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What is a Topic Sentence?
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A topic sentence is a sentence that expresses the main idea of a paragraph.  It is a general statement that covers all or most of the material in the paragraph.  Locating the topic sentence in a paragraph is one of the most important reading skills. 

To find a paragraph's topic sentence, you should do the following:

1.  Identify the topic of the paragraph by asking yourself,  "Who or what is this paragraph about?"

2.  Find the sentence that is a general statement telling you what you need to know about the topic.

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Last update: 04/07/06