Topic sentence is usually found at the beginning of a paragraph.

A paragraph is a group of related sentences that present and develop one main idea.

A topic sentence maybe found at the beginning, middle and end of the paragraph.

The topic sentence in a paragraph summarizes what the entire paragraph is all about.

One cannot identify the topic sentence if he/she does not understand the whole paragraph.

A topic sentence is usually a question.

Identify the topic in the following sentence: Research shows that secondhand smoke increases children's chances of getting lung diseases.

Choose the topic in the following sentence: Supermarkets make food shopping very convenient.

What do supporting details do?

Which sentence is most likely the topic sentence of the paragraph?

No one likes to eat with a dirty knife, fork, or spoon. It is important to completely wash all utensils before using them. Using clean, soapy water is best. Clean utensils won't transmit germs and bacteria. They also are more pleasant to eat with. No one likes to pick up a fork with food stuck on it!

Which sentence is most likely the topic sentence of the paragraph?

Many people think poetry is old-fashioned and uninteresting. They don't realize that every time they hear a song sung, they are hearing poetry in the form of song lyrics. Just like many written poems, many song lyrics use rhythm, rhyme, and literary imagery. It turns out that poetry isn't old-fashioned; it's as modern as the latest hit song!

My brothers all have jobs. My oldest brother, Edward, is a doctor at the hospital in the center of the city, and the second oldest, Daniel, is an accountant in an office near our home. My youngest brother is a policeman. I am the only brother who is still at school.

Miniature golf is both fun and relaxing. Because of the wide variety of course themes, playing each individual course is like taking a mini-vacation. You can play in exotic locales like jungles or pirate islands. You can travel in time and play in different places in history. Or you can take a leap of the imagination and play under the sea, in space, or in alien worlds. For a very low price, you can take a different vacation every time you play!

First of all, celebrities have to look almost perfect all the time. There’s always a photographer ready to take an unflattering picture of a famous person looking dumpy in old clothes. Celebrities also sacrifice their private lives. Their personal struggles, divorces, or family tragedies all end up as front-page news. Last, and most frightening of all, celebrities are in constant danger of the wrong kind of attention. Threatening letters and even physical attacks from crazy fans are things a celebrity must contend with. Thus, being a celebrity is often difficult.

People lie for different reasons. One common reason is to avoid hurting someone’s feelings. For example, a friend might ask, “Do you like my new haircut?“ If you think it’s ugly, you might still answer, “Yes.” Another common reason for lying is to avoid a fight. Say a friend angers you and then asks, “Are you upset with me?” You might answer, “No,” to avoid an argument. People also lie so that they’ll fit in, as when you listen to a boring person and politely say, “That’s interesting.” In addition, people lie to avoid spending more time with someone. For instance, you might lie, “I have to go now."

There are several positive ways to encourage your family to exercise more often. To begin with, get them to exercise more often by emphasizing how good they’ll feel and how much better they’ll look if they work out on a regular basis. A second method you can use is to set an example. If they see you walking to stores rather than driving, they might be encouraged to do likewise. Finally, make exercise a family activity, suggest that the whole family go hiking or camping.