This document provides guidance on writing good topic sentences for paragraphs. It states that a good topic sentence should have one clear topic and an opinion about that topic. It then gives examples of weak and strong topic sentences. The document also advises that a topic sentence should not be too broad or too narrow in scope. A topic that is too broad would be difficult to discuss fully in one paragraph, while a topic that is too narrow would not have enough material to write about. The document concludes by giving additional examples of topic sentences that are too broad, too narrow, or just the right level of specificity.

1. Module 1
Good Topic Sentences
A good topic sentence should include 2 things:
 One clear topic.
 An opinion or idea about the topic.
(Topic and controlling idea)

2. In the first topic sentence, there is not one
clear topic. Will the paragraph be about
friends or about school?
Weak:
It’s important to have
friends, and also to
do well in school
Strong:
I don’t think I will ever
have a better friend
than heather.

3. In the first topic sentence there is not an
opinion about the topic. It is just a fact.
Weak:
I have been studying
Karate.
Strong:
Studying karate has
given me strength
and self-confidence.

4. Too narrow (not enough to write / it’s just a fact)
Weak: School starts at 8:30.
Strong: Getting ready for school
in the morning is more difficult
than any of my classes.
Too broad (too much to write about)
Weak: Australia is an
interesting country.
Strong: On my visit to
Australia I saw many
unusual animals.
A good topic should NOT be

5. Too Broad or Too Narrow?
A good topic sentence presents an idea that
can be discussed in a single paragraph.
If your topic sentence is too broad, you will
not be able to to discuss it in just one
paragraph.
If your topic sentence is too narrow, you will
not be able to say much about it.

6. How can you tell if your
topic sentence is too
general or too specific?

7. Try brainstorming or branching to generate
ideas. If you can develop the topic in many
directions, or if you have trouble choosing
details from a wide range of choices, your
topic is probably too general.

8. If you cannot think of anything to explain or
support it, your topic sentence is too specific.

9. Too Broad, Too Narrow, or
just right?
Too broad: Mystery novels are fun to read.
Too narrow: The last mystery novel I read was 300
pages long.
Just right: The plot of the novel May Tomorrow
Never Come is suspenseful.
Too broad: Eating correctly is important.
Too narrow: Spinach is an excellent source of iron.
Just right: An important step in preventing heart
disease is eating fruits and vegetables.