<aside> 💡 See also Thesis statement and skeleton outline, Topic sentence-heading-thesis alignment, and The M.E.A.L. Plan: A Comprehensive Approach to Paragraph Development.

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A topic sentence is a sentence that introduces the main idea of a paragraph. It usually appears at the beginning of the paragraph and helps the reader understand what the paragraph will discuss. A thesis statement is a sentence that summarizes the main argument or claim of an essay. It usually appears at the end of the introduction and guides the structure and direction of the whole essay. A topic sentence differs from a thesis statement in that it is more specific and focused on a single point, while a thesis statement is more general and covers the entire scope of the essay. Think of the topic sentence as a bridge between the thesis statement and the supporting sentences (or evidence sentences) of each body paragraph.

What to consider when writing a topic sentence

1. Begin with the main clause of the sentence; that is, avoid any transitions. Transitions are better used typically as supportive sentences (i.e., evidence, analysis, linking, and summarizing sentences). See Types of transitions.
2. Stick to primarily simple sentences and complex sentences, being careful not to include too many clauses overall. See also Mastering Sentence Types: A Guide to Simple, Compound, Complex, and Compound-Complex Sentences.
3. Begin with a noun clause, avoiding any personal pronouns in the main clause. For more, see Pronouns.
4. Avoid any Copula (linking) verbs in the main clause. See more with dynamic verbs in the main clause. For more, see Verbs.
5. Stay mainly in the active voice. Active vs. passive voice: A Writer's guide to clarity and impact.
6. Consider the Types of Phrases and Types of clauses when determining how specific a topic sentence should be. If too specific, consider reducing the number of phrases and/or clauses.

Examples of topic sentences

Here are 10 examples of topic sentences for different paragraphs in an essay about the environmental impact of the meat industry. The thesis statement and each topic sentence have been rewritten to show how to use more active or dynamic verbs to make one’s writing more emphatic (See Emphasis or emphatic writing).

Thesis statement (with only a topic and main claim): Food is an increasingly urgent environmental issue, and to reduce humans’ impact on the planet, it is necessary to change global patterns of food production and consumption.

Rewritten thesis statement (with only the topic and main claim): Changing global patterns of food production and consumption reduces humans’ impact on the planet and address the urgent environmental issue of food.

Topic sentences rewritten