Find the Topic Sentence!

Topic sentences express the main idea of a paragraph. They are usually
stated in the first sentence (Pattern A) or last sentence (Pattern B) of the
paragraph, and sometimes they are stated in different ways in both (Pattern
C). A topic sentence rarely ever appears in the middle of a paragraph
(Pattern D); it is possible to do if there is a good reason for it, but it usually
isnt an effective place for it.

The following paragraphs exemplify all the patterns mentioned above, and
there are even a couple with no topic sentence at all (well call this Pattern
Enot advised). Can you find them? Mark each sentence below.

____ 1. Spanish is spoken in many countries. It is spoken throughout Latin

____ 2. Some people walk on a treadmill at home or ride a bicycle. Others like to
go out dancing, do aerobics, or work out in a gym. Some people prefer
to swim. Most people have a favorite way to exercise.

____ 3. It seems that people mature at different rates. Some children are
serious and responsible. Many people mature during college or as they
gain experience on their first job. Other folks take more time, and some
people grow old but never seem to grow up.

____ 4. Some people leave too many lights on around the house. Some arent
careful about how much water they use. Americans waste a lot of
resources. Most people buy products with a lot of unnecessary
packaging that isnt good for the environment.

____ 5. Theres a toaster oven, a blender, and a can opener on one counter. I
have a microwave oven on another. In my cupboard, you can find a
mixer and a hot air popcorn popper. On the far side of the kitchen,
there is a coffee machine and coffee grinder.
____ 6. There are large ones with religious significance, such as Christmas,
Thanksgiving, and Easter. There are colorful one-day celebrations,
including Valentines Day and St. Patricks Day. Theres a scary one
called Halloween. There are lots of patriotic ones like Independence Day,
Memorial Day, and Veterans Day. There are a number of days to
remember important people and historical figures such as Mothers Day,
Fathers Day, Presidents Day, Lincolns Birthday, Martin Luther King, Jr.
Day, Columbus Day, Labor Day, and Cesar Chavez Day. The U.S. has
many different holidays.

____ 7. The park is a pleasant place for everyone. Little kids like to play on the
swings and slides. Older children can play little league baseball or other
team sports at the larger parks. Teenagers often play Frisbee on the
grass or volleyball in the sand. Adults enjoy taking walks, and some
seniors like to sit on the park benches and feed the birds.

____ 8. You should get an oil change every 3.000 miles. You need to check the
air pressure in your tires and have them rotated. There are some things
you should do regularly to maintain your car in good condition. It is also
important to check the battery voltage and all fluid levels. Dont forget
to inspect the belts and hoses for signs of wear.

____ 9. Dogs in the U.S. are treated like humans. People talk to their dogs and
buy them special toys and clothing. There are special parks, hotels,
restaurants, and bakeries for dogs. Some owners take their dog to see a
psychiatrist as well as the veterinarian. American dogs are spoiled like
children.

___ 10. First, they can see better what is written on the board. They also can
hear the instructor more clearly, so they take better notes. When they
are close to the teacher, they feel less shy about asking questions, so
they get a lot of help. Students who sit in front of the class often are
more attentive and receive better grades in the class. There are many
reasons for this.

___ 11. It has a 6-cylinder engine and antilock brakes, air conditioning, power
steering, air bags, and a navigation system. It also has a stereo CD
player and a sunroof.

___ 12. In most paragraphs, the topic sentence appears first. In many
paragraphs, however, it comes last. Sometimes it is stated both at the
beginning and at the end, in different words. Every paragraph must
have a topic sentence in order to be effective.