TOPIC SENTENCE

T + MI = TS

•T = Topic (usually a noun)

•MI = Main Idea (something about that

noun)

•TS = Topic Sentence

•A topic sentence is a sentence
that contains a topic, and
something about that topic
(called the main idea).
A good topic sentence is a
sentence that contains a specific
topic, a specific main idea and
grabs the readers interest.
Topic
• Any noun can be a topic (a noun is a
person, place, thing or idea).
What is the topic of each sentence below:
•Fred eats worms.
Fred
•The worms were eaten by Fred.
The worms
•The governor rides in a fancy limousine.
The governor
•Soccer is a sport played by many people,
like David Beckham.
Soccer
Main Idea

•A main idea is something

about a noun—it’s the specific
idea concerning a noun, often
an action.
 What is the main idea of each sentence
below:
•Fred eats worms.
• Eats worms
•The worms were eaten by Fred.
• Get eaten
•The governor rides in a fancy limousine.
• Rides in a limousine
•Soccer is a sport played by many people,
like David Beckham.
• Played by lots of people
A main idea is something about a
noun—it’s the specific idea
concerning a noun.
topic: People. Here are some main ideas
about people:
•Some people have heart
disease.
•People live in many different
kinds of places.
•People who play sports risk
injury.
•A main idea is something
about a noun—it’s the specific
idea concerning a noun.
•You name some main ideas
about people…
Topic Sentence

•A good topic sentence should

have a specific topic (noun)
and something specific to say
about that topic (main idea).
For example:

“People who play sports risk

injury.” To make that more specific:

•Professional football players

can get concussions.
•The “people who play sports” has
become the more specific:
•professional football players

•and “sports injuries” has turned

into the more specific:
•concussions
Can “Professional football players
can get concussions,” become
even more specific?
•Quarterbacks in the NFL can
get career-ending concussions.
Your turn.

Topic: Animals

•Brainstorm in your mind a couple

of main ideas about animals.
Some possible main ideas I had:

•Some animals are mammals.

•Animals need food to survive.
•Australia has animals that can’t
be found on any other continent.
 Topic Sentences

Pick one main idea that you

brainstormed.
•I’m going to pick…
“Australia has animals that can’t be
found on any other continent.”
Now that you have a main idea, let’s
make both the topic, “Animals,” and
the main idea more specific.

•What is an animal that fits with

your main idea?
•An animal that fits with my main
idea is the kangaroo.
Now that we have a specific animal
for our main idea, let’s see if we can
make our main idea even more
specific for that animal.
•Your ideas?

•My idea for my animal is that

kangaroos are leaping marsupials.
Now that we have a lot of specific things
about the topic and main idea, we can
actually write a topic sentence.
•Come up with a topic sentence
based on everything you have
thought about so far for your
animal.
Here’s mine:
•“The kangaroo is a leaping marsupial
unique to Australia.”
 Sometimes you have to find a topic sentence in a
paragraph that you read. Here’s how:
1.Carefully read the entire paragraph.
2.Decide what the topic (a one word
noun) of the entire paragraph is
about.
3.Figure out, in your own words, what
the main idea of the paragraph is.
4.Finally, look for a topic sentence in
the paragraph that has the main idea.
Practice Passages

Find the topic sentence in the

paragraph below.

Passage 1
 When oxygen comes in contact with most
metals, they rust. Aluminum is a special metal
that does not rust. Instead, it reacts with
oxygen in a different way. It forms a tough
surface film that stops rust. Things that need
to spend a lot of time outside are often made
of aluminum. This is why people use aluminum
to make cars and airplanes. It's can also be
used as a building material. However,
aluminum doesn’t have the strength of steel.
When strength is needed, even rusty steel is
stronger than aluminum.
Passage 1 Answer

• The topic of the paragraph (what the

entire paragraph is about) is aluminum.
• The main idea (the specific thing about
aluminum) of the paragraph is that
aluminum doesn’t rust.
• The topic sentence that contains the
main idea is: Aluminum is a special
metal that does not rust.
Practice Passages

Come up with your own topic

sentence for this paragraph.

Passage 2
 Scientists have discovered a spider
which is remarkably different from any
other known spider. This spider, named
Micromegale debliemma, has only two
eyes where most spiders have six or
eight. Unlike most spiders, it does not
have lungs but instead absorbs oxygen
through its skin. Just three one-
hundredth of an inch long, Micromygale
is one of the world’s smallest spiders.
 Passage 2 Answer
• The topic of the paragraph (what the
entire paragraph is about) is spiders.
• The main idea (the specific thing about
aluminum) of the paragraph is that
scientists found a unique spider.
• The topic sentence that contains the
main idea is: Scientists have discovered
a spider which is remarkably different
from any other known spider.
 Practice Passages
Find the topic sentence in
the paragraph below.

Passage 3
The Black Plague killed about one-third of Europe's
whole population from 1347-1351. The Black
Plague was caused because back then people
knew almost nothing about germs or sanitary
conditions. They had no idea how the disease
spread. Rats ran everywhere. Fleas lived on the
rats. These fleas carried the deadly Black Plague
germ. Just before the Plague broke out, people had
killed off a great many cats. Up until then the cats
had kept the rat population small. With fewer cats,
there were more rats than ever before. And every
rat had the plague-infested fleas in its fur.
 Passage 3 Answer
• The topic of the paragraph (what the entire
paragraph is about) is the Black Plague.
• The main idea (the specific thing about
aluminum) of the paragraph is that rats
helped cause the black plague.
• The topic sentence that contains the main
idea is: The Black Plague was caused
because back then people knew almost
nothing about germs or sanitary
conditions.