Topic Sentences

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Topic Sentences

• http//www.geocities.com/fifth_grade_tpes/longfell
  ow.html

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THINK

• Every paragraph needs a topic sentence. The topic
  sentence is usually the first sentence of the
  paragraph. It gives the reader an idea of what
  the paragraph is going to be about.  The
  supporting sentences need to be about the idea
  presented in the topic sentence. In a paragraph,
  every sentence should "belong". http//www.geociti
  es.com/fifth_grade_tpes/longfellow.html

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Proper Paragraph

• Here is an example of a proper paragraph with
  supporting sentences  
• I had a wonderful summer. First, I started
  sleeping in every day. I would then go swimming
  with my friends. I stayed up late watching TV a
  lot, and I went to camp for a week. I wished my
  summer would never end!

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What is the topic sentence? (Ask yourself what
the paragraph is about.)

• "I had a wonderful summer." is the topic
  sentence.
• Everything else supports that idea.
• The final sentence is the concluding sentence. It
  sums up what the author wants to communicate in
  the paragraph.
• "I wished my summer would never end!"

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Here is an example of a paragraph that has a
sentence that doesn't quite fit in. Try to find
it!

•  
• Regardless of what some people may
  think, the desert is a beautiful place. The
  blossoming wildflowers in the spring are a joy to
  see. Spectacular sunsets delight the eye.
  Sometimes I go swimming. The occasional quail or
  roadrunner dart across the sandy roads. It is a
  unique experience.
• What doesn't belong?
• "Sometimes I go swimming." has nothing whatsoever
  to do with the topic sentence that states that
  the desert is a beautiful place.
• Get rid of it!

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Topic Sentence Quiz

• This quiz contains 13 questions .  Each question
  contains a general topic and several specific
  supporting details that can be used to support
  the topic.  In each question, choose the general
  topic. 
• The first quiz question is as follows
• 1.  What is the main topic? 
• Avoiding burglaries
• Locking doors
• Leaving lights on
• Installing an alarm system
• As you can see, the first answer has been checked
  to indicate that "avoiding burglaries" is the
  main idea while (a) locking doors, (b) leaving
  lights on, and (c) installing an alarm system can
  be used to support "avoiding burglaries."  Answer
  all the quiz questions in this manner.

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Topic Sentence Quiz
http//eslbee.com/cgi-bin/quiztest.cgi?specifictop
ics