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    What Is a Topic Sentence?

    A topic sentence tells readers the main point of a paragraph. It helps organize the paragraph and makes the paragraph’s purpose easy to follow.

    Core idea

    • Topic sentences focus a paragraph around one main idea.
    • Readers should be able to tell what the paragraph will do from the opening sentence.
    • A strong topic sentence should connect clearly to the essay’s larger purpose.

    How to use it well

    • Keep the topic sentence focused on one point, not several at once.
    • Make sure the rest of the paragraph actually develops that sentence.
    • Revise weak topic sentences that sound vague or too general.

    Topic sentence focus

    A topic sentence tells readers the paragraph’s main point before support and explanation appear.

    Practice this structure concept in Essay-Trainer

    Essay-Trainer guides students through these same structure concepts while they draft, revise, and improve each essay section.

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