Using Topic Sentences to Control Your Paragraphs
“I like the easy-reading method so that I can skim
the first sentence of each paragraph.”
—Sector Manager
A topic sentence contains the main message of the paragraph. If you had time to read only one sentence in a paragraph, the topic sentence would give you the essence or main thrust of that paragraph. Readers look for topic sentences to grasp general meaning quickly. A clear and well-placed topic sentence in each paragraph helps to make your work more accessible.
Topic sentences generally include the topic of the paragraph along with a limiting statement. The limiting statement provides some added detail to the topic, giving it a context, a scope, or both. The added detail distinguishes a topic sentence from a mere heading.
For example, a typical heading might say:
“Problems in the textile industry”
A topic sentence would be more specific. For example:
“The textile industry in Southeast Asia has faced a number of problems in the past decade.”
Or, if you wanted to guide the reader even more explicitly, you could add detail to your limiting statement:
“The textile industry has faced a number of problems that have influenced the economic progress of Southeast Asia in the past decade.”