DONG NAI UNIVERSITY

LECTURER: MAI THI LAN ANH

🍒 WRITING 2
TITLE & TOPIC
SENTENCE

2
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Why?

-to organize and limit your thoughts

-For longer essays or reports, though,
the use of titles will become more
necessary.
-A title tells the reader what the topic
of the paragraph is.
3
 Title
(topic of the
Topic paragraph)
Supporting
sentence sentences
(the main idea of the (talking about or
paragraph/ the most explaining the topic
general sentence) sentence)

A paragraph

Concluding sentence
(repeating the main idea or just giving
a final comment about the topic)
 TIPS FOR WRITING A TITLE
1. The first, last, and all important words in a
title are capitalized. Prepositions and articles are
not considered important words in a title.
Prepositions of more than 5 letters, however, may
be capitalized. Articles that begin the title, of
course, are capitalized.
2. The title of a paragraph or essay is not
underlined.
 TIPS FOR WRITING A TITLE
3. The title is not enclosed in quotation marks, nor
is it ended with a period.
Rewrite the following titles in the correct way
Ex: a. my greater culture shock
b. how to choose a good used car
c. the effects of inflation
d. riding the subway in new york
 TIPS FOR WRITING A TITLE

Ex: My Greater Culture Shock

How to Choose a Good Used Car
The Effects of Inflation
Riding the Subway in New York
 THE TOPIC SENTENCE
- usually (but not always) the first sentence in a
paragraph
- briefly indicates what the paragraph is going to discuss
a helpful guide to both the writer and the reader.

The writer can see The reader can

- what information to - see what the paragraph
include is going to be about
- what information to - be better prepared to
exclude understand it
 Three Important Points to Remember about a Topic
Sentence

Are these topic sentences?

Driving on freeways.
The importance of gold.
How to register for college classes.

1. A topic sentence is a complete sentence;

that is, it contains a subject, a verb, and
(usually) a complement.
 2. A topic sentence contains both a topic and a
controlling idea. It names the topic and then limits the
topic to a specific area to be discussed in the space of a
single paragraph.

•Identify the topic and controlling idea in the following

topic sentences:
Driving on freeways requires skill and alertness.
Gold, a precious metal, is prized for
two important characteristics.
Registering for college classes can be a frustrating
experience for new students.
 3. A topic sentence is the most general statement
in the paragraph because it gives only the main
idea. It does not give any specific details.
Can the following sentences serve as topic sentences?
* English is a difficult language to learn. Too general

* The Arabic original of many English words is not

always obvious. Good topic sentence

* My sister has played the piano for ten years and has
won three competitions. Too specific
 For each of these paragraphs, choose the sentence from
the list below that would make the best topic sentence.
A.
……………………………………….................. When Ken wanted to
enter a good university, he studied hard to pass the examination.
The first time he took the exam, he did not do well, and he felt very
discouraged. But he knew he wanted to study at that university, so
he studied more. The next year, he tried taking the exam again. The
second time, he did very well, and now he is studying engineering. I
believe Ken is a good role model for me, and he has taught me that
never giving up is the best way to succeed.
1. One of my closest friends, named Ken, is a person I can trust.
2. My friend Ken is a very successful student.
3. I admire my friend Ken because he doesn't give up.
 For each of these paragraphs, choose the sentence from
the list below that would make the best topic sentence.
B.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………… Many children
begin learning to play football when they are very young. You can often see
them playing at school or in the streets around their houses. At secondary
school, students may play football in a team and compete in championships.
If a player is very good, he might go on to play for a professional team. People
in my country love watching football on television and also go to matches
whenever they can. Many people have a favourite team or player, and
everyone loves to talk about matches and competitions. Football is really like
a national sport in my country.
1. I love playing football, and I hope I can become a professional player one
day.
2. There are many popular sports in my country, but the most popular sport
is football.
3. Football is a difficult sport to learn to play well.
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