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6 Exercises for Teaching Topic Sentences

Why should students learn about topic sentences?

A topic sentence is the most important sentence in a paragraph. It tells the reader what the paragraph is about. If you don’t know how to write a topic sentence, your paragraph will probably be confusing. A well-written topic sentence can make your paragraph more interesting.

1 Introduction to topic sentences quiz

This quiz is a nice way to introduce topic sentences.

(download PDF)

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2 Sentence starters for topic sentences

Sentence starters provide an easy and smooth way of getting students familiar with topic sentences.

(download PDF)

3 Understanding topic sentences

Topic sentences are essential for summarizing the main idea of an essay. This worksheet can be used to test students’ understanding of topic sentences.

Understanding topic ideas and topic sentences exercises

Understanding topic sentences exercises (PDF)

4 Writing topic sentences for essays and paragraphs (with possible answers)

In this worksheet students practice writing topic sentences by looking at the pictures, thinking about what kind of essay each picture might inspire, and writing an appropriate topic sentence.

Topic sentences writing exercise for academic writing students learning to write paragraphs and essays.

Writing topic sentences exercise (PDF)

5 Creating topic sentences from supporting ideas

This is another way to help students understand the function of a topic sentence.

(download PDF)

6  Writing topic sentences for paragraphs or essays (with possible answers)

Topic sentences are essential for summarizing the main idea of a paragraph. Paragraphs often have topic sentences supported by three ideas. So in this worksheet students practice writing topic sentences by looking at the pictures and trying to summarize three ideas in one topic sentence.

Writing topic sentences for paragraphs in sets of three ideas for elementary academic writing students.

Writing topic sentences for paragraphs or essays (PDF)

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7 Finding and creating topic sentences

This is a useful exercise to help students identify and create topic sentences.

(download PDF)

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