"Writing is easy. All you do is stare at a blank piece of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead." _{- Gene Fowler (attributed)}

In this chapter, you will find

• a definition of the term topic sentence
• some things to avoid
• a detailed example
• practice

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Composing Topic Sentences
UWF Writing Lab
Summer 1997

The topic sentence states the main idea of the paragraph. Although the sentence may appear anywhere in the paragraph, it usually appears either first or last. Frequently, it is the first sentence of the paragraph. No matter where you place the topic sentence, however, it determines what will be included in the paragraph. The topic sentence is to the paragraph what the thesis statement is to the essay.

One way to compose topic sentences is to ask questions about the thesis statement. The most useful questions to ask are WHY? and HOW?

Examples:

1. 
   
   Thesis Statement:
   Everyone should have a room in which he or she can be alone.
   
   
   Question:
   Why should everyone have such a room?
   
   

   Write answers as they come to you. Your answers may be topic sentences for your paragraphs. Here are some possibilities.

   Topic Sentences:
   • Solitude is conducive to resolving personal problems.
   • Most people study more efficiently in private than with others around.
   • Occasionally, everyone needs to escape from the stress of being with others.
   
   
2. 
   
   Thesis Statement:
   Children should begin training for independence at an early age.
   
   
   Question:
   Why should they?
   
   Topic Sentences:
   • They learn how to handle money.
   • They develop their own personalities instead of mirroring parents.
   
   
3. 
   
   Thesis Statement:
   Fishermen and hunters often destroy natural resources that they can rely upon for their sport.
   
   
   Question:
   How do they?
   
   Topic Sentences:
   • Fishermen and hunters sometimes dispose of their garbage and tin cans in rivers and lakes.
   • Through carelessness, they cause forest fires.
   • Irresponsible sportsmen try to outsmart the fish and game wardens in any way they can.
   
   

If your questions result in more topic sentences than you need for your essay, select those which strongly support your thesis statement most effectively.