Untitled Document
Test Yourself
Paragraph Topic Sentences
[Harbrace 27a - 27b]
Review
See Introduction to Paragraph Topic Sentences
below
Practice Exercises
Introduction
A paragraph is a group of related sentences,
complete in itself, that forms a distinct unit of a longer piece
of writing.
Within a piece of writing, a paragraph break
(or beginning of a new paragraph) may signal:
a shift in time or place
a shift in a sequence from one point to
the next
a shift in emphasis for the sake of clarity
a shift in dialogue from one speaker to
another
a shift in focus from one idea to the next
The unifying idea within a paragraph is demonstrated
through the use of a topic sentence.
A topic sentence may be occur in one of three
places in a paragraph:
at the beginning
at the middle
at the end
Also note that the topic sentence may merely
be used indirectly, or merely implied rather than stated.
A topic sentence at the beginning states
the unifying idea of the paragraph as the first sentence and follows
this statement with support.
EXAMPLE:
The West Texas wolverillo has peculiar eating habits. Although its usual
meals include old abandoned bathtubs and plumbing, it has been known
to gnaw on horseshoes still on the horse, even with the horse in full
gallop. For purposes of dental hygiene, it chews on porcelain and china
either as an appetizer or for dessert, during and after which it makes
growling noises.
A topic sentence in the middle enables
writers to build up to a point and then expand their ideas.
EXAMPLE:
The Texas plains have provided a unique habitat for various desert creatures.
These animals have worked together in a constant struggle to create
a sturdier stock. The most ingenious of these Darwinian attempts is
the West Texas wolverillo, a cross between a wolverine and an armadillo.
There has been much speculation over the years about the origins of
this creature. Most agree that the initial breed occurred as a result
of the accidental isolation of two parent animals by some geological
upheaval.
A topic sentence at the end of a paragraph
enables writers to present a well-developed argument followed by
a convincing conclusion.
EXAMPLE:
Many wolverillo ranchers have tried to tame the wandering nature of this
creature. Many tragedies occurred when ranchers left the plumbing underneath
their homes unprotected. An electrical fence can tantalize the creature's
taste buds as if it were metal spaghetti. Isolating the creature in
cages led only to the commercial exploitation of its unusual appearance
by various circus owners. The only humane way of corralling the creature
was to form a wide continuous ditch of corrugated iron cattle guards
around the ranch.
At times a writer wants to avoid a direct
statement that seems forced or artificial. In such situations the
topic sentence is implied.
EXAMPLE:
Sometimes in the evenings, we would sit out in front of the ranch house near
the cattle guards and play music. The young wolverillos would gather
across the ditch and listen attentively. They especially liked to hear
songs by Hank Williams, to which they would attempt to sing along by
making little gurgling sounds deep in their throats. Occasionally,
they would click their teeth if we played something with a beat to
it.
Implied topic sentence: Young wolverillos
are fond of music.
In addition to the topic sentence, transitional
words and phrases can add to the clarity and coherence of a paragraph.
[See Harbrace 27b.]
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