Topic

Sentences
Discussion
Talk with your
partners. What do
you think a topic
sentence is? What’s
the purpose of a
topic sentence?
 Read the following
paragraph. What is it
about?
It’s important to consume healthy food with a lot of
nutrients. For example, I drink a green smoothie for
breakfast and eat a kale salad with brown rice and
chicken for lunch. I can feel my body growing stronger
with these healthy meals. You should also wake up early
and do cardio exercise in the morning. For example, I
wake up at 5 AM and run for 30 minutes and then ride
my bike for 2 hours. Although exercise is important, you
can’t forget your mind. You have to believe in yourself if
you want to achieve this goal. Tell yourself that you can
do it, and you will.
What is the paragraph about? What is
the writer talking about?
What do you think?
Did this person do a
good job using
writing to
meaningfully
communicate his/her
ideas? Why/Why not?
Read the paragraph again.
Is it better? Why?
If you want to come in first in a Spartan
Race, there are several things you need to
do to practice. It’s important to consume
healthy food with a lot of nutrients. For
example, I drink a green smoothie for
breakfast and eat a kale salad with brown rice
and chicken for lunch. I can feel my body
growing stronger with these healthy meals.
You should also wake up early and do cardio
exercise in the morning. For example, I wake
up at 5 AM and run for 30 minutes and then
ride my bike for 2 hours. Although exercise is
important, you can’t forget your mind. You
have to believe in yourself if you want to
achieve this goal. Tell yourself that you can do
it, and you will.
The importance of Topic Sentences
Topic sentences are important
because they keep your reader from
feeling lost or confused. You don’t
want your reader to ask “What is this
about?”
The Reader’s Experience
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This is your goal as a writer of English:

Clear
Direct

And
straight
to
The
point
Practice
 Read the topic and the
possible topic sentences.
Decide which one is the
best.
 1
What do you think are some of the
negative consequences for children who
don’t have access to school?
What do you think are some of the negative consequences
for children who don’t have access to school?

1. It can be very harmful for them and their

future.
2. Education is very important.
3. There can be many negative consequence if
children don’t have access to school.
4. There are three important reasons why
school is very important.
What do you think are some of the negative consequences
for children who don’t have access to school?

It can be very harmful for them and their

future.
What can be harmful? Who can it be harmful
for? This isn’t clear.
What do you think are some of the negative consequences
for children who don’t have access to school?

Education is very important.

This answer is very general and doesn’t address the
topic of the writing prompt.
What do you think are some of the negative consequences
for children who don’t have access to school?

There are three important reasons why school

is very important.
This topic sentence is for a different topic than was
asked for.
What do you think are some of the negative consequences
for children who don’t have access to school?
There can be many negative
consequence if children don’t have access
to school.
This tells us all of the information we need to
know in order to understand the topic and
focus of the paragraph.
 2
Where is the best place to vacation? Why?
 Where is the best place to vacation? Why?
1. Paris is the most beautiful city in the world.
2. Ecuador is because it’s so beautiful and also
affordable.
3. It’s definitely Cancun Mexico.
4. If you want to experience an amazing
vacation, then you definitely need to go to
Thailand.
 Where is the best place to vacation? Why?
Paris is the most beautiful city in the world.

This is very general and doesn’t tell me what the

specific topic is.
 Where is the best place to vacation? Why?
Ecuador is because it’s so beautiful and also
affordable.
Ecuador is what? This doesn’t help me know what
the focus is. Are we talking about a place to
purchase a house?
 Where is the best place to vacation? Why?
It’s definitely Cancun Mexico.
What is Cancun Mexico? This doesn’t tell us
anything specific.
 Where is the best place to vacation? Why?
If you want to experience an amazing
vacation, then you definitely need to go
to Thailand.
This tells us all of the information we need to
know in order to understand the topic and
focus of the paragraph.
 Your Turn
Work with your partners to write a
topic sentence for the following
prompt.
What are several benefits to earning a
college degree?
Share
Write your
group’s topic
sentence on the
board.