{"id":6085,"date":"2018-03-21T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-03-22T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kibin.com\/blog\/?p=6085"},"modified":"2020-08-02T07:49:21","modified_gmt":"2020-08-02T14:49:21","slug":"good-topic-sentences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kibin.com\/essay-writing-blog\/good-topic-sentences\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Examples of Good Topic Sentences (and Why They Work)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pretend you\u2019re a pirate out on the high seas searching for treasure. Let\u2019s say you have it on good authority that there\u2019s a chest of gold buried on a nearby remote island.<\/p>\n

While you may have an idea which way you need to sail in order to get to the island, if you don\u2019t know where to dig once you get there, it may be a long and frustrating treasure hunt.<\/p>\n

Now let\u2019s say you have a treasure map. How does that change things?<\/p>\n

It makes life a little easier, right?<\/p>\n

Having a treasure map means you have a step-by-step guide to help you get to your ultimate goal\u2014the buried treasure.<\/p>\n

Topic sentences are a lot like treasure maps\u2014they provide a step-by-step guide through your paper.<\/p>\n

Looking for a few ideas to help create a treasure map of topic sentences for your paper? Check out these examples of good topic sentences.<\/p>\n

12 Examples of Good Topic Sentences (and Why They Work)<\/h2>\n

An introduction<\/a> or thesis statement<\/a> for a narrative essay<\/a> is different than an introduction or thesis in an argumentative essay<\/a>. It makes sense, then, that you\u2019ll write different types of topic sentences for different types of papers.<\/p>\n

To help you see the difference between topic sentences, I\u2019ve divided this list by type of papers: narrative essay, argumentative essay, and compare and contrast essay<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you want a quick refresher on writing good topic sentences, matey, read the following post: Here Is the Right Way and the Wrong Way to Write Topic Sentences<\/a>.<\/p>\n

4 narrative essay topic sentences<\/h3>\n

Topic Sentence #1: <\/b>The sea was treacherous that night, and I thought I\u2019d lose half of my men before sunrise.<\/i><\/p>\n

Topic Sentence #2: <\/b>We thought we had seen the worst Mother Nature had to offer, but she proved us wrong on the final night of our voyage.<\/i><\/p>\n

Topic Sentence #3: <\/b>With my first mate\u2019s final comments, I knew the men were planning a mutiny.<\/i><\/p>\n

Topic Sentence #4<\/b>: It was at that moment that I struck something I knew must be the treasure.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Why these narrative topic sentences work<\/h3>\n

A strong narrative essay keeps readers interested and wanting more of the story. A good narrative topic sentence helps hold readers\u2019 interest by providing an overview of the upcoming paragraph.<\/p>\n

Each of these topic sentences provides a clear idea of what the focus of the paragraph will be, yet they\u2019re also intriguing enough to build suspense<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Readers wonder how the events will unfold and keep reading to see how the story ends.<\/p>\n

Transitions<\/a> are important in topic sentences for all types of essays, but it\u2019s important that you not only choose the right <\/i>transitions but also vary <\/i>your transitions.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It can be easy to use the word \u201cthen\u201d throughout your narrative essay to connect events that occur in chronological order, but don\u2019t do it!<\/p>\n

Using \u201cthen\u201d to connect your ideas will make your writing sound like this: \u201cFirst, we boarded the ship. T<\/em>hen <\/i>we found our way to our cabins. Then <\/i>we headed straight to the pool.\u201d It certainly doesn\u2019t make for very compelling reading.<\/p>\n

Not sure what other transitions to use? Here are 97 transition words to help<\/a>!<\/p>\n

Looking for more examples of narrative essay topic sentences? Take a look at these example essays<\/a> to see what other writers have written.<\/p>\n

4 argumentative essay topic sentences<\/h3>\n

Topic Sentence #5: <\/b>Finally, the most compelling reason that <\/i>Treasure Island<\/a> should be considered the best pirate novel is its unique plot. <\/i><\/p>\n

Topic Sentence #6: <\/b>One of the first strategies companies need to implement in order to protect their ships from pirates near the Somali coast is to require armed security on all vessels.<\/i><\/p>\n

Topic Sentence #7: <\/b>File-sharing sites, such as The Pirate Bay, are yet another way that technology has created a new type of criminal.<\/i><\/p>\n

Topic Sentence #8: <\/b>Even though the players can, of course, take some credit for the Pittsburgh Pirates\u2019 success, it is the coaches who truly deserve the credit.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Why these argumentative essay topic sentences work<\/h3>\n

The goal of an argument essay is to convince readers. To do that, you need lots of examples and evidence to support your arguments<\/a>. This means that your paragraphs will each focus on one key argument, and thus your topic sentences should do the same.<\/p>\n

These topic sentences clearly identify the argument to be expressed in the paragraph.They also allude to the broad focus of the thesis statement to remind readers of the goal of the paper.<\/p>\n

While this strategy may not always be necessary (especially in shorter papers) it can be useful in longer essays as it keeps readers focused.<\/p>\n

Because arguments tend to include a list of key points to support a thesis statement, you might use transitions like \u201cfirst,\u201d \u201csecond,\u201d \u201cfinally,\u201d or \u201cultimately\u201d in your topic sentences.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

If these types of transitions aren\u2019t working for you, try using headings (if your assignment allows<\/a>). Check out this sample paper<\/a> to see one way to use headings when writing in MLA 8 format<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Want to see argument essay topic sentences and transitions in action? Check out this example essay about internet piracy from our database<\/a>.<\/p>\n

4 compare and contrast essay topic sentences<\/h3>\n

Topic Sentence #9: <\/b>Though the pirates Blackbeard and Black Bart may have entered into piracy differently, they both met their deaths in gruesome battles.<\/i><\/p>\n

Topic Sentence #10: <\/b>Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is most like Pirates of the Caribbean<\/a> <\/i>due to its similar cast.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n

Topic Sentence #11: <\/b>Hollywood\u2019s portrayal of pirates\u2019 appearances is quite similar to historical accounts of what pirates actually looked like.<\/i><\/p>\n

Topic Sentence #12: <\/b>Many sea shanties sung by pirates<\/a> can also be compared to Irish drinking songs.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Stuck on Your Essay?<\/div>\n\t\t\t
Check out thousands of example essays.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tYes! Show me examples.<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/h3>\n

Why these compare and contrast essay topic sentences work<\/h3>\n

Compare and contrast essays examine similarities and differences, so it only makes sense that your topic sentences do the same. Notice that each of the topic sentences includes both items to be used for comparison.<\/p>\n

For instance, #11 compares Hollywood\u2019s portrayal of pirates to historical accounts of what pirates really looked like.<\/p>\n

This type of topic sentence construction provides a clear path for readers. It allows them to see the exact points to be compared in the upcoming paragraph.<\/p>\n

A compare and contrast essay is unique because it uses transitional words to clearly identify and connect similarities and differences.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Here are a few transitions you might use in your own writing:<\/p>\n