   Expresses the main idea of the paragraph
   Usually states a definite opinion or attitude
   Gives the reader a clear understanding what
    paragraph is
   Often found in the 1st sentence or near the beginning
    of a paragraph. However, it can be sometime found at
    the end of paragraph or somewhere within the
    paragraph.
   it is complete sentence; that is, it contains a subject,
    a verb and (usually) a complement.
The following are not complete sentences.
3.  Driving on freeways
4.  The importance of gold
5.  How to register for college classes
    It contains both a topic and a controlling idea. It
     names the topic and then limits the topic to a
     specific area to be discussed in the space of a single
     paragraph.

3.   Driving on freeways requires skill and alertness.
4.   Gold is prized for two important characteristics.
5.   Registering for college classes can be a frustating
     experience for new students.
(topic)
     Gold, a precious metal, is prized for
        two important characteristics.
               (controlling idea)
   The weather in March was unpredictable.
   Freddy is very shy.
   Hurricanes, which are also called cyclones, exert
    tremendous power.
   It gives only the main idea; therefore, it is most
    general statement in the paragraph. It does not give
    any specific details.
  This is an example of a general statement that could serve
  as a topic sentence.
 The Arabic origin of many English words is          not always
  obvious
  This sentence is too specific to serve as a topic sent.
 The slang expression ā€œso longā€ (meaning goodbye) is
  probably a corruption of the Arabic ā€œsalaam.ā€
   Hurricanes, which are also called cyclones, exert
    tremendous power. These violent storms are often a
    hundred miles in diameter and their winds can
    reach velocities of seventy-five miles per hour or
    more. Furthermore, the strong winds and heavy
    rainfall that accompany them can completely
    destroy a small town in a couple of hours. The
    energy, that is released by a hurricane in one day
    exceeds the total energy consumed by human kind
    throughout the world in one year. *speeds
Albert Einstein, one of the world’s geniuses, failed
his university entrance examinations on his first
attempt. William Faulkner, one of America’s noted
writers, never finished college because he could not
pass his English courses. Sir Winston Churchill,
who is considered one of the masters of the English
language, had to have special tutoring in english
during elementary school. These few examples show
that failure in school does not always predict
failure in life.
   Synonyms, words that have the same basic
    meaning, do not always have the same emotional
    meaning. For example, the words ā€œstingyā€ and
    ā€œfrugalā€ both mean ā€œcareful with money.ā€ however,
    to call a person stingy is an insult, while the word
    frugal has a much more positive connotation.
    Similarly, a person wants to be slender but not
    skinny, and aggressive, but not pushy. Therefore,
    you should be careful in choosing words because
    many so-called synonyms are not really
    synonymous at all. *implied meaning
Some suggestions for writing strong
                 topic sentence
 A good topic sentence usually states an
  opinion or attitude that can be supported
  by details and examples.
TS        : The weather is miserable today
Support   : 105 degree temperature
            high humidity
            no breeze
            bad pollution
   A good TS is specific enough to be clear and
    interesting

Good TS : Harjum enjoys being in politics.
Weak TS : Harjum works in politics.

Good TS   : S college is having financial
            problem.
Weak TS : A college in town is having some
     problems.
   A good TS gives a definite direction to a paragraph.

Weak TS : The students council met for the
     first time Monday (no direction).

Better TS : The first student council meeting on
 Monday was interesting (direction given describing
 the ā€œinterestingā€ meeting).
To make a good paragraph consists of three
    Important parts:
   A topic sentence
   Supporting sentences
   A concluding sentence

t   Two additional elements in a good paragraph :
    unity and coherence
    make possible topic sentences and develop them into
     one paragraph from these topic. Choose one of them:
2.   My Favorite food
3.   Traveling
4.   Growing older
5.   My idol
                  *Believe to yourself*

topic sentence

  • 2.
     Expresses the main idea of the paragraph  Usually states a definite opinion or attitude  Gives the reader a clear understanding what paragraph is  Often found in the 1st sentence or near the beginning of a paragraph. However, it can be sometime found at the end of paragraph or somewhere within the paragraph.
  • 3.
     it is complete sentence; that is, it contains a subject, a verb and (usually) a complement. The following are not complete sentences. 3. Driving on freeways 4. The importance of gold 5. How to register for college classes
  • 4.
     It contains both a topic and a controlling idea. It names the topic and then limits the topic to a specific area to be discussed in the space of a single paragraph. 3. Driving on freeways requires skill and alertness. 4. Gold is prized for two important characteristics. 5. Registering for college classes can be a frustating experience for new students.
  • 5.
    (topic)  Gold, a precious metal, is prized for two important characteristics. (controlling idea)  The weather in March was unpredictable.  Freddy is very shy.  Hurricanes, which are also called cyclones, exert tremendous power.
  • 6.
     It gives only the main idea; therefore, it is most general statement in the paragraph. It does not give any specific details. This is an example of a general statement that could serve as a topic sentence.  The Arabic origin of many English words is not always obvious This sentence is too specific to serve as a topic sent.  The slang expression ā€œso longā€ (meaning goodbye) is probably a corruption of the Arabic ā€œsalaam.ā€
  • 7.
     Hurricanes, which are also called cyclones, exert tremendous power. These violent storms are often a hundred miles in diameter and their winds can reach velocities of seventy-five miles per hour or more. Furthermore, the strong winds and heavy rainfall that accompany them can completely destroy a small town in a couple of hours. The energy, that is released by a hurricane in one day exceeds the total energy consumed by human kind throughout the world in one year. *speeds
  • 8.
    Albert Einstein, oneof the world’s geniuses, failed his university entrance examinations on his first attempt. William Faulkner, one of America’s noted writers, never finished college because he could not pass his English courses. Sir Winston Churchill, who is considered one of the masters of the English language, had to have special tutoring in english during elementary school. These few examples show that failure in school does not always predict failure in life.
  • 9.
     Synonyms, words that have the same basic meaning, do not always have the same emotional meaning. For example, the words ā€œstingyā€ and ā€œfrugalā€ both mean ā€œcareful with money.ā€ however, to call a person stingy is an insult, while the word frugal has a much more positive connotation. Similarly, a person wants to be slender but not skinny, and aggressive, but not pushy. Therefore, you should be careful in choosing words because many so-called synonyms are not really synonymous at all. *implied meaning
  • 10.
    Some suggestions forwriting strong topic sentence  A good topic sentence usually states an opinion or attitude that can be supported by details and examples. TS : The weather is miserable today Support : 105 degree temperature high humidity no breeze bad pollution
  • 11.
     A good TS is specific enough to be clear and interesting Good TS : Harjum enjoys being in politics. Weak TS : Harjum works in politics. Good TS : S college is having financial problem. Weak TS : A college in town is having some problems.
  • 12.
     A good TS gives a definite direction to a paragraph. Weak TS : The students council met for the first time Monday (no direction). Better TS : The first student council meeting on Monday was interesting (direction given describing the ā€œinterestingā€ meeting).
  • 13.
    To make agood paragraph consists of three Important parts:  A topic sentence  Supporting sentences  A concluding sentence t Two additional elements in a good paragraph : unity and coherence
  • 14.
     make possible topic sentences and develop them into one paragraph from these topic. Choose one of them: 2. My Favorite food 3. Traveling 4. Growing older 5. My idol *Believe to yourself*