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Wa Writing Topic Sentences

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Page 1: Wa Writing Topic Sentences

M o r e n o   V a l l e y   C o l l e g e    W r i t i n g   a n d   R e a d i n g   C e n t e r

 D i r e c t e d L e a r n i n g A c t i v i t y

W r i t i n g T o p i c S e n t e n c e s

1. Using the link to the left, read the article on writing and analyzing topic sentences.

1. Using the link to the left, read the article on writing and analyzing topic sentences.

Resources http://www.arts.uottawa.ca/writcent/hypergrammar/partopic.html

WRC

Confirmation

Date Comments:

Instructor on Duty Print Instructor on Duty Signature Student Signature

2. Answer the following questions: 2. Answer the following questions: A. What is the difference between a topic sentence and a thesis

statement? A. What is the difference between a topic sentence and a thesis

statement?

B. What is a claim? B. What is a claim?

3. Look at the following example of a thesis statement and topic sentences. These examples come from the CAHSEE On Target workbooks:

3. Look at the following example of a thesis statement and topic sentences. These examples come from the CAHSEE On Target workbooks:

Thesis: Thesis: Topic sentence 1: Topic sentence 2:

Smoking should be made illegal Smoking should be illegal because cigarettes are just as dangerous to a person’s health as many illegal drugs. Smoking should also be illegal because many companies are getting rich selling cigarettes to people.

Topic sentence 3: Finally, smoking should be illegal because cigarettes are expensive.

Notice how each of the topic sentences works in two directions. Each topic sentence refers to the thesis through the use of key words (“smoking,” “illegal”) and advances the argument presented in the thesis. Each topic sentence also defines what each paragraph will cover. So, you know that paragraph one will present only information about how cigarettes are as dangerous as illegal drugs; no other topic can be covered in that paragraph.

Revised by Nathaniel Broguiere (Tutor)

Page 2: Wa Writing Topic Sentences

Revised by Nathaniel Broguiere (Tutor)

4. Following are four subjects. Using the space below, create a thesis

statement and, for each thesis statement, create three topic sentences following the model above.

• Subject 1: school uniforms • Subject 2: death penalty • Subject 3: the California high school exit exam (CAHSEE) • Subject 4: recycling