Are you sure your topic sentences are close to perfect? Do they really make your paper stronger? Let’s check it!
Topic Sentences: 3 Golden Rules to Follow
Topic sentence in academic writing is the first sentence in each body paragraph, which identifies the main idea of the paragraph that follows.
The 3 golden rules of a good topic sentence are:
- Brief summary of what follows;
- Attention hook for readers;
- No spoilers, disclosing all the arguments at once.
Topic Sentences: 5 Main Types with Cue Words
Whereas all topic sentences pursue the same goal of preparing readers for what will follow in a body paragraph, these sentences can take different forms. For example:
Description
Cue words: is, turns out, has proven.
Example: Animal testing has proven to be not only inhuman, but also ineffective.
Cause and effect
Cue words: causes, influences, effects, results in.
Example: The lack of sleep results in poor concentration.
Verdict
Cue words: should, need to, ought to.
Example: Smoking in public places should be banned.
Relationship
Cue words: related, connected.
Example: There is a direct relationship between the time you invest in study and your grade.
Observation
Cue words: reveal, show.
Example: The recent studies have shown that too much intake of carrots can’t make your eyes healthier.
Sample Topic Sentences
So, a good topic sentence should give a general idea of what readers should expect from the following paragraph and make them curious and willing to continue reading. Did you hear of a hamburger paragraph structure? According to the classic hamburger paragraph structure, the topic sentence should be followed by supporting sentences and a concluding sentence. The latter sentence actually repeats the topic sentence but uses different wording.
Find topic sentence examples in the essay samples below.
- Text vs. film: The transition.
- How early intervention in reading affects the success of a child.
- Who is to blame for global warming?
- Water scarcity: An issue of living in the US.
- Gun control is not the answer.
- Genetic theory of crimes: Is evil really born that way?
- The problem of illegal music downloading.
- Affirmative action policy as a way to fight discrimination.
- To which galaxy do we belong?
- Gender discrimination, harassment, and hostile work environments.
- The travels of a T-shirt in the global economy.
- The causes and effects of the popularity of fast food restaurants.
- Nike and child labor: Case study.
- The future of jobs and work environment.
- What constitutes a good brand name.
- How oil markets affect household budgets.
- Life without a cell phone.
- Is the Affordable Health Care Act successful?
- Opposing views on mandatory vaccination.
- In defense of video games.
- The mass media’s role in terrorism.
- Media violence & children: What goes in must come out.
- Is sexual assault worse than physical assault?
- Human trafficking and sex slavery in Texas.
- Why Turkish membership of the European Union has continually been rejected?
- The importance of sexual education.
- Money can buy happiness: Is it true?
- The ascent of money: A financial history of the world.
- Do men and women communicate differently?
- Gay child adoption: There is no middle ground.
So, that was probably all you need to know to make your essay structure just perfect and convince everyone that it deserves an A and nothing less than it.