WRITING EFFECTIVE PARAGRAPHS Main Idea and Topic Sentence

WRITING EFFECTIVE PARAGRAPHS

Main Idea and Topic Sentence � A. Topic Sentence: a statement of the paragraph’s main idea. � The remaining sentences support, explain or illustrate the topic sentence B. Implied Main Idea: the sentences in the paragraph contain related facts and details that together communicate the main idea, which the reader can infer

Writing a Topic Sentence � � � - When you brainstorm the subject of your composition, identify main points. Write each main point as a topic sentence When you write a strong topic sentence, readers should know two things: � 1. What the paragraph is about � 2. The point you are making

Writing Supporting Sentences � Supporting sentences: the sentences in a paragraph that develop, explain, or illustrate the main idea or topic sentence � Use Facts- statements that can be proved. They support your main idea by offering backup, or proof � Use statistics- numerical facts � Use examples, illustrations, or instances

Placing Your Topic Sentence � -The topic sentence that presents your main idea usually appears at the beginning of the paragraph � At the beginning of a paragraph, a topic sentence focuses the readers attention before the supporting details are presented

Maintaining Unity and Coherence � Establishing Unity- a paragraph has unity when all of its sentences relate to the main idea � The sentences support, explain or develop the topic sentence � *** Make sure you proofread your paragraph and delete all details/ sentences that do not relate to your main idea

Achieving Coherence � For a paragraph to have coherence, the supporting details must be logically connected and the reader should be able to see how one idea relates to another.