Weak: It’s important to have friends, and also to

do well in school

Strong: I don’t think I will ever have a better friend

than heather.

In the first topic sentence there is not an opinion about the topic. It is just a fact.

Weak: I have been studying

Karate.

Strong: Studying karate has given me strength

and self-confidence.

Too narrow (not enough to write / it’s just a fact)

Weak: School starts at 8:30. Strong: Getting ready for school in the morning is more difficult

than any of my classes.

Too broad (too much to write about)

Weak: Australia is an interesting country.

Strong: On my visit to Australia I saw many

unusual animals.

A good topic should NOT be

Too Broad or Too Narrow? A good topic sentence presents an idea that can be discussed in a single paragraph.

If your topic sentence is too broad, you will not be able to to discuss it in just one paragraph.

If your topic sentence is too narrow, you will not be able to say much about it.

How can you tell if your topic sentence is too

general or too specific?

Try brainstorming or branching to generate ideas. If you can develop the topic in many directions, or if you have trouble choosing details from a wide range of choices, your topic is probably too general.

If you cannot think of anything to explain or support it, your topic sentence is too specific.

Too Broad, Too Narrow, or just right?

Too broad: Mystery novels are fun to read. Too narrow: The last mystery novel I read was 300 pages long. Just right: The plot of the novel May Tomorrow Never Come is suspenseful.

Too broad: Eating correctly is important. Too narrow: Spinach is an excellent source of iron. Just right: An important step in preventing heart disease is eating fruits and vegetables.