1. WRITING STRONG TOPIC SENTENCES

2. WHY DO WE NEED STRONG TOPIC SENTENCES? Get attention. Get interest. Make a good first impression. Set up the rest of the writing. Make the rest of the writing easier.

3. NO FINGERPRINTING What is fingerprinting? In this paper I will tell you. This is my paragraph about… Here is my first idea…

4. NO FIRST PERSON I, we, me, my, our In my opinion, I think… I believe…

5. READ THE QUESTION… USE THE QUESTION What are three important benefits of living in Colorado? Three important benefits of living in Colorado are… Why is it important to get a good education? It is important to get a good education because…

6. OCCASION/POSITION STATEMENTS Complex sentences Occasion – introduces the reason for writing Position – states what you will prove or explain.

7. POWER (NUMBER) STATEMENTS These sentences contain a number word that is the focus of the sentence. It tells your reader that a list of information will follow.

8. AVOID “THERE IS, THERE ARE, ETC.” These weaken your writing. Example no There are three important steps in baking the perfect cake. yes Baking the perfect cake can be done in three important steps.

9. AND, BUT, AND OR STATEMENTS These are compound sentences. Join them with a coordinating conjunction (fanboys) Provide good information.

10. HOWEVER STATEMENTS These will be compound sentences. They are joined by however or other conjunctive adverbs that separate the two parts of the sentence. They contain two parts – similar to an occasion/position statement. You need a semicolon before the conjunctive adverb and a comma after it

11. Even though it is a difficult profession, being a doctor would be a rewarding career.

12. Working in television was an exciting career; however, it was also very demanding.

13. The United States is a powerful world leader for a number of important reasons.

14. Television is an exciting career, yet teaching also provides great satisfaction.

15. WHAT’S WRONG? Riding a horse can be a relaxing outing; still; there are a number of safety precautions you must take to make your ride enjoyable.

16. WRITE FOUR DIFFERENT TOPIC SENTENCES FOR THE FOLLOWING. YOU NEED ONE OF EACH OF THOSE WE LEARNED TODAY. LABEL EACH.. What career are you considering and why?