You must summarise the information in the paragraph to write a topic sentence in coursework writing. It is used to organise the concept of the whole paragraph. Especially in academic/formal writing, it is the first sentence of each paragraph. It shows what the paragraph includes. The topic sentence must include two things:
- The topic of the paragraph
- The central idea of the paragraph
Writing a topic sentence in coursework is very important. It enhances your writing skills and improves your coursework structure. Most students find it difficult to write the topic sentence.
This article will provide some examples that help you understand the topic sentence and how to write it.
What is Topic Sentence?
A topic sentence in a paragraph basically acts like a GPS on a mobile. A GPS shows a person where he is standing and where he is going. Like this, a topic sentence helps a reader to understand what he will discuss in this paragraph. Both parts of a topic sentence are used as supporting evidence. The topic defines what the paragraph is about, and the central ideas explain what you will discuss.
Parts of a Topic Sentence with Examples
There are two parts to a topic sentence in coursework writing. That is:
The topic of the paragraph
It shows what the paragraph is about.
For example:
Bob likes to play cricket in his free time.
Here, Bob is what. This topic sentence shows that the paragraph will discuss Bob.
The central idea of the paragraph
It explains what you will discuss in this paragraph to answer why this paragraph has been written.
For example:
Bob likes to play cricket in his free time.
Here, the paragraph is about Bob, and the central idea shows that this paragraph will discuss what Bob likes to do in his free time.
Steps to Write a Topic Sentence in Coursework
Writing a topic sentence in coursework is not the first and last thing to write. You have to write it before the start of each paragraph. Here are some steps that help you to write the best topic sentence:
Write a strong thesis statement
Before start writing a topic sentence, you first have to write a strong thesis statement. A thesis statement is a statement that is used to define the main objective of your research. It summarises the arguments and discussion of the whole thesis. Your thesis statement includes two parts. That is:
- The title of your thesis
- Your point of view on the topic
A strong thesis statement means you know what to include in your research. This means you are able to write a good topic sentence in coursework writing.
Think why you want to write this paragraph
Before writing a topic sentence for any paragraph, you must think about and understand the reason for writing that paragraph. It will help you to understand the concept of a paragraph.
Note down important points
After understanding the reason for writing that paragraph, your next step is to read the paragraph and note down all the important points. For this sake, you can use a rough paper or make notes to include all the important points and ideas of that paragraph. Once you have noted down the points of view, carefully examine and try to find the common thing in all.
Summarise the ideas and details into a single sentence
After collecting and finding the common points, you should summarise those ideas. Make sure that you will make only one sentence that describes the main theme of the paragraph.
For example:
Suppose you want to describe your hobby. Think of all the reasons why it is your hobby. Make sure you will not include too many things because you want to write a sentence, not an essay. After thinking about the reasons, try to write in one sentence. Such as, “I love to play cricket because it is exciting and interesting”.
Avoid Mistakes while Writing a Topic Sentence in Coursework Writing
One of the major mistakes that coursework writers can make while writing is that they will write a good topic sentence but make mistakes in a paragraph. They find it difficult to keep a paragraph on the main theme of the topic. Furthermore, they perfectly start their paragraph, but when it comes to the half, they come up with another idea. They think it is better than the previous one and start following it. As a result, the topic sentence won’t fulfil its function in the paragraph.
Where to Place a Topic Sentence in the Coursework Writing
There are three forms of placement where you place a topic sentence in coursework writing.
Initial placement
You can write a topic sentence at the start of the paragraph. It is the most common placement to place. Because a topic sentence explains the main idea of the whole paragraph. The advantage of initial placement is that it helps you to adjust the paragraph according to that. It also helps a professor to understand what a paragraph is about.
Medal placement
It is the most uncommon form of placement. Most researchers avoid placing a topic sentence in the middle of the paragraph. It is used when a researcher has to present a difference between two ideas and concepts. The first idea or argument is weak, and the other must be strong, attractive, and important.
Final placement
It is the last form of placement for a topic sentence. In this form, you can place your topic sentence at the end of your paragraph. It is mostly used in fictional or inexplicable writing. When you want to create anxiety or explain the main point of your research, you can use this form of placement.
Conclusion
Coursework writing is one of the important tasks of academic writing. You must include a topic sentence in coursework to make it more attractive. You must ensure some points to write the best topic sentence for your paragraph.
