Choose topic sentences for expository 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.
_______ For example, the stegosaurus had flat teeth like cows and giraffes have. Those animals eat plants. So, scientists can tell that the stegosaurus was a plant eater. Like tigers and wolves, raptors had sharp teeth. This tells scientists that raptors were also meat eaters.
- Scientists can tell if a dinosaur ate plants or meat by looking at its teeth.
- Dinosaur eggs tell scientists a lot about different dinosaurs.
The paragraph is about how scientists use dinosaurs’ teeth to tell what they ate. So, this is the better topic sentence:
✔Scientists can tell if a dinosaur ate plants or meat by looking at its teeth.
This sentence is off topic:
x Dinosaur eggs tell scientists a lot about different dinosaurs.
The paragraph does not talk about dinosaur eggs .
▶️ Read the paragraph. Then, add the better topic sentence.
_______ It looks like a tiny guitar with four strings. To play the instrument, people strum, or pick the strings with their fingers. Ukuleles are popular in music from Hawaii. They are sometimes called ukes for short.
- Many singers can also play musical instruments.
- The ukulele is a kind of musical instrument.
The paragraph is about an instrument called the ukulele. So, this is the better topic sentence:
✔ The ukulele is a kind of musical instrument.
This sentence is off topic:
x Many singers can also play musical instruments. The paragraph does not talk about singers.
▶️ Read the paragraph. Then, add the better topic sentence.
______ These birds are good at remembering things. They can collect and hide stuff, and they remember where they put it. Crows can also work together to chase away other animals. And some crows can learn to make and use tools.
- Crows build the best nests.
- Crows are some of the world’s smartest birds.
The paragraph is about the smart things that crows do. So, this is the better topic sentence:
✔ Crows are some of the world’s smartest birds.
This sentence is off topic:
x Crows build the best nests. The paragraph does not talk about nests.
let’s practice!
