Curated OER
Language Arts: Who Am I?
Twelfth graders write self-identity essays of three to five paragraphs in length. They include topic sentences, transition words, and concluding paragraphs in their essays, They read their essays to classmates.
Curated OER
Main Idea and Supporting Details
Second graders write topic sentences. In this writing lesson, 2nd graders construct a paragraph consisting of a topic sentence and 2-4 additional sentences. Students analyze their writing and publish a final copy.
Curated OER
Journalism - The Attention Grabbing Topic Sentence
Students act as journalists to grab audience attention with the topic sentence for their writing. They write paragraphs in quantities appropriate to grade level.
SUNY Empire State College
Empire State College: Thesis and Shaping Information
This tutorial on writing essays contains several sections pertaining to the thesis. These include thesis definition, characteristics, analysis of thesis to gather and shape information, and topic sentences. Many examples given. W.9-10.2...
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Revising Thesis and Topic Sentences
This tutorial focuses on revising the thesis and topic sentences using two videos and two slideshows. The first video discusses a 3-step revising process for making sure the thesis fits the paper; the second video focuses on what...
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Revising Thesis and Topic Sentences
A series of notes and lessons focused on writing thesis statements and topic sentences. The lesson begins with a four-page downloadable PDF containing information about the function and form of a thesis statement as well as how to...
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Topic Sentences
This slideshow lesson focuses on topic sentences; it defines them, gives the characteristics of effective topic sentences, tells what they are NOT, discusses how to create them, and provides examples of effective topic sentences.
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Topic Sentences: Map Your Way to Writing One
This tutorial on writing topic sentences includes 2 videos, 2 slide shows, and an audio clip. The first YouTube video explains the 4 parts of a topic sentence and tells where topic sentences belong. The 2 slide shows focus on the MAP...
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Writing Effective Topic Sentences
This tutorial focuses on topic sentences using two slideshows. The first defines topic sentences, discusses purpose and placement, and provides a sample thesis statement followed by accompanying topic sentences samples. The second...
Savvas Learning
Pearson Longman: Main Points, Support Points, and Specific Details
Part of the Pearson Longman series entitled "Sentence Resources for Writers", this site assesses the high school student's ability to identify main points and develop specific details and support points. Includes ten multiple choice and...
Read Works
Read Works: Lesson 2: First and Last Sentences (Passage)
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students comprehension will be reinforced as they reading first and last sentences of paragraphs. Direct teaching, guided practice, and independent worksheets are available for this third grade lesson.
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Topic Sentences
Often, we ask students to find the main idea in the story- this helps when re-telling. Why not apply this idea to writing? Find the main idea and introduce your writing with that idea; just like with a book, it helps with re-telling!...
University of Washington
Guide to Writing Thesis Statements
These guidelines show how to write effective thesis statements with examples of effective and ineffective statements.
ACT360 Media
Writing Den: Paragraphs
How do you write a paragraph? Use this site to learn more about the different parts of a paragraph.
E Reading Worksheets
E Reading Worksheets: Writing Persuasive Essays
Persuasive writing is the topic of this article. Students will learn the parts of the persuasive essay and how to write an effective persuasive essay.
Cambridge Rindge & Latin School
Cambridge Rindge & Latin School: Writing a Statement of Purpose
An excellent tip sheet for creating and perfecting a statement of purpose. Also includes information about thesis statements and examples.
Tom Richey
Tom richey.net: Historical Writing: Writing Resources for Students
Resources for helping students to write historical essays. Includes a movie trailer to demonstrate the traits of a good introduction, tips for writing a paragraph, tips for formal writing, and guidelines for citing sources.
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College: Writing a Thesis Sentence
This Dartmouth College writing lab tutorial teaches students how to develop a thesis statement.
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Paper Writing: Transitions and Topic Sentences
This tutorial focuses on transitions including transitional devices, lists of common transition words and phrases, transitions between paragraphs with examples, and separate lists of transition words for descriptive, narrative, and...
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Revising Topic Sentences
A nine-slide presentation explaining how to use the acronym MAP (main idea, attitude, preview) to edit and revise a topic sentence.
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Topic Sentence: Map It Out!
An eight-slide presentation introducing how to write a strong topic sentence by using the acronym MAP (main idea, attitude, preview).
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Writing Effective Topic Sentences
Ten slides discussing the elements of a topic sentence and explaining how to write an effective topic sentence by using the acronym MAP (Main idea, Attitude, Preview).
Read Works
Read Works: Main Idea 4th Grade Unit
[Free Registration/Login Required] A two-lesson unit on main idea and details through which young scholars use the topic sentence to identify the main idea of a paragraph and categorize details as main idea or supporting. With free...
University of Ottawa (Canada)
University of Ottawa: Writing Paragraphs
This site from the University of Ottawa provides a wonderfully designed website that not only gives you exhaustive information on paragraph writing. Students will engage in starting with outlines, writing topic sentences, dividing their...