1. Practice with Topic Sentences
Write On!

2. Topic Sentences state the main idea of a paragraph in an interesting way to hook the reader. All of the details in a paragraph should support the topic sentence.
Read the pair of sentences on the next few slides and determine which would make a better topic sentence and which would make a better detail sentence.

3. Which is a better topic sentence?
Texas has 267,000 square miles.
Texas is so big that you can find many things to do.

4. Which is a better topic sentence?
A bully is a boy or girl who acts mean or hurtful to others.
Bullies sometimes hit, kick, or push to hurt people.

5. Which is a better topic sentence?
Heavy downpours on Earth's deserts can drastically change the landscape of these regions.
Desert plants are mainly ground-hugging shrubs and short woody trees.

6. Which is a better topic sentence?
There are several ways for accurately telling how old fossils are.
The animal dies and sinks to the sea floor.

7. Writing Topic Sentences
Read the paragraphs on the next few slides. They are missing topic sentences. Determine the main idea of the paragraph, and write an interesting topic sentence to hook the reader to read about the topic!

8. What is the main idea of the paragraph?
Many desert animals are nocturnal. They sleep during the day in burrows below the surface of the desert or hide in shaded areas. They come out at night to eat. Some desert animals do not need to drink water. They get water from the foods they eat. Most desert animals are small.
What is the main idea of the paragraph?
a)  Animal Survival
b)  Ways Desert Animals Survive
c)  Arabian Camels
d)  A Harsh Environment
Brainstorm a good topic sentence for the paragraph.

9. What is the main idea of the paragraph?
Some bullies act the way they do to try to make themselves feel more important or more popular. Other bullies are acting out or copying things they have seen. Most bullies do not realize or understand how they are hurting others.
What is the main idea of the paragraph?
a)  Angry, Bully, Hate
b)  How to Be a Bully
c)  The Art of Playing Soccer
d)  Reasons for Bullying
Brainstorm a good topic sentence for the paragraph.

10. What is the main idea of the paragraph?
The first rubber-soled shoes were developed and manufactured in the United States in the late 1800s. The shoe went through several variations until 1917 when the first canvas-top rubber-sole shoe was sold to the public. Henry Nelson McKinney, an advertising agent for N. W. Ayer & Son, named the new shoes "sneaker" because they were quiet as you walked.
This paragraph is referring to Keds®.
What is the main idea of the paragraph?
a)  The Invention of Keds
b)  Sport Sandals
c)  Modern Athletic Shoes
d)  Melding Rubber to Cloth
Brainstorm a good topic sentence for the paragraph.