Common Errors to Avoid When Writing a Topic Sentence

Avoiding Common Topic Sentence Errors Activity

Evaluate the following pairs of topic sentences. In each pair, one is correct while the other contains one of the above errors. Put a C next to the topic sentence that is written correctly. Then write out the question that is raised by the correct answer.

Examples:

This essay will be on the topic of starting college. 
Starting college has been an exciting experience for me.  C
How has it been exciting?

My senior art class has proven to be really important to me in many ways.  C
Education has been important in my life. 
How has your senior art class proven to be important to you?

I have a really intense schedule this semester.  C
I am taking five courses this semester. 
How is your schedule intense?

Starting college has been both exciting and stressful. 
Starting college has been exciting in many ways.    C   
How has starting college been exciting?

 

1. Math has always been my weakest academic subject.
   I did poorly in my senior year math class for many reasons.
   
   
2. I am nervous about my new job in a legal office.
   I am nervous and excited about my new job in a legal office.
   
   
3. My vacation to the American Southwest was awesome.
   I will tell you about my awesome vacation to the American Southwest.
   
   
4. Several of my fears about returning to school have proved to be groundless.
   After getting laid off from a twenty year career, I am 47, and starting back to college.
   
   
5. I do push-ups and sit-ups every day.
   Working out has benefited me in many ways.
   
   
6. I am going to write about my job in an iron foundry.
   I have met some really interesting people at my iron foundry job.
   
   
7. I had a really bad day yesterday for several reasons.
   Yesterday had a lot of ups and downs for me.                                                                                                                                                                                                        
8. I have had some really terrible jobs.
   My newspaper delivery job was really terrible for many reasons.  
   
   
9. Though I get frustrated with the lack of participation, I really like my ethics class.  
   I really like my ethics class.
   
   
10. I have a long commute to get to work.
    There are many drawbacks to the long commute I take to get to work.