the brian story

A well-organized paragraph supports or develops a single controlling idea, which is expressed in a sentence called the topic sentence. A topic sentence has several important functions: it substantiates or supports an essay�s thesis statement; it unifies the content of a paragraph and directs the order of the sentences; and it advises the reader of the subject to be discussed and how the paragraph will discuss it. Readers generally look to the first few sentences in a paragraph to determine the subject and perspective of the paragraph. That�s why it�s often best to put the topic sentence at the very beginning of the paragraph. In some cases, however, it�s more effective to place another sentence before the topic sentence�for example, a sentence linking the current paragraph to the previous one, or one providing background information. Although most paragraphs should have a topic sentence, there are a few situations when a paragraph might not need a topic sentence. For example, you might be able to omit a topic sentence in a paragraph that narrates a series of events, if a paragraph continues developing an idea that you introduced (with a topic sentence) in the previous paragraph, or if all the sentences and details in a paragraph clearly refer�perhaps indirectly�to a main point. The vast majority of your paragraphs, however, should have a topic sentence.

A well-organized paragraph supports or develops a single controlling idea, which is expressed in a sentence called the topic s entence has several important functions: it substantiates or supports an essay�s thesis statement; it unifies the content of a paragraph and directs the order of the sentences; and it advises the reader of the subject to be discussed and how the paragraph will discuss it. Readers generally look to the first few sentences in a paragraph to determine the subject and perspective of the paragraph. That�s why it�s often best to put the topic sentence at the very beginning of the paragraph. In some cases, however, it�s more effective to place another sentence before the topic sentence�for example, a sentence linking the current paragraph to the previous one, or one providing background information. Although most paragraphs should have a topic sentence, there are a few situations when a paragraph might not need a topic sentence. For example, you might be able to omit a topic sentence in a paragraph that narrates a series of events, if a paragraph continues developing an idea that you introduced (with a topic sentence) in the previous paragraph, or if all the sentences and details in a paragraph clearly refer�perhaps indirectly�to a main point. The vast majority of your paragraphs, however, should have a topic sentence.