How to Write a Topic Sentence | Paragraph Writing: Part 1

Summary

This video from English Learning Hub focuses on writing effective topic sentences. It explains the structure of a topic sentence, which includes a topic and a controlling idea. The video guides viewers through four sections: reading a model paragraph, identifying a topic sentence, two exercises, and a writing task. By the end, learners will be able to craft clear and focused topic sentences. The video also covers the process of pre-writing, drafting, revising, and editing to develop strong paragraphs. It encourages viewers to stay tuned for future lessons on improving writing skills.

Takeaways

• 📚 The video lesson is about learning how to write topic sentences.
• 📖 The lesson has four parts: reading a model paragraph, writing a topic sentence, two exercises, and a writing task.
• 📝 By the end of the video, viewers will know how to write an effective topic sentence.
• 🔍 Topic sentences contain a topic (the main subject) and a controlling idea (what the writer will focus on).
• 🏁 The topic sentence usually appears at the beginning of a paragraph to introduce the main idea.
• 🗂 A good topic sentence helps readers understand the focus of the paragraph and avoids irrelevant information.
• 👥 Examples of topic sentences provided: 'Sarah Williamson is a good mother' (Sarah is the topic, her motherhood is the controlling idea).
• ⚽ Another example of topic sentences involves Roberto and Rodrigo, where the topic and controlling idea are split across two sentences.
• 📝 Exercise 1 asks viewers to find and highlight the topic and controlling idea in various paragraphs.
• ✍️ The writing task includes imagining details about a person in a photo and constructing a paragraph based on a well-crafted topic sentence.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?

The video focuses on teaching how to write a good topic sentence and understanding its role in a paragraph.

What are the four parts of the lesson presented in the video?

The four parts are: reading a model paragraph and answering three questions, learning how to write a topic sentence, completing two exercises, and performing a writing task.

What is a topic sentence?

A topic sentence is a sentence that usually comes at the beginning of a paragraph and contains the main idea about the topic, helping readers understand the paragraph.

What two parts does a topic sentence include?

A topic sentence includes a topic, which is what the paragraph is about, and a controlling idea, which is what the writer focuses on in the paragraph.

Can the topic and controlling idea in a topic sentence appear in different orders?

Yes, the topic and controlling idea can appear in different orders, and sometimes they can be presented in two sentences.

What are some examples of topic sentences provided in the video?

Examples include 'Sarah Williamson is a good mother' and 'Winning a scholarship requires a lot of preparation.'

What is the first exercise about in the video?

The first exercise asks viewers to find the topic sentence of each paragraph and highlight the topic and controlling idea.

What is the second exercise about?

The second exercise requires viewers to read paragraphs and choose the best topic sentence for them.

What is the writing task about?

The writing task involves writing a paragraph about a person in a photo by starting with a topic sentence, using an adjective to describe the person’s life, and supporting the description with details.

What is the final step of the writing process in the video?

The final step is to revise and edit the draft, ensuring the content, grammar, punctuation, and structure of the paragraph are correct.