15/08/2023, 09:30 How to Write Topic Sentences | 4 Steps, Examples & Purpose

How to Write Topic Sentences | 4 Steps, Examples &

Purpose

Published on July 21, 2022 by Shona McCombes. Revised on June 5, 2023.

Every paragraph in your paper needs a topic sentence.

The topic sentence expresses what the paragraph is
about. It should include two key things:

 The topic of the paragraph

 The central point of the paragraph.

After the topic sentence, you expand on the point zwith

evidence and examples.

To build a well-structured argument, you can also use your topic sentences to transition
smoothly between paragraphs and show the connections between your points.

 Table of contents

1. Writing strong topic sentences

2. Topic sentences as transitions between paragraphs
3. Topic sentences that introduce more than one paragraph
4. Where does the topic sentence go?
5. Frequently asked questions about topic sentences

https://www.scribbr.com/research-paper/topic-sentences/ 1/10
15/08/2023, 09:30 How to Write Topic Sentences | 4 Steps, Examples & Purpose

Writing strong topic sentences

Topic sentences aren’t the first or the last thing you write—you’ll develop them throughout
the writing process. To make sure every topic sentence and paragraph serves your
argument, follow these steps.

Step 1: Write a thesis statement

The first step to developing your topic sentences is to make sure you have a strong thesis
statement. The thesis statement sums up the purpose and argument of the whole paper.

Thesis statement example

Food is an increasingly urgent environmental issue, and to reduce humans’ impact

on the planet, it is necessary to change global patterns of food production and
consumption.

Step 2: Make an essay outline and draft topic sentences

Next, you should make an outline of your essay’s structure, planning what you want to say
in each paragraph and what evidence you’ll use.

At this stage, you can draft a topic sentence that sums up the main point you want to
make in each paragraph. The topic sentences should be more specific than the thesis
statement, but always clearly related to it.

https://www.scribbr.com/research-paper/topic-sentences/ 2/10
15/08/2023, 09:30 How to Write Topic Sentences | 4 Steps, Examples & Purpose

Topic sentence example

Research has consistently shown that the meat industry has a significant
environmental impact.

Step 3: Expand with evidence

The rest of the paragraph should flow logically from the topic sentence, expanding on the
point with evidence, examples, or argumentation. This helps keep your paragraphs
focused: everything you write should relate to the central idea expressed in the topic
sentence.

In our example, you might mention specific research studies and statistics that support
your point about the overall impact of the meat industry.

Step 4: Refine your topic sentences

Topic sentences usually start out as simple statements. But it’s important to revise them as
you write, making sure they match the content of each paragraph.

A good topic sentence is specific enough to give a clear sense of what to expect from the
paragraph, but general enough that it doesn’t give everything away. You can think of it like
a signpost: it should tell the reader which direction your argument is going in.

To make your writing stronger and ensure the connections between your paragraphs are
clear and logical, you can also use topic sentences to create smooth transitions. To
improve sentence flow even more, you can also utilize the paraphrase tool.

Topic sentences as transitions between paragraphs

As you write each topic sentence, ask yourself: how does this point relate to what you
wrote in the preceding paragraph? It’s often helpful to use transition words in your topic
sentences to show the connections between your ideas.

Emphasize and expand

If the paragraph goes into more detail or gives another example to make the same point,
the topic sentence can use words that imply emphasis or similarity (for example,
furthermore, indeed, in fact, also).

https://www.scribbr.com/research-paper/topic-sentences/ 3/10
15/08/2023, 09:30 How to Write Topic Sentences | 4 Steps, Examples & Purpose

Indeed, cattle farming alone is responsible for a large proportion of greenhouse gas
emissions.

Summarize and anticipate

If the paragraph turns to a different aspect of the same subject, the topic sentence can
briefly sum up the previous paragraph and anticipate the new information that will appear
in this one.

While beef clearly has the most dramatic footprint, other animal products also have
serious impacts in terms of emissions, water and land use.

Compare and contrast

If the paragraph makes a comparison or introduces contrasting information, the topic
sentence can use words that highlight difference or conflict (for example, in contrast,
however, yet, on the other hand).

However, the environmental costs of dietary choices are not always clear-cut; in
some cases, small-scale livestock farming is more sustainable than plant-based
food production.

You can also imply contrast or complicate your argument by formulating the topic
sentence as a question.

Is veganism the only solution, or are there more sustainable ways of producing meat
and dairy?

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

https://www.scribbr.com/research-paper/topic-sentences/ 4/10
15/08/2023, 09:30 How to Write Topic Sentences | 4 Steps, Examples & Purpose

Try for free

Topic sentences that introduce more than one

paragraph
Sometimes you can use a topic sentence to introduce several paragraphs at once.

All of the examples above address the environmental impact of meat-eating versus
veganism. Together, they make up one coherent part of a larger argument, so the first
paragraph could use a topic sentence to introduce the whole section.

Topic sentence introducing several paragraphs

In countries with high levels of meat consumption, a move towards plant-based diets is the
most obvious route to making food more sustainable. Research has consistently shown
that the meat industry has significant environmental impacts.

Where does the topic sentence go?

The topic sentence usually goes at the very start of a paragraph, but sometimes it can
come later to indicate a change of direction in the paragraph’s argument.

Given this evidence of the meat industry’s impact on the planet, veganism seems
like the only environmentally responsible option for consumers. However, the
environmental costs of dietary choices are not always clear-cut; in some cases,
small-scale livestock farming is more sustainable than plant-based food production.

In this example, the first sentence summarizes the main point that has been made so far.
Then the topic sentence indicates that this paragraph will address evidence that
complicates or contradicts that point.

https://www.scribbr.com/research-paper/topic-sentences/ 5/10
15/08/2023, 09:30 How to Write Topic Sentences | 4 Steps, Examples & Purpose

In more advanced or creative forms of academic writing, you can play with the placement
of topic sentences to build suspense and give your arguments more force. But if in doubt,
to keep your research paper clear and focused, the easiest method is to place the topic
sentence at the start of the paragraph.

View topic sentences in an example essay

Frequently asked questions about topic sentences

What is a topic sentence? 

Why are topic sentences important? 

Where does the topic sentence go in a paragraph? 

What are some examples of topic sentences? 

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite
this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation
Generator.

McCombes, S. (2023, June 05). How to Write Topic Sentences | 4 Steps,

Examples & Purpose. Scribbr. Retrieved August 14, 2023, from Cite this article
https://www.scribbr.com/research-paper/topic-sentences/

Is this article helpful?

1040 309

https://www.scribbr.com/research-paper/topic-sentences/ 6/10