Don’t Forget Your Topic Sentences!

You’ve got a solid essay structure. Your argument is clear. Your evidence is relevant. Your paragraphs are beautifully organised.

So why does the essay sometimes still feel… a little vague?

Check your topic sentences.

It’s one of the simplest things to get right — and one of the easiest things to forget.

A good topic sentence needs to do two jobs.

1. Answer the question

Don’t start your paragraph by simply telling the reader what the paragraph is about. Tell them how it helps answer the question.

For example, instead of:

There were many reasons why the French Revolution broke out in 1789.

Try:

Economic problems were a major cause of the French Revolution because they placed increasing pressure on both the government and ordinary people.

See the difference?

The second sentence is already making an argument. It is directly answering the question rather than simply introducing a topic.

2. Signpost what comes next

Your topic sentence should also give the reader a sense of where the paragraph is going.

Think of it as a signpost: “This is the argument I’m about to make, and here’s how it connects to the question.”

The reader should be able to look at your topic sentence and have a pretty good idea of what your evidence and explanation are going to demonstrate.

A simple test

Before moving on from your topic sentence, ask yourself:

“Does this sentence directly answer the question?”

And then:

“Does it tell my reader what this paragraph is going to argue?”

If the answer to both is yes, you’re off to a good start.

Remember, your topic sentence isn’t just the first sentence of your paragraph.

It is the signpost that keeps your reader — and your argument — on the right road.