Common Errors to Avoid When Writing a Topic Sentence
Read the lecture about common errors you want to avoid when writing topic sentences. After reading about common errors, get some practice identifying effective topic sentences in this activity. After you have finished, compare your answers to the answer key.
Common Errors to Avoid When Writing a Topic Sentence
- Announcements
- These kind of topic sentences tend to not raise a question. You can often identify this error by looking for words that refer to writing within the topic sentence – words such as: "essay," "paper," "about," and "writing" can be clues that you are making an announcement instead of writing a proper topic sentence.
For example:
I am going to write about my college experience.
or
This essay will be on the topic of starting college.
- These kind of topic sentences tend to not raise a question. You can often identify this error by looking for words that refer to writing within the topic sentence – words such as: "essay," "paper," "about," and "writing" can be clues that you are making an announcement instead of writing a proper topic sentence.
- Statements that are too broad
- These kind of topic sentences are previewing something that is too big and broad to fit into a paragraph. It is always important to keep the length of an assignment in mind when choosing a topic and message.
For example:
Education has been important in my life.
or
Many people enjoy college.
- These kind of topic sentences are previewing something that is too big and broad to fit into a paragraph. It is always important to keep the length of an assignment in mind when choosing a topic and message.
- Statements that are too narrow
- These kind of topic sentences are generally just a statement of fact – they do not raise a question and leave the paragraph author nowhere to go.
For example:
I just completed my first week of college.
or
I am taking five courses this semester.
- These kind of topic sentences are generally just a statement of fact – they do not raise a question and leave the paragraph author nowhere to go.
- Statements that contain more than one message or opinion
- These kind of topic sentences are trying to say more than what can adequately be supported in a paragraph.
For example:
Starting college has been both exciting and stressful.
or
I had really awesome experiences in my senior year math class, but there were some things I didn't like.
- These kind of topic sentences are trying to say more than what can adequately be supported in a paragraph.
Source: Erin Severs
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