READING 4

TOPIC
1. UNDERSTANDING TOPICS IN A
SENTENCE
2. IDENTIFYING TOPIC IN A SENTENCES
• A good topic sentence is concise and 
emphatic. It is no longer than the idea
requires, and it stresses the important word or
phrase.
 Positioning a Topic Sentence

If you want readers to see your point immediately, open with the topic sentence. This strategy can be particularly useful in letters of application or in argumentative writing. . . .

"When specific details lead up to a generalization, putting the topic sentence at the end of the paragraph makes sense. . . .

"Occasionally a paragraph's main idea is so obvious that it does not need to be stated explicitly in a topic sentence." (Andrea Lunsford, The St. Martin's Handbook. Bedford/St. Martin's, 2008)
 Guidelines for Composing Topic Sentences

• The topic sentence is the most important sentence in your paragraph.

Carefully worded and restricted, it helps you generate and control your
information. An effective topic sentence also helps readers grasp your main
idea quickly. As you draft your paragraphs, pay close attention to the
following three guidelines:
• Make sure you provide a topic sentence. . . .
• Put your topic sentence first.
• Be sure your topic sentence is focused. If restricted, a topic sentence
discusses only one central idea. A broad or unrestricted topic sentence leads
to a shaky, incomplete paragraph for two reasons:
• The paragraph will not contain enough information to 
support the topic sentence.
• A broad topic sentence will not summarize or forecast specific information in
the paragraph."
• Topic SentenceA topic sentence is the
sentence that tells the main idea of a
paragraph. This sentence tells the reader what
the paragraph will be about, and then the rest
of the paragraph is built around this topic.
• Examples of Topic Sentence:
• 1. In a paragraph about a summer vacation:
My summer vacation at my grandparents' farm was filled with
hard work and fun.
• 2. In a paragraph about school uniforms:
School uniforms would help us to feel more unity as a student
body.
• 3. In a paragraph about how to make a peanut butter and jelly
sandwich:
Making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich is easy if you know the
steps.
• Examples of Topic Sentences from Literature:
• 1. From Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings:
"Momma bought two bolts of cloth each year for winter and summer clothes. She made my
school dresses, underslips, bloomers, handkerchiefs, Bailey's shirts, shorts, her aprons, house
dresses and waists from the rolls shipped to Stamps by Sears and Roebuck.... "
• 2. From John F. Kennedy's inaugural speech, 1961:
The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms
of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which
our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe-the belief that the rights of man come not
from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God. 3. From Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I
Have a Dream" speech:
In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic
wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they
were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise
that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights"
of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on
this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this
sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come
back marked "insufficient funds."
 The first text
• From Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a
Dream" speech:
In a sense we've come to our nation's capital
to cash a check. When the architects of our
republic wrote the magnificent words of the
Constitution and the Declaration of
Independence, they were signing a promissory
note to which every American was to fall heir.
This note was a promise that all men, yes,
• From Maya Angelou's I Know Why the
Caged Bird Sings:
"Momma bought two bolts of cloth
each year for winter and summer
clothes. She made my school dresses,
underslips, bloomers, handkerchiefs,
Bailey's shirts, shorts, her aprons,
house dresses and waists from the
rolls shipped to Stamps by Sears and
Roebuck.... "
 Identifying a topic
• Momma bought two bolts of cloth each year
for winter and summer clothes. She made my
school dresses, underslips, bloomers,
handkerchiefs, Bailey's shirts, shorts, her
aprons, house dresses and waists from the
rolls shipped to Stamps by Sears and
Roebuck.... "
 Identifying a topic in a text
• Eating broccoli is very good for our health. In
addition to the delicious taste, broccoli contains
antioxidants that can combat cancer-causing
radicals, and it is also beneficial to reduce
cholesterol. Furthermore, our bone health will
also be maintained because the calcium content
in broccoli is known to be quite high. Not only
that, the body’s need for vitamins A, B, C, K can
also be met if you are diligent in eating broccoli.
 Identifying a topic in a text
• February 14th is known as international
Valentine’s Day. On that day, lovers will
celebrate it by buying chocolates, flowers,
gifts for their couple or holding a romantic
date. However, many people also use this
moment in confessing love to the person they
like. In addition, the day of love is also often
used as a moment to convey compassion to
our closest people like parents, relatives,
friends, colleagues, family and so forth.
 Identifying a topic in a text
• Raden Ajeng Kartini is an Indonesian women hero
who has fought for women’s right to attend school.
She lives in an era where women are not allowed to
go to school so she herself can not continue to high
school after graduating from elementary school. But
her desire to fight for the right to go to school is very
strong. After marrying Raden Adipati Joyodiningrat,
she decided to set up a special school for women
with support from her husband. As the result, all
women can go to school until now.
• Dream" speech:
In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check.
When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words
of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they
were signing a promissory note to which every American was to
fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as
well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights"
of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today
that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her
citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred
obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a
check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."