Paragraph structure
Topic sentence examples
A topic sentence is the opening sentence of a body paragraph. It announces the paragraph's main idea and links it to the thesis. A strong topic sentence makes a claim (not a fact), is one sentence (rarely two), and previews the evidence that follows.
What makes a strong topic sentence
It makes an argument, not a statement of fact. Compare: "The Great Gatsby was published in 1925" (fact, weak) vs. "Fitzgerald's choice to set Gatsby in 1925 reflects the gap between Jazz-Age optimism and post-war disillusionment" (claim, strong).
It connects to the thesis. The topic sentence should make obvious which thesis point this paragraph supports.
Argumentative essay topic sentences
"Standardized tests reduce subjectivity in admissions decisions, even though they introduce other biases." "The strongest counter-argument — that tests reward test-prep wealth — collapses when SAT-optional data is examined."
Literary analysis topic sentences
"Gatsby's green light is less a symbol of hope than a symbol of distance." "Daisy's voice — described as "full of money" — performs the same economic critique the narrator pretends not to make."
History essay topic sentences
"The Marshall Plan was less an act of European generosity than a domestic American jobs program." "Truman's decision to recognize Israel within 11 minutes reveals how thoroughly Cold War politics outranked State Department analysis."
Science / research paper topic sentences
"Recent meta-analyses of CRISPR off-target editing reveal a methodological inconsistency the original 2015 studies obscured." "The replication failure rate in social psychology suggests a deeper methodological problem than publication bias alone."
Compare and contrast topic sentences
"While both novels open with funerals, only Beloved uses the funeral as a structural recursion." "Where Hamlet hesitates, Macbeth charges — and where Macbeth charges, he forgets to consider what he is becoming."
Frequently asked questions
Where does the topic sentence go?
Almost always the first sentence of the paragraph. Some literary essays delay it for stylistic effect, but US college rubrics expect it first.
Can a topic sentence be a question?
Rarely. Questions create ambiguity; topic sentences exist to remove ambiguity. Use a claim.
How long should a topic sentence be?
One sentence — 15-25 words. Two-sentence topic sentences are acceptable when the second sentence narrows the first.
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