• It is usually a one-sentence statement that indicates purpose, subject, or point of a paragraph. • A topic sentence should be specific. • It is the controlling idea for the paragraph. • Keep in mind that …

How to write effective topic sentences (t.s.) is one of the most important skills to develop as a college writer. The table below is a crucial overview of topic sentences and how to use them.

This topic sentence contains a transition (underlined) and moves the reader from one section of this narrative of Johnson's presidency to the next. It walks the line between argumentative and descriptive.

Topic sentences make the ideas and claims of each paragraph in a paper easy to identify and understand. They also demonstrate the relationship between each paragraph and the thesis.

Remember, a good topic sentence is short and to the point, but still answers questions like "Why is this in here?", and “Why did I put all this information together?"

Topic Sentences A topic sentence is a statement that briefly describes the point and the content of a paragraph, usually relating the paragraph to the work’s thesis statement.

Topic sentences allow a reader to instantly know what a paragraph’s focus. When your writing changes focus from one issue to another, use transition words to make the process seem natural to a reader.