It was stated earlier that a topic sentence includes a topic and a controlling idea. Looking at Number One on the left, the topic (in red) is avoiding burglaries. The controlling idea, then (in green) is taking certain precautions. What precautions can someone take to avoid burglaries? Installing an alarm system, buying a guard dog, and installing stronger locks are three precautions one could take. Students in the past have given at least a dozen ways to avoid burglaries. By thinking through your own topic and controlling statement before starting to write, the writing itself becomes extremely easy because you already know what you are going to write.
Another interesting example is Number Ten. The topic is exploring the wreck of the Titanic. What are the problems scientists must overcome to explore the wreck? The depth of the water, the darkness, getting bright lights that can function at that depth, the pressure, the time it takes to descend and ascend. Again, once the topic is chosen, the writer has to decide what he/she is going to discuss about the topic, so a well-chosen (often simple) "controlling idea" is crucial.Explanation of Topic Sentences Number One and Ten On the Left
It was stated earlier that a topic sentence includes a topic and a controlling idea. Looking at Number One on the left, the topic (in red) is avoiding burglaries. The controlling idea, then (in green) is taking certain precautions. What precautions can someone take to avoid burglaries? Installing an alarm system, buying a guard dog, and installing stronger locks are three precautions one could take. Students in the past have given at least a dozen ways to avoid burglaries. By thinking through your own topic and controlling statement before starting to write, the writing itself becomes extremely easy because you already know what you are going to write.
Another interesting example is Number Ten. The topic is exploring the wreck of the Titanic. What are the problems scientists must overcome to explore the wreck? The depth of the water, the darkness, getting bright lights that can function at that depth, the pressure, the time it takes to descend and ascend. Again, once the topic is chosen, the writer has to decide what he/she is going to discuss about the topic, so a well-chosen (often simple) "controlling idea" is crucial.
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