April 05, 2016

Topic Sentences & Body Paragraphs

April 05, 2016

Purposes of a Topic Sentence:

1. To substantiate or support an essay’s thesis statement

2. To unify the content of a paragraph and establish a general sense of organization

3. To present to the audience the subject to be discussed and how the paragraph will treat that subject

4. Readers generally look to the first few sentences in a paragraph to determine the subject and the writer’s perspective. Therefore, it is usually best to place the topic sentence at the very beginning of the paragraph. In some cases, however, it may be more effective to place another sentence before the topic sentence—for example, a sentence linking the current paragraph to the previous one, or a sentence providing critical background information .

April 05, 2016

Topic SentencesIf a thesis is a road map to a paper, then a topic sentence is a guide to a paragraph. Therefore, you should think of topic sentences as kinds of mini-theses, organizing and enabling the development of each paragraph in a paper. The topic sentence of a paragraph should convey that paragraph’s content and organization. It gives a preview of the paragraph’s subject and the treatment of that main idea (your view of the subject). Therefore, use specific language in your topic sentences and avoid making broad, sweeping generalizations.

Each paragraph should have its own topic sentence and should focus on only one main idea or point, which is referred to as paragraph unity. When your writing shifts to a new idea, you need to begin a new paragraph and write a new topic sentence.

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Topic statements should contain:

1. A topic and

2. a controlling idea

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Examples:

People can avoid burglaries by taking certain precautions.

Air pollution in Mexico City is the worst in the world for a number of reasons.

In order to fully explore the wreck of the Titanic, scientists must addressseveral problems.

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Reasons to use topic sentences:

1. It allows you to stay focusedon what you want to say.

2. It provides readers the tools theyneed to understand what you have to say.

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6. Writing the Body

• Use your outline and prospectus as flexible guides

• Build your essay around points you want to make (i.e., don't let your sources organize your paper)

• Integrate your sources into your discussion

• Summarize, analyze, explain, and evaluate published work rather than merely reporting it

April 05, 2016

AnalyzingSeparate a whole into component parts.

What are the parts or feature of______?

Classify_____ according to __________.

Outline/diagram/map_______________.

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Evaluatingdeveloping opinions,

judgements or decisions

What do you think about?

What is most important?

What criteria would you use to assess?

April 05, 2016

King 1

The opening page to your essay should use the format shown below:

Only the first page should include the whole heading and title. All margins--top, bottom, and sides--should be set to one inch (1") throughout the whole paper. Don't add extra spaces between the heading and the title, nor should there be extra spaces between the title and the body of the paragraph.

Use a 12 point font. And choose a font that is easy to read rather one that is decorative: "Arial," "Lucida," "Modern," "Palermo" or "Times New Roman" are some good choices.

April 05, 2016