Choose topic sentences for narrative paragraphs

Key Notes :

Many paragraphs begin with a topic sentence. A topic sentence tells the reader what the paragraph is about.

For example, maybe your paragraph is about the first time you went skating. This would be a good topic sentence:

✔ My first time skating was scary but fun.

Your topic sentence should not be too broad. ‘Too broad’ means that the sentence doesn’t tell you exactly what the paragraph is about. It doesn’t give enough detail.

x Skating is a fun sport.

Your topic sentence should not be too narrow. ‘Too narrow’ means that the sentence tells only about a detail.

x I needed help getting my skates on.

Your topic sentence should not be off topic. ‘Off topic’ means that the sentence doesn’t match the paragraph well. It tells about something else.

x A lot of my friends like to go skating.

Learn with an example

▶️ Read the paragraph. Then, add the better topic sentence.

_______The painting shows a girl with big, pretty eyes. Her head is wrapped with a blue-and-yellow scarf. And she has a large pearl hanging from her ear. The painting is called ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’.

  • At the museum, I got to see a beautiful  painting.
  • Some paintings cost a lot of money.

The paragraph is about a beautiful painting someone saw. So, this is the better topic sentence:

✔ At the museum, I got to see a beautiful painting.

This sentence is off topic:

x Some paintings cost a lot of money. The paragraph does not talk about money.

▶️ Read the paragraph. Then, add the better topic sentence.

______I used blue paint to give my monster fuzzy blue fur. I painted his eyes red and his nose purple. To make his sharp teeth, I painted big green triangles. My mum and dad loved my picture.

  • I painted a picture of a monster for my  parents.
  • My favorite painters always use lots of  color.

The paragraph is about painting a picture of a monster. So, this is the better topic sentence:

✔ I painted a picture of a monster for my parents.

This sentence is off topic:

x My favorite painters always use lots of color. The paragraph does not talk about other people who paint with many colors.

▶️ Read the paragraph. Then, add the better topic sentence.

_____ I crawl under the desks and find things that other kids dropped. I look for stuff like pencils and paper clips. When I find them, I put them back where they belong. I make sure that everything is nice and neat.

  • In my classroom, we use pencils and paper clips.
  • This week, my classroom job is to help keep the room clean.

The paragraph is about having a special job in a classroom. So, this is the better topic sentence:

✔ This week, my classroom job is to help keep the room clean.

This sentence is too narrow:

x In my classroom, we use pencils and paper clips.
Only part of the paragraph talks about pencils and paper clips.

let’s practice!