Wiki User
∙ 6y ago
Best Answer
Copy
Topic means the subject of a discussion, meeting, presentation, or written document. This is an example sentence using the word topic: The topic of today’s meeting is tick-borne illnesses and how to protect yourself against them.
Wiki User
∙ 6y ago
This answer is:
Study guides
More answers
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Copy
The topic of my story was about a visit to my Gramp’s house.
This answer is:
Add your answer:
Earn +
20
pts
Q: Make a sentence with the word TOPIC?
Write your answer…
Submit
Still have questions?
Related questions
People also asked
Definition of Topic
the subject or theme of a conversation, book, piece of art, etc
Examples of Topic in a sentence
Recipes are a usual topic of conversation between the friends since they both like to cook.
🔊
The blog writer pens articles on many different subjects, but pet care is her favorite topic.
🔊
Because the artist couldn’t think of a topic for his newest sculpture, he painted an abstract piece with no theme.
🔊
Other words in the Books and Reading Material category:
Most Searched Words (with Video)
What is it?
Что это?
Параграф (абзац) представляет собой группу связанных предложений, в которых обсуждается одна (и обычно только одна) основная идея. Параграф может состоять минимум из 1 предложения, максимум, в свою очередь, не ограничен, однако он должен быть достаточно длинным, чтобы четко сформулировать основную идею.
Все параграфы содержат вводное и вспомогательные предложения, а в некоторых абзацах также содержится заключительное предложение.
A paragraph is a group of related sentences that discuss one (and usually only one) main idea. A paragraph can be as short as one sentence or as long as ten sentences.
The number of sentences is unimportant; however, the paragraph should be long enough to develop the main idea clearly.
All paragraphs have a topic sentence and supporting sentences, and some paragraphs also have a concluding sentence.
What does it consist of?
Из чего состоит?
Topic sentence
Вводное предложение
Вводное предложение содержит основную идею параграфа. Однако оно не только обозначает его общую тему, но и ее конкретную специфическую область этой темы – контрольную идею.
Обратите внимание на пример ниже: “золото” – это тема, “две важные характеристики” – контрольная идея, т.е. второе вытекает из первого.
The topic sentence states the main idea of the paragraph. It not only names the topic of the paragraph, but it also limits the topic to one specific area that can be discussed completely in the space of a single paragraph. The part of the topic sentence that announces the specific area to be discussed is called the controlling idea.
Notice how the topic sentence of the model states both the topic and the controlling idea:
Три вещи характеризуют вводное предложение:
Вводное предложение – это полное предложение: оно содержит хотя бы одно существительное и сказуемое. Также оно почти всегда стоит в начале параграфа.
Вводное предложение содержит как тему, так и контрольную идею. Он называет тему, а затем ограничивает тему определенной областью, которая будет обсуждаться в параграфе.
Как видите, topic sentences часто представляют список из нескольких пунктов. Например, если вам в параграфе нужно перечислить несколько причин, заявите об этом в topic sentence.
Например: There are several reasons for immigrating to Finland, namely the widespread use of English, social benefits, and the friendly character of its people. Сразу ясно, о чем и в каком порядке писать в этом параграфе.
Вводное предложение – наиболее общее в параграфе, поскольку оно дает только основную идею и никаких конкретных подробностей.
Вводное предложение – это как название конкретного блюда в меню. Когда вы заказываете еду в ресторане, вы хотите узнать больше о конкретном блюде, и вам будет недостаточно таких названий как просто «мясо», «суп» или «салат». Вам нужно знать, что это конкретно за салат: может, картофельный салат, овощной или фруктовый? Вам не настолько интересны конкретные ингредиенты, насколько общая информация о блюде.
Вот пример отличного вводного предложения:
Арабское происхождение многих английских слов не всегда очевидно.
А вот следующее предложение является слишком конкретным. Ему больше подойдет роль поддерживающего предложения, а не вводного:
Сленговое выражение so long («До свидания»), вероятно, является искажением арабского слова “Салама”.
А это предложение, напротив, является слишком общим, чтобы быть вводным:
На английский язык оказали влияние многие другие языки.
Вводное предложение должно иметь логичные и взаимосвязанные контрольные идеи, которые ограничивают тему определенной областью, например:
Инди-фильмы характеризуются экспериментальными методами, низкими издержками производства и провокационными темами. – здесь слишком много контрольных идей, тема абзаца будет неясна
Независимые фильмы характеризуются экспериментальными методами. – хорошее вводное предложение
Here are three important points to remember about a topic sentence:
A topic sentence is a complete sentence: it contains at least one subject and one verb. It is most commonly placed at the beginning of a paragraph.
A topic sentence contains both a topic and a controlling idea. It names the topic and then limits the topic to a specific area to be discussed in the space of a single paragraph.
As you may have noted, topic sentences are quite often used when a certain list consisting of several points (reasons, etc.) needs to be presented.
For example,
There are several reasons for immigrating to Finland, namely the widespread use of English, social benefits, and the friendly character of its people.
This topic sentence makes it clear what will be discussed in the paragraph and in what order.
A topic sentence is the most general statement in the paragraph because it gives only the main idea. It does not give any specific details.
A topic sentence is like the name of a particular course on a restaurant menu. When you order food in a restaurant, you want to know more about a particular course than just “meat” or “soup” or “salad.” You want to know generally what kind of salad it is. Potato salad? Mixed green salad? Fruit salad? However, you do not necessarily want to know all the ingredients. Similarly, a reader wants to know generally what to expect in a paragraph, but he or she does not want to learn all the details in the first sentence.
This is a general statement that could serve as a topic sentence:
The Arabic origin of many English words is not always obvious.
The following sentence, on the other hand, is too specific. It could serve as a supporting sentence but not as a topic sentence:
The slang expression so long (meaning “goodbye”) is probably the corruption of the Arabic salaam.
This sentence is too general to be the topic one:
English has been influenced by other languages.
A topic sentence should not have unrelated controlling ideas, which limits or controls the topic to a specific area that you can discuss in the space of a single paragraph.
e.g. Indie films are characterized by experimental techniques, low production costs, and provocative themes. – too many controlling ideas
Independent films are characterized by experimental techniques. – good topic sentence
Практика /
Practice
Task 1. Read the sentences in each group, and decide which sentence is the best topic sentence. Write best TS (for “best topic sentence“) on the line next to it. Decide what is wrong with the other sentences. They may be too general, or they may be too specific, or they may be incomplete sentences. Write too general, too specific, or incomplete on the lines next to them.
The first one has been done for you as an example.
Group 1
_too specific____ a. A lunar eclipse is an omen of a coming disaster.
_too general____ b. Superstitions have been around forever.
_best topic sent._ c. People hold many superstitious beliefs about the moon.
_incomplete____ d. Is made of green cheese.
Group 2
a. The history of astronomy is interesting.
b. Ice age people recorded the appearance of new moons by making scratches in animal bones.
c. For example, Stonehenge in Britain, built 3500 years ago to track the movement of the sun.
d. Ancient people observed and recorded lunar and solar events in different ways.
Group 3
a. It is hard to know which foods are safe to eat nowadays.
b. In some large ocean fish, there are high levels of mercury.
c. Undercooked chicken and hamburger may carry E. coli bacteria.
d. Not to mention mad cow disease.
e. Food safety is an important issue.
Group 4
a. Hybrid automobiles more economical to operate than gasoline-powered cars.
b. The new hybrid automobiles are very popular.
c. Hybrid cars have good fuel economy because a computer under the hood decides to run the electric motor, the small gasoline engine, or the two together.
d. The new hybrid automobiles are popular because of their fuel economy.
Group 5
a. The North American Catawba Indians of the Southeast and the Tlingit of the Northwest both see the rainbow as a kind of bridge between heaven and earth.
b. A rainbow seen from an airplane is a complete circle.
c. Many cultures interpret rainbows in positive ways.
d. Rainbows are beautiful.
e. The belief that you can find a pot of gold at a rainbow’s end.
Group 2
a. too general
b. too specific
c. incomplete
d. best topic sentence
Group 3
a. best topic sentence
b. too specific
c. too specific
d. incomplete
e. too general
Group 4
a. incomplete
b. too general
c. too specific
d. best topic sentence
Group 5
a. too specific
b. too general
c. best topic sentence
d. too general
e. incomplete
Task 2. Write good topic sentences for the following paragraphs. Remember to include both a topic and a controlling idea.
Paragraph 1
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________. English speakers relaxing at home, for example, may put on kimonos, which is a Japanese word. English speakers who live in a warm climate may take an afternoon siesta on an outdoor patio without realizing that these are Spanish words. In their gardens, they may enjoy the fragrance of jasmine flowers, a word that came into English from Persian. They may even relax on a chaise while snacking on yogurt, words of French and Turkish origin, respectively. At night, they may shampoo their hair and put on pajamas, words from the Hindi language of India.
Paragraph 2
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________. In European universities, students are not required to attend classes. In fact, professors in Germany generally do not know the names of the students enrolled in their courses. In the United States, however, students are required to attend
all classes and may be penalized if they do not. Furthermore, in the European system, students usually take just one comprehensive examination at the end of their entire four or five years of study. In the North American system, on the other hand, students usually have numerous quizzes, tests, and homework assignments, and they almost always have to take a final examination in each course at the end of each semester.
Paragraph 3
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________. For example, the Eskimos, living in a treeless region of snow and ice, sometimes build temporary homes out of thick blocks of ice. People who live in deserts, on the other hand, use the most available materials, mud or clay, which provide good insulation from the heat. In Northern Europe, Russia, and other areas of the world where forests are plentiful, people usually construct their homes out of wood. In the islands of the South Pacific, where there is an abundant supply of bamboo and palm, people use these tough, fibrous plants to build their homes.
Supporting sentences
Поддерживающие предложения
Вспомогательные предложения распространяют (объясняют или доказывают) вводное. Ниже приведены некоторые вспомогательные предложения, которые объясняют вводное предложение о золоте, приведенное выше.
Прежде всего, золото обладает блестящей красотой, устойчивой к коррозии.
Например, македонская монета остается такой же незапятнанной сегодня, как и в тот день, когда она была сделана 25 веков назад.
Другой важной характеристикой золота является его польза для промышленности и науки.
В последнее время золото используется в костюмах космонавтов.
Одна из самых больших проблем в письменных работах студентов заключается в том, что они часто не могут адекватно подтверждать свои идеи конкретными и убедительными доказательствами.
Что вы можете использовать в supporting sentences?
- примеры
- статистика
- цитаты.
Примеры – это, пожалуй, самый простой способ аргументирования: вы можете брать примеры из своих собственных знаний и опыта, а не искать информацию в библиотеке или в Интернете. Кроме того, примеры делают вашу работу яркой, интересной и запоминающейся.
Supporting sentences develop the topic sentence. That is, they explain or prove the topic sentence by giving more information about it. Following are some supporting sentences that explain the topic sentence about gold.
First of all, gold has a lustrous beauty that is resistant to corrosion.
For example, a Macedonian coin remains as untarnished today as the day it was made 25 centuries ago.
Another important characteristic of gold is its usefulness to industry and science.
The most recent use of gold is in astronauts’ suits.
One of the biggest problems in student writing is that student writers often fail to support their ideas adequately.
They need to use specific details to be thorough and convincing.
There are several kinds of specific supporting details:
- examples
- statistics
- quotations.
Examples are perhaps the easiest kind of supporting detail to use because you can often take examples from your own knowledge and experience. You don’t have to search the library or the Internet for supporting material. Furthermore, examples make your writing lively and interesting, and your reader is more likely to remember your point if you support it with a memorable example.
Практика /
Practice
Task 3.
1) Read Paragraphs A and B about red-light running. Notice the different specific supporting details that have been added to Paragraph B.
2) Locate the topic sentence in Paragraph B. Circle the topic and underline the controlling idea.
3) Which supporting sentences in Paragraph B contain the kinds of details listed below? Give the sentence numbers of each kind.
An example:
A statistic:
A quotation:
Paragraph A: Paragraph without Support
Red-Light Running
Although some people think that red-light running is a minor traffic violation that is no worse than jaywalking, it can, in fact, become a deadly crime. Red-light runners cause accidents all the time. Sometimes people are seriously injured and even killed. It is especially a problem in rush hour traffic. Everyone is in a hurry to get home, so drivers run red lights everywhere. The police do not do much about it because they are too busy. The only time they pay attention is when there is an accident, and then it is too late. In conclusion, running a red light is a serious offence.
Paragraph B: Paragraph with Support
Red-Light Running
“Although some people think red-light running is a minor traffic violation that is no worse than jaywalking, it can, in fact, become a deadly crime. red-light runners cause hundreds of accidents, including deaths and injuries as well as millions of dollars in damages. Each year more than 900 people die, and nearly 200,000 are injured in crashes that involve red-light running. Motorists run red lights all the time.
For example, in Fairfax, Virginia, a five-month-Iong survey at five busy intersections revealed that a motorist ran a red light every 20 minutes. Red-light runners are seldom caught. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, “Communities don’t have the resources to allow police to patrol intersections as often as would be needed to ticket all motorists who run red lights” (“Q&A”).
Topic sentence: Although some people think red-light running is a minor traffic violation that is no worse than jaywalkfag, it can, in fact, become a deadly crime. Topic: red-light running. Controlling idea: It can become a deadly crime.
An example: sentence 5;
a statistic: sentence 3;
a quotation: sentence 7
Main idea: Our language influences our perception. Part of topic sentence that expresses the main idea: “… our perception of the world depends to a great extent on the language we speak.“
2. Examples: Eskimo languages have as many as 32 words for snow; falling snow, snow on the ground, snow packed as hard as ice, slushy snow, wind-driven snow; Aztec language has one word for snow, cold, and ice.
3. A classic example; for instance
Task 4. Answer the following questions:
1. What is the main idea of this paragraph? Underline the part of the topic sentence that expresses the main idea.
2. What examples does the writer use to support this idea? Put brackets [] around them.
3. What words and phrases introduce the examples? Circle them.
Language and perception
Although we all possess the same physical organs for sensing the world eyes for seeing, ears for hearing, noses for smelling, skin for feeling, and mouths for tasting-our perception of the world depends to a great extent on the language we speak, according to a famous hypothesis proposed by linguists Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf. They hypothesized that language is like a pair of eyeglasses through which we “see” the world in a particular way. A classic example of the relationship between language and perception is the word snow.Eskimo languages have as many as 32 different words for snow. For instance, the Eskimos have different words for falling snow, snow on the ground, snow packed as hard as ice, slushy snow, wind-driven snow, and what we might call “cornmeal” snow.The ancient Aztec languages of Mexico, in contrast, used only one word to mean snow, cold, and ice. Thus, if the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis is correct and we can perceive only things that we have words for, the Aztecs perceived snow, cold, and ice as one and the same phenomenon.
Main idea: Our language influences our perception.
Part of the topic sentence that expresses the main idea: “. . . our perception of the world depends to a great extent on the language we speak.”
Examples: Eskimo languages have as many as 32 words for snow; falling snow, snow on the ground, snow packed as hard as ice, slushy snow, wind-driven snow; Aztec language has one word for snow, cold, and ice.
A classic example; for instance
Есть вопросы?
Все расскажем и покажем на бесплатном занятии по Skype!
Определим уровень знаний
Обозначим цели
Расскажем об учебной платформе
When writing, there are many aspects which we need to take into consideration. One such aspect is the topic sentence, but how do we use this? In this article, we are looking at what the topic sentence is and how it is used within a piece of writing. We are also going to be looking at a variety of examples to give us a better understanding of its function.
What Is A Topic Sentence?
Some might say that the topic sentence is one of the most important aspects and definitely the most vital sentence within a paragraph. In some cases, you might hear the topic sentence is referred to as the focus sentence but these are essentially the same thing.
A topic sentence is used to summarise all of the information within a paragraph. When writing in a more formal style, the topic sentence will usually feature at the beginning of the paragraph, although this is not a set rule.
What Is A Topic Sentence Used For?
A writer will use a topic sentence as a way of explaining to the audience what the paragraph is going to be about. Any sentences which appear after the topic sentence should give further information about the topic sentence or should give facts about it in order to prove the claim that it has made. The following sentences might also serve as a way to further describe the topic sentence by giving more details about it. For example, if the topic sentence is about animals kept as domestic pets, the following sentences should relate back to that subject.
On top of this, the topic sentence should always refer back to the thesis statement which was made at the beginning of the essay. You can imagine the thesis statement as being a map which directs the reader as to where you are going with the information and how it is being treated.
Controlling Ideas
When writing a topic sentence, each one should feature a controlling idea. This will serve as an indicator as to where the rest of the paragraph will go and what will be discussed.
Topic Sentences Examples
Now that we are clear on what a topic sentence is, we are going to take a look at some examples to further grow our understanding of them.
- ‘There are a lot of reasons why (name of a city) is the most polluted in the world.’
The controlling topic here is that there are ‘a lot of reasons’ and the topic is that a certain town is the most polluted.
- ‘In order to be an effective manager, one must have certain qualities.’
The topic of this sentence is being an effective manager and it has a controlling idea of ‘certain qualities.’
- ‘There are a lot of factors which contribute to global warming.’
This sentence has a topic of global warming whilst the controlling idea is related to ‘factors which contribute.’
- ‘We can improve teen pregnancy rates by improving education.’
The topic of this sentence in that teen pregnancy can be improved and the controlling idea is ‘improving education.’
How To Write A Topic Sentence
When it comes to writing a good topic sentence, there are many things that you should take into consideration before you put pen to paper. We are now going to look at the various steps you should take in order to write an effective and strong topic sentence.
Write Your Thesis Statement
Before you can write a topic sentence, you must have a thesis statement. This should be strong and be effective in summing up the purpose of the essay as well as the main argument.
Outline Your Essay And Draft Out The Topic Sentences
The next step is to create your essay outline, this will give your essay structure and will allow you to detail what is going to be discussed in each paragraph. You will also make note of what data and evidence will be included in each of the paragraphs.
This is the point where you can play with words and draft up some topic sentences for each of your paragraphs. A topic sentence needs to be much more specific than your thesis statement but it should relate clearly to it.
Expand With Some Evidence
The remaining sentences within your paragraph should logically flow from the original topic sentence. They should be used to expand on what has been said in the topic sentence. This will not only make your workflow but will also ensure that each paragraph remains focused and relevant to the topic sentence. You should give some evidence to support your topic sentence.
Revise The Topic Sentences
What your topic sentence looks like to begin with may not be how it ends up in the final draft and that is OK. It is very important that you look over and edit each topic sentence within the essay as you go along. This will ensure that they remain relevant to the content of your paragraphs.
When making the final edits for your topic sentences, you should ensure that they are clear enough to allow the reader to know what the paragraph is going to be about but also not so clear that they detail everything you wish to talk about within that paragraph.
Transitions
Your topic sentence will sometimes serve as a transition between your paragraphs and in this case, they may do one of the following things:
- Compare and contrast
- Summarise
- Anticipate
- Emphasise or expand
Conclusion
A topic sentence is one which appears, usually (but not always) at the beginning of each paragraph of an essay. The topic sentence is used to layout the ideas and arguments that will be covered within the paragraph and should be carefully planned out to ensure that they are clear enough to give the reader an idea of what will be discussed but not to give away too much about the content of the paragraph. Your topic sentence may serve one of many purposes including summarising and comparing.
Topic Sentence Infographic
Pin
Last Updated on April 10, 2021
Topic Sentence
A topic sentence is the sentence that tells the main idea of a paragraph. This sentence tells the reader what the paragraph will be about, and then the rest of the paragraph is built around this topic.
Examples of Topic Sentence:
1. In a paragraph about a summer vacation:
My summer vacation at my grandparents’ farm was filled with hard work and fun.
2. In a paragraph about school uniforms:
School uniforms would help us to feel more unity as a student body.
3. In a paragraph about how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich:
Making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich is easy if you know the steps.
Examples of Topic Sentences from Literature:
1. From Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings:
«Momma bought two bolts of cloth each year for winter and summer clothes. She made my school dresses, underslips, bloomers, handkerchiefs, Bailey’s shirts, shorts, her aprons, house dresses and waists from the rolls shipped to Stamps by Sears and Roebuck…. «
2. From John F. Kennedy’s inaugural speech, 1961:
The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe-the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God.
3. From Martin Luther King, Jr.’s «I Have a Dream» speech:
In a sense we’ve come to our nation’s capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the «unalienable Rights» of «Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.» It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked «insufficient funds.»
What’s the Main Idea? Quiz
Complete sentence or a fragment Quiz
Free Grammar Worksheets
Forming Sentences with Gustar
Sentence Structure Examples
Appositives Examples
Sentence Types Quiz
Anadiplosis Examples
Ethics vs. Morals
Direct Objects Quiz