The First Sentence: The Topic Sentence for Reasons

Before we start writing paragraphs, we want to look at the first sentence, the topic sentence. We want to learn how to create it well and fast. We will look at reason paragraphs first.

Let’s work on your topic sentences and how to write them more accurately and quickly. Please first remember our definition of topic sentences. A topic sentence is the topic (subject) + the type of writing (the ideas about the topic). I know some students and even teachers will say a topic sentence is the main idea but that's not a good definition because you don't when you are right or wrong. Let's make sure we know how to do it accurately and quickly. To do that, today, we will work on topic sentences when the instructor gives the question.

If the instructor gives the question, let’s look at the steps to create the topic sentence. Let’s start with paragraphs about reasons.

Step 1: Delete the wh question.

Step 2: Delete do, does or did. If am/is/are/was or were, move it after the subject.

Step 3: Copy the rest and add the type of writing.

For reasons: add “for several reasons or for a couple of reasons.”

Exercise 1. Please create topic sentences for these questions.

1.People attend school for many different reasons (for example, expanded knowledge, societal awareness and enhanced personal relationships). Why do you think people decide to go to school?