Conventions of Composition Rule 211

Rule: At the beginning of each paragraph, you need to let your reader know what point the paragraph will make. Because the purpose of your paragraph won't be a simple restatement of plot, your topic sentence should NOT be a statement of plot. Each topic sentence should help move the essay toward proving its thesis statement. A topic sentence at the beginning of a paragraph suggests neither more nor less than the whole subject of the paragraph, in a brief, general way, without mentioning details.

Examples:

Bad topic sentence: One time, Holden goes skating with Sally.

Better topic sentence: Holden's inability to maintain a polite conversation manifests again while he's skating with Sally.

Bad topic sentence: Emilia takes Desdemona's handkerchief.

Better topic sentence: Emilia's taking of Desdemona's handkerchief allows much of Iago's mischief to happen.

Practice revising plot statements into strong topic sentences:

1. Junior then transfers to a better school.
2. Beloved arrives at 224 soaking wet.
3. Victor Frankenstein creates the creature out of parts found at charnel houses.

Resources for further explanations of how to write strong topic sentences:

Purdue OWL's Topic Sentences

Letter Pile's How to Write a Great Topic Sentence