PEARSON ADULT LEARNING CENTRE
Advanced Composition January 20, 2000
Rules for Good Topic Sentences:
Topic Sentences:
 | Introduce the paragraph topic and limit it to what can be written in
a single paragraph. Are the most general and most important
sentence. |
| Contain controlling ideas (ideas that will be explained, defined,
clarified or illustrated in the sentences which follow the topic
sentence) |
| Are never just a fact. "I came to Canada in 1993." is a
simple fact. |
| With personal opinion only are weak. Avoid the use of "I
like" and "I think." E.g. "I like dogs better than
cats." |
The Best Topic Sentences:
| Contain a "provable" opinion using facts from
reliable sources. |
| May also state an "intent." E.g. "The seven
steps to making a good spaghetti sauce, one with the finest aromas,
will be explained in detail here." |
Assignment:
Write five good topic sentences for a 100 word paragraph on the
subject, "Vancouver weather." See the
student results.
Go to Assignment Archive for older
assignments. |
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