Paragraphs

A paragraph is a group of sentences that share one main idea. A paragraph can stand alone as a composition or may be one part of a longer piece of writing, such as an essay or report. Every paragraph has the same basic structure:
  1. Topic Sentence
  2. Supporting Sentences
  3. Concluding Sentence

Topic Sentences

A topic sentence is the sentence that clearly identifies the main idea in each paragraph. In other words, it controls the focus of the paragraph and contains an idea to be developed with further details. It is usually, but not always, the first or second sentence within a paragraph. Because it contains the controlling idea of the paragraph, it is important to have a strong, well-written topic sentence.

The following are examples of weak topic sentences:

  1. Over 80% of Canadians watch hockey every week.
    • Too narrow. A fact cannot be a topic sentence because it is too specific and does not contain an idea that can be developed.
  2. Television is bad.
    • Too broad. This sentence is too general and needs to be made more specific. Bad for whom? Bad in what way?
  3. Why parents should never hit their children.
    • Incomplete sentence. While this may be a good topic, or a good title, it is not a topic sentence because it is grammatically incomplete.
  4. The purpose of this paragraph is to examine the causes behind the recent increase in street crime.
    • Do not announce your topic or intentions.
A good topic sentence clearly introduces the topic of the paragraph and makes a point about that topic (a main idea). It makes a statement which is neither too specific nor too general. When reading the main idea within the topic sentence, the reader should get a good sense of what type of paragraph he or she will be reading (Narrative, Descriptive, Opinion, Comparison/Contrast, Cause/Effect, Process, Classification, Summary).

Here are some revised versions of the above topic sentences:

  1. Hockey is an important part of Canadian culture.
  2. Unsupervised access to television can have harmful affects on young people.
  3. Parents should never hit their children.
  4. There are several factors that can explain the recent increase in street crime.
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