Writing Topic Sentences 4 Components of Topic Sentences

Remember the following example thesis statement? In the short story, “Girl,” by Jamaica Kincaid, the story’s narrator lectures her daughter with pointed diction and unconventional syntax, both of which affect the development of an overall scathing tone, that the daughter’s perceived behavior will lead to a life of promiscuity that will undermine her future respectability and standing within the community..” There are three directions, and therefore three arguments that need to be defended in the essay that follows this opening thesis statement: 1.pointed diction (second paragraph) 2.unconventional syntax (third paragraph) 3.overall scathing tone (fourth paragraph)

Therefore, you would have a 3X5 essay structure with an outline like this… INTRO PARAGRAPH  In the short story, “Girl,” by Jamaica Kincaid, the story’s narrator lectures her daughter with pointed diction and unconventional syntax, both of which affect the development of an overall scathing tone, that the daughter’s perceived behavior will lead to a life of promiscuity that will undermine her future respectability and standing within the community. 2 nd Paragraph  you would argue your position that Kincaid s diction choices are “pointed”. Then you would support your argument using textual examples of Kincaid ’s word choices, and explain its effect on the development of theme and tone of the text. 3 rd Paragraph  you would then argue your position that Kincaid ’s diction syntax construction is “unconventional. Cite examples of Kincaid ’s unconventional syntax and explain the effect of the unconventional syntax and the development of theme and tone of the text. 4 th Paragraph  here you would argue how Kincaid ’s with pointed diction and unconventional affect an overall scathing tone. Cite examples and explain the defiant nature of Kincaid ’s rhetorical questions. 5 th Paragraph Conclusion . Re-state your position and summarize you three main points, explaining briefly, and one last time, how they connect to your overall argument.

However, you must translate your essay from outline form into one continuous written artifact… You cannot start each supporting paragraph in this manner - “Pointed diction: Kincaid uses many pointed word choices…” Instead, you need to create written transitional elements that seamlessly tie each supporting paragraph together with each other and the overall paper’s thesis statement.

These transitional sentences bridging one supporting idea to the next are called TOPIC SENTENCES. You need topic sentences for each direction you identified in your original thesis statement at the beginning of the essay.  3 directions in thesis statement = 3 topic sentences; one for each supporting paragraph. Each supporting paragraph needs to lead-off with the topic sentence; think of topic sentences as the “thesis statement” for each individual supporting paragraph. Just like the paper’s thesis statement, everything you state in your supporting paragraph’s topic sentence must be addressed in that paragraph (or in that section of your paper if each point you make requires multiple paragraphs for support).

THE 4 COMPONENTS OF A TOPIC SENTENCE: 1.Topic = one of the directions from thesis statement. This topic is a literary device. 2.Analytical Verb = it’s a claim verb, just like in the thesis. Think either about the observable purpose or the effect of the device. Is it to define, contrast, cause, argue, illustrate, etc.? 3.Evidence and Reason = specific examples, reasons, and/or demonstrations of how the literary device you are focusing upon in as your “topic.” 4.Universal Idea = synonymous with the one stated in the overall thesis statement.

Component One: 1.State the topic of the paragraph. This topic comes from one of your three directions in your opening thesis statement.  Your topic sentence in the first supporting paragraph will address the first direction you stated in your paper’s opening thesis statement.

Second Component of a Topic Sentence: Your topic statement, being a complete sentence, must contain an analytical verb. This verb should define the specific purpose or the specific effect of the rhetorical or literary device/technique in relation to overall meaning of the piece your essay is analyzing and how that meaning is conveyed.

Third Component of a Topic Sentence: Just like your essay’s overall thesis statement, a topic sentence has a “direction” that indicates to the audience how you are going to support and/or demonstrate your argumentative point. Unlike the thesis statement, your topic sentence is focusing on very a specific purpose, so there is only ONE DIRECTION IN A TOPIC SENTENCE!

Fourth Component of a Topic Sentence: You need to specifically connect your supporting point, and thus the purpose of your supporting paragraph, to the UNIVERSAL, ABSTRACT IDEA of the piece you are analyzing as already identified in your overall essay’s thesis statement. The universal idea should be stated in synonymous terms similar to the one’s used in the thesis statement, but do not restate the universal idea with the same exact words or phrasing used in your thesis statement…

THE 4 COMPONENTS OF A TOPIC SENTENCE: 1.Topic = one of the directions from thesis statement. This topic is a literary device. 2.Analytical Verb = it’s a claim verb, just like in the thesis. Think either about the observable purpose or the effect of the device. Is it to define, contrast, cause, argue, illustrate, etc.? 3.Evidence and Reason = specific examples, reasons, and/or demonstrations of how the literary device you are focusing upon in as your “topic.” 4.Universal Idea = synonymous with the one stated in the overall thesis statement.

Example Topic Sentence and How it Interacts with the Overall Thesis of the Essay In the short story, “Girl,” by Jamaica Kincaid, the story’s narrator lectures her daughter with pointed diction and unconventional syntax, both of which affect the development of an overall scathing tone, that the daughter’s perceived behavior will lead to a life of promiscuity that will undermine her future respectability and standing within the community. The narrative voice in Kincaid’s short story comes across to the reader as a stern lecture - which is developed through the use of pointed diction choices that are rather abrupt and confrontational - from a mother who is determined that her daughter’s life will be different from her own.