What is a topic sentence?The sentence that expresses the main idea

of the passage.Many times the topic sentence is the first

or last sentence of a paragraph or passage.

A paragraph needs a topic sentence to be effective.

Find the Topic SentenceMax’s little sister can be a pest. For example, yesterday she drew all over his homework with markers. While he was at school, she messed up the puzzle he had been working on for days. Then at dinner, she knocked her glass of milk over and it landed on his lap.

Find the Topic SentenceMax’s little sister can be a pest. For example, yesterday she drew all over his homework with markers. While he was at school, she messed up the puzzle he had been working on for days. Then at dinner, she knocked her glass of milk over and it landed on his lap.

Find the Topic SentenceMany changes happen to a caterpillar as it grows. It gets bigger and bigger as it eats leaves. One day, it forms a fuzzy cocoon. After several weeks, a moth crawls out of the cocoon. It flies away once its wings are dry.

Find the Topic SentenceMany changes happen to a caterpillar as it grows. It gets bigger and bigger as it eats leaves. One day, it forms a fuzzy cocoon. After several weeks, a moth crawls out of the cocoon. It flies away once its wings are dry.

Find the Topic SentenceWhen a whale calf is hungry, it bumps its mother. She squirts milk into the calf’s mouth. It drinks many gallons of milk in a short time. The milk is so rich that the calf can gain eight pounds in one hour! A baby whale needs its mother’s milk to grow.

Find the Topic SentenceWhen a whale calf is hungry, it bumps its mother. She squirts milk into the calf’s mouth. It drinks many gallons of milk in a short time. The milk is so rich that the calf can gain eight pounds in one hour! A baby whale needs its mother’s milk to grow.

Find the Topic SentenceEvery day at 6 a.m., Kim puts on old clothes and heads for the barn. She takes care of her horse before she goes to school. She carries a bucket of fresh water to his stall. Then, she gets a pail of grain and an armload of alfalfa hay. She puts it in his trough. Finally, she takes him to the pasture where he will graze while she is at school.

Find the Topic SentenceEvery day at 6 a.m., Kim puts on old clothes and heads for the barn. She takes care of her horse before she goes to school. She carries a bucket of fresh water to his stall. Then, she gets a pail of grain and an armload of alfalfa hay. She puts it in his trough. Finally, she takes him to the pasture where he will graze while she is at school.

Find the Topic SentenceSome people walk on a treadmill at home or ride a bicycle. Others like to go out dancing, do aerobics, or work out in a gym. Some people prefer to swim. Most people have a favorite way to exercise.

Find the Topic SentenceSome people walk on a treadmill at home or ride a bicycle. Others like to go out dancing, do aerobics, or work out in a gym. Some people prefer to swim. Most people have a favorite way to exercise.

Find the Topic SentenceDogs in the U.S. are treated like humans. People talk to their dogs and buy them special toys and clothing. There are special parks, hotels, restaurants, and bakeries for dogs. Some owners take their dog to see a psychiatrist as well as the veterinarian. American dogs are spoiled like children.

Find the Topic SentenceDogs in the U.S. are treated like humans. People talk to their dogs and buy them special toys and clothing. There are special parks, hotels, restaurants, and bakeries for dogs. Some owners take their dog to see a psychiatrist as well as the veterinarian. American dogs are spoiled like children.

Find the Topic Sentence

Some people leave too many lights on around the house. Some aren’t careful about how much water they use. Americans waste a lot of resources. Most people buy products with a lot of unnecessary packaging that isn’t good for the environment.

Find the Topic SentenceSome people leave too many lights on around the house. Some aren’t careful about how much water they use. Americans waste a lot of resources. Most people buy products with a lot of unnecessary packaging that isn’t good for the environment.

Find the Topic SentenceThe park is a pleasant place for everyone. Little kids like to play on the swings and slides. Older children can play little league baseball or other team sports at the larger parks. Teenagers often play Frisbee on the grass or volleyball in the sand. Adults enjoy taking walks, and some seniors like to sit on the park benches and feed the birds.

Find the Topic SentenceThe park is a pleasant place for everyone. Little kids like to play on the swings and slides. Older children can play little league baseball or other team sports at the larger parks. Teenagers often play Frisbee on the grass or volleyball in the sand. Adults enjoy taking walks, and some seniors like to sit on the park benches and feed the birds.

Find the Topic SentenceIn most paragraphs, the topic sentence appears first. In many paragraphs, however, it comes last. Sometimes it is stated both at the beginning and at the end, in different words. Sometimes it can even be found in the middle of the paragraph. Every paragraph must have a topic sentence in order to be effective.

Find the Topic SentenceIn most paragraphs, the topic sentence appears first. In many paragraphs, however, it comes last. Sometimes it is stated both at the beginning and at the end, in different words. Sometimes it can even be found in the middle of the paragraph. Every paragraph must have a topic sentence in order to be effective.