Staying on Topic

Read this section about staying on topic, and then get some practice looking for unity in paragraphs by writing out the topic sentences and identifying off-topic sentences in this activity. Compare your responses to the answer key.

What's Off Topic? Activity

Answer Key

Exercise 1:

  1. What question is raised by the topic sentence?
    How was your experience going to a haunted house with your friends last week scary?

  2. What three sentences are off topic and need to be cut? (you can just list the numbers of the sentences)
    9, 12, 14




Exercise 2:

  1. What question is raised by the topic sentence?
    Why did you have to repeat your senior year of high school?

  2.  What three sentences are off topic and need to be cut? (you can just list the numbers of the sentences)
    5, 8, 12



Exercise 3:

  1. What question is raised by the topic sentence?
    What are some of the health benefits of a vegetarian diet?

  2. What three sentences are off topic and need to be cut? (you can just list the numbers of the sentences)
    4, 7, 9