Topic Sentences: Definition, Examples And A Complete Guide

If you are a student who gets to write assignments you must be familiar with the term ‘topic sentence’. As the name suggests, the topic sentence is the first sentence of a paragraph. It defines and informs the reader about the main idea of the paragraph. In this blog post, we have compiled the best tips and examples on how to write a topic sentence from GoAssignmentHelp’s best assignment writers.

Things to note about a topic sentence

• A topic sentence is an important structural element of a paragraph.
• It should focus on the generalized idea of a paragraph and not over a certain point only.
• Generally, the first sentence of the paragraph should be the topic sentence. However, one may write a few background sentences and then present the main idea of the paragraph.
• The sentences followed by the topic sentence should explain the topic sentence in detail.
• A topic sentence should set the tone of the paragraph or your attitude, opinion, or feelings about the main topic of the paragraph.

Parts of a topic sentence

Smith, one of the academic experts at GoAssignmentHelp, suggests that a topic sentence can be divided into three parts, namely:

1. Idea
2. Verb
3. Attitude/feeling/opinion/perspective

For instance, consider the following sentence: “One of the main causes of sleeping disorders amongst people is their poor lifestyle.”

We can break this topic sentence in the following way:

Main Idea: One of the main causes of sleeping disorders amongst people

Verb: is

Attitude/feeling/opinion/perspective: their poor lifestyle

The reader can easily judge that the writer is going to talk about how a poor lifestyle contributes to sleeping disorders in people.

Topic sentence writing tips

Now, here are a few tips from online assignment writers that will help you create a topic sentence in just 4 simple steps:

1. Write the thesis statement first

Whether you are writing an essay or a research paper, you must first create a thesis statement. A thesis statement is a sentence defining the main idea of the whole write-up. On the other hand, a topic sentence is specific to a paragraph.

For instance, consider the following sentence:

“This essay will discuss the common problems that cause lack of sleep and their possible solutions.”

This sentence is a thesis statement. It sets up the idea of the essay. The reader will now expect to read about the problems that cause lack of sleep and how those problems can be solved. Then you can state each problem and its solution in separate paragraphs.

1. Draft topic sentences while creating the outline of the write-up

When you are planning your assignment whether it is an essay or any other academic paper, you will write all the main points that you want to mention in the essay. With each of those points, you can create a topic sentence that would help you create the paragraphs later on.

1. Collect proper evidence to support your topic sentences

As you plan your write-up and create all the topic sentences, ensure that you have the proper evidence to back up your claims. You may provide general knowledge or use statistics and data to stress your perspective.

For instance, consider the topic sentence: “One of the main causes of sleeping disorders amongst people is their poor lifestyle.” To support your claim, in this topic sentence, you can say that people nowadays have a sedentary lifestyle and busy schedules. They hardly get time to exercise which makes them lethargic. A recent study conducted by Melbourne University on 500 young adults for 50 days revealed that only 10% of the participants could manage to establish a regular exercise routine while the other 90% were less active throughout the time period.

1. Revise the topic sentences

Your topic sentences should create a logical flow in the write-up. This means that they should all connect and indicate the main topic of the write-up or assignment. For instance, if you are writing an essay about the problems that cause sleeping disorders amongst people then all your topic sentences should focus on one problem each. You cannot talk about any other disorders amongst people except for sleeping.

Sarah, one of the assignment editors with GoAssignmentHelp suggests that one should ensure that the topic sentences can create smooth transitions between two paragraphs. They should be interlinked.

Can quotes be included in a topic sentence?

Many students want to add a creative edge to their writing. So, they often begin their paragraphs with a quote. However, academic assignment writers at GoAssignmentHelp suggest that a topic sentence should not include a quote. It should rather be simple, easy to understand, and should be written in your own words. You can use the quote later in the paragraph as evidence for your topic sentence. It would be credible evidence thus enhancing the quality of your writing.

How long should a topic sentence be?

Online assignments help experts at GoAssignmentHelp suggest that a topic sentence could include two-three sentences or 30-40 words. It should not exceed more than that as it would then further increase the length of your paragraph. So, if you are writing a 100-word paragraph then you should introduce your paragraph topic in just one sentence that is, 10-15 words.

Sample Topic Sentences

Now, here are some examples of topic sentences that will help you understand how to establish the main idea of a paragraph.

Example 1: There could be many reasons why pollution is increasing in the city.

Example 2: An effective leader needs certain qualities.

Example 3: School uniforms ensure unity amongst students.

Example 4: Environmental pollution is now a major concern of the whole world.

Example 5: Reading is one of the most popular past-times of people these days.

Want to create the best topic sentences for your assignment?

We hope that this short guide would have intrigued you on how to create effective topic sentences for your assignments. Still, you might need some expert subject-specific advice while creating the topic sentences for your write-ups. Don’t worry, just connect today with GoAssignmentHelp academic experts and get personalized assistance on how to create impressive topic sentences. Our subject matter experts and academic assignment writers are here to assist you 24X7!