Strong and Developed Writing

Apply Revision Strategies to Topic Sentences

The topic sentence of a paragraph must be written in a complete sentence to convey the main idea clearly to readers. The simple sentence structure of the first example shown below is the best choice for a topic sentence. Notice how the other three are confusing.

1. Cable television has programming that may not be suitable for your children.


2. Suitable programming for your children. (This fragment is missing the very limited subject.)


3. Cable television provides a variety of entertainment, but it has programming that may not be suitable for your children. (This coordinated sentence structure adds a second idea to discuss.)


4. Because people are raised differently and have different values, cable television has programming that may not be suitable for your children. (This subordinated sentence structure adds two extra ideas to discuss.)

Identify each topic sentence that is written in a complete sentence.

Victims of violent crimes.   Check answer

Fragment

Are helped grealy by laser surgery.   Check answer

Fragment

Because people contact their legislators.   Check answer

Fragment

Adventurous people often enjoy bicycling trips.   Check answer

Sentence

Stress aggravates many health problems.   Check answer

Sentence

Martin Luther King's dream.   Check answer

Fragment

Provides services for the poor.   Check answer

Fragment

Nursing care for the elderly.   Check answer

Fragment

Helping adults learn to read.   Check answer

Fragment

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