Brief description of the purpose of topic sentences in an analytical essay

1. Topic Sentences
What they are and examples

2. A brief definition…
• A topic sentence is a sentence that summarizes the purpose of a paragraph. It is
always the first sentence in a paragraph and it provides the path for a paragraph’s
entire argument.
• More than just being a mere summary of the paragraph’s argument, however, a topic
sentence provides a claim or an insight directly or indirectly related to the thesis.
• As the topic sentence summarizes the argument of the paragraph, serving as a mini
thesis statement, it remains general enough to cover the support and evidence used in
the body paragraph while being more specific than the thesis of the paper.

3. The parts
• There are three crucial parts to a topic sentence:
• Reference to your topic – what the entire essay is about in a very general
sense; usually a key term/phrase OR a synonym of that key term/phrase
• The controlling idea - what the paragraph will specifically claim about the
essay topic, in relation to your overall purpose (i.e. your thesis)
• The significance of that controlling idea – again, why we should have this
discussion; why is this paragraph a relevant and crucial part of your
argument?

4. An effective topic sentence…
• Has a clear claim or argument to make; a specific perspective is shared
• Mirrors the language or ideas of the thesis (or even the prompt)
• Will lead effectively to the evidence that supports it and thus is
appropriately broad enough in its expression
• This means that your quotes will clearly align with it – if they don’t
either your topic sentence or your quote choice must change!

5. An ineffective topic sentence…
• Tells readers what you’re going to do or what the essay will do
• “I am going to prove that…”
• “This next paragraph will demonstrate…”
• Gives a list of ideas that you want to talk about, rather than a claim to prove
• Names the authors or articles, leading to either summary or a focus on their
claims rather than your own
• Doesn’t lead to further explanation and evidence in the body of the paragraph

6. Thesis & Topic Sentences Together
• Thesis: Despite their belief that they are fully in control, humans change their behavior to
achieve certain outcomes and rely on machines for predictable responses because they have a
natural desire to avoid being hurt by others, to experience empathy, and to be included in
mainstream of society; consequently, absolute autonomy can never exist unless we are live
completely alone in this world.
• Body paragraph 1: Humans have an intense longing to fit in and be accepted, and thus fear
of getting excluded from the group naturally follows; in response to this fear and the possibility
of judgment, humans hand their autonomy to emotionless and predictable machines.
• Body paragraph 2: It follows that humans then give up who they actually desire to be, their
identity, in exchange for love, care, empathy, and other expected outcomes they require from
one another; therefore humans do not act freely and autonomously, but in a calculated way in
relation to what they wish to gain.

7. Thesis & Topic Sentences Together
Thesis Statement – Even though technology has simplified and expanded our lives, in allowing it
to dictate our choices and behaviors, we risk losing our sense of individuality and free will; thus it
is the balance between external factors such as algorithms and unique experiences, which shape our
inherited traits and values, and our ability to make independent choices
Body Paragraph 1 – It is essential that we explore the complexity of human tools and their
relationship to external factors through the lens of horizontal identities, as it allows us to
understand how individuals may perceive a sense of control and autonomy in their interactions
with objects that appear autonomous; however, that perception is indeed deceptive, as we often
become subservient to the very tools we create.
Body Paragraph 2 – As a result of our complex relationship with our tools, we constantly face
the challenge of maintaining our autonomy and individuality amid their rapid evolution and
shifting definition in society; with algorithms dictating our lives and automating our decision-
making processes, we risk our authenticity as individuals as we blindly accept their influence.