Topic sentence定 义 The topic sentence is a general statement that states the main point of a paragraph In English a paragraph is defined as a logical unit a collection of sentences centering upon one idea Therefore there arises a guiding sentence indicating and controlling the development of this single idea A well constructed topic sentence helps the writer stay focused on what they are going to write about Also a paragraph with a clear and direct topic sentence is easier and more comfortable to read Topic sentence 特点 1 The topic sentence must be a complete sentence 2 The topic sentence should always contain both a topic and a controlling idea The Topic Sentence Topic Controlling Idea 3 The topic sentence should be neither too general nor too specific One single Idea An effective topic sentence covers only one single idea In English a paragraph is supposed to elaborate on only one aspect of the subject A topic sentence dealing with two or more points is weak Look at the following example Finding the right job is important and can lead to rewarding experiences Finding the right job can lead to an improved sense of self esteem One Controlling Idea An effective topic sentence is a focused one with a controlling idea limited enough to be supported in one paragraph A too general statement leads to vague generalities carrying little substantial information A too specific one leaves little room for further development Look at the examples Throughout history people have tried to define intelligence American food is terrible because Americans use too many prepackaged foods and everything is fried in oil or butter One Controlling Idea A topic sentence should be properly limited to guide and develop the argument but at the same time be general enough to leave room for elaboration persuasion or argument in the body of the paragraph The following sentence is a good example The most amazing present I received for Christmas in 2008 was in fact not a present but the fact that my family was together for the first time in seven years Examples 1 The importance of reading widely Reading widely is very important in improving one s reading comprehension 2 Fire accidents in big cities Recently years have witnessed a marked growth of fire accidents in big cities in our country 3 To make all the decisions for children Parents in China tend to make all the decisions for their children Examples The topic tells the reader what the paragraph is about The controlling idea is a key word or phrase that expresses the basic point of a paragraph Note a controlling idea commits the paragraph to a specific aspect of the topic e g 1 Convenience foods are easy to prepare 2 Alcoholic beverages should be banned from college campuses for two reasons 3 There are quite a few unusual superstitions in China about marriage Practice Identify the topic and controlling idea People can avoid burglaries by taking certain precautions There are several advantages to growing up in a small town Most US universities require a 550 point TOEFL score for a number of reasons Air pollution in Mexico City is the worst in the world for a number of reasons Fixing a flat tire on a bicycle is easy if you follow these steps Riding a bicycle gives pleasure Practice Identify the topic and controlling idea There are several enjoyable ways to travel between the US and Queretaro Animals in danger of becoming extinct come from a wide range of countries Effective leadership requires specific qualities that anyone can develop Industrial waste poured into Lake Michigan has led to dramatic changes in its ability to support marine life In order to fully explore the wreck of the Titanic scientists must address several problems How to write a good topic sentence A topic sentence must include your topic and an opinion or your controlling idea Generally speaking topic sentences are Short Short SimpleSimple ClearClear Give a strong ideaGive a strong idea Often use phrases such as 常用句型 1 One of the main reasons for 2 One of the major factors in is 3 Generally speaking 4 One of the strongest arguments against in favour of is 5 One of the main advantages disadvantages of is Practice 1 Unlike one s mother tongue which is heard and practiced almost at any time a foreign language is only learned and taught in class The time arrangement is usally about 2 to 4 periods a week which is obviously not enough for fluency and proficiency Ideally an extra two or more hours are needed if you really want to see improvement You need to read more listen more speak more to make some progress every day Practice The Secret of Success It goes without saying that there is no short cut on one s way to success The important thing in life Living without a goal is like sailing without a compass This is especially true of some university students When in high school their goal was simple and clear to pass the college entrance exam and enter an ideal university Now however some of them seem to have lost themselves on c