Practice with Topic Sentences

1
Practice with Topic Sentences

• Write On!

2
Topic Sentences state the main idea of a
paragraph in an interesting way to hook the
reader. All of the details in a paragraph should
support the topic sentence.

• Read the pair of sentences on the next few slides
  and determine which would make a better topic
  sentence and which would make a better detail
  sentence.

3
Which is a better topic sentence?

• Texas has 267,000 square miles.
• Texas is so big that you can find many things to
  do.

4
Which is a better topic sentence?

• A bully is a boy or girl who acts mean or hurtful
  to others.
• Bullies sometimes hit, kick, or push to hurt
  people.

5
Which is a better topic sentence?

• Heavy downpours on Earth's deserts can
  drastically change the landscape of these
  regions.
• Desert plants are mainly ground-hugging shrubs
  and short woody trees.

6
Which is a better topic sentence?

• There are several ways for accurately telling how
  old fossils are.
• The animal dies and sinks to the sea floor.

7
Writing Topic Sentences

• Read the paragraphs on the next few slides. They
  are missing topic sentences. Determine the main
  idea of the paragraph, and write an interesting
  topic sentence to hook the reader to read about
  the topic!

8
What is the main idea of the paragraph?

• Many desert animals are nocturnal. They sleep
  during the day in burrows below the surface of
  the desert or hide in shaded areas. They come out
  at night to eat. Some desert animals do not need
  to drink water. They get water from the foods
  they eat. Most desert animals are small.

a)  Animal Survival b)  Ways Desert Animals
Survive c)  Arabian Camels d)  A Harsh Environment
Brainstorm a good topic sentence for the
paragraph.
9
What is the main idea of the paragraph?

• Some bullies act the way they do to try to
  make themselves feel more important or more
  popular. Other bullies are acting out or copying
  things they have seen. Most bullies do not
  realize or understand how they are hurting
  others.

a)  Angry, Bully, Hate b)  How to Be a Bully c) 
The Art of Playing Soccer d)  Reasons for
Bullying
Brainstorm a good topic sentence for the
paragraph.
10
What is the main idea of the paragraph?

• The first rubber-soled shoes were developed and
  manufactured in the United States in the late
  1800s. The shoe went through several variations
  until 1917 when the first canvas-top rubber-sole
  shoe was sold to the public. Henry Nelson
  McKinney, an advertising agent for N. W. Ayer
  Son, named the new shoes "sneaker" because they
  were quiet as you walked.

This paragraph is referring to Keds.
a)  The Invention of Keds b)  Sport Sandals c) 
Modern Athletic Shoes d)  Melding Rubber to Cloth
Brainstorm a good topic sentence for the
paragraph.