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Crafting Effective Topic Sentences

The document discusses how to write effective paragraphs by including a topic sentence that states the controlling idea. Each paragraph should cover one topic or controlling idea to guide what is included and excluded from the paragraph. An example topic sentence is provided about a dog being loyal, funny, and beautiful. The rest of the paragraph should then demonstrate, illustrate, and describe the dog's qualities through relevant details to help the reader visualize the subject.

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くすみ あらい
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11 views1 page

Crafting Effective Topic Sentences

The document discusses how to write effective paragraphs by including a topic sentence that states the controlling idea. Each paragraph should cover one topic or controlling idea to guide what is included and excluded from the paragraph. An example topic sentence is provided about a dog being loyal, funny, and beautiful. The rest of the paragraph should then demonstrate, illustrate, and describe the dog's qualities through relevant details to help the reader visualize the subject.

Uploaded by

くすみ あらい
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

TOPICSENTENCESANDCONTROLLINGIDEAS

Whenwritingaparagraph,thewritershouldbeginbycreatingatopicsentencethat
[Link]/he
needstoincludeintheparagraphandwhatshouldbeleftoutoftheparagraph.

[Link]
paragraphwillbeabout.

Example: Mydogisloyal,funny,andbeautiful.

Therestoftheparagraph,then,shoulddemonstratethedogsqualitiesofloyalty,
humor,andbeautytothereader.

Demonstrate
Demonstratethedogsqualitiesofloyaltytothereader.
Thedogsloyaltymaybedescribedindetailsabouthowbravethedogiscomparedtootherdogs
orhowloudlythedogbarkstofrightenawaythemailman.

Illustrate
Illustratethedogsabilitytobefunnytoallowthereadertolearnsomethingaboutthedogs
personalitydetailshelpthereadertoknowthedoginaparticularcontext.
Thedogsabilitytobefunnymaybeillustratedbyrelatinginformationabouthowthedog
performsacertaintrickorplayswithaparticulartoy.

Describe
Todescribethedogsbeauty,thewritermightincludedetailsaboutthedogsappearance,such
asthecolorofitseyes,theshadeofitsfur,andwhetheritsearsstanduporflopover.

Intheend,awellwrittenparagraphshouldconveyitscontrollingideabyusingdetails
todemonstrate,illustrate,and/ordescribethesubject. Detailshelpthereaderto
imagineandvisualizethesubjectvividly(whetheritbeadog,abuilding,orevena
specificexperience).
th
Reynolds,EdandMarciaHuntington. ConfidenceinWriting.4 [Link]:HeinleandHeinle,2002.

May2003

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