IXL | Choose topic sentences for expository paragraphs

Read the paragraph. Then, add the better topic sentence.

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It looks like a tiny guitar with four strings. To play the instrument, people

strum

, or pick the strings with their fingers. Ukuleles are popular in music from Hawaii. They are sometimes called

ukes

for short.

Many singers can also play musical instruments.

The ukulele is a kind of musical instrument.

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Learn with an example

question

Read the paragraph. Then, add the better topic sentence.

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For example, the stegosaurus had flat teeth like cows and giraffes have. Those animals eat plants. So, scientists can tell that the stegosaurus was a plant eater. Like tigers and wolves, raptors had sharp teeth. This tells scientists that raptors were also meat eaters.

Scientists can tell if a dinosaur ate plants or meat by looking at its teeth.

Dinosaur eggs tell scientists a lot about different dinosaurs.

key idea

Many paragraphs begin with a topic sentence. A topic sentence tells the reader what the paragraph is about.

For example, maybe your paragraph is about how big sharks can be. This would be a good topic sentence:

green checkmark, Sharks are some of the largest animals in the sea.

Your topic sentence should not be too broad. "Too broad" means that the sentence doesn't tell you exactly what the paragraph is about. It doesn't give enough detail.

red X symbol, There are many different kinds of sharks.

Your topic sentence should not be too narrow. "Too narrow" means that the sentence tells only about a detail.

red X symbol, The basking shark can be over thirty feet long.

Your topic sentence should not be off topic. "Off topic" means that the sentence doesn't match the paragraph well. It tells about something else.

red X symbol, Sharks can be dangerous.

solution

The paragraph is about how scientists use dinosaurs' teeth to tell what they ate. So, this is the better topic sentence:

green checkmark, Scientists can tell if a dinosaur ate plants or meat by looking at its teeth.

This sentence is off topic:

red X symbol, Dinosaur eggs tell scientists a lot about different dinosaurs.

The paragraph does not talk about dinosaur eggs.

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FF.2Choose topic sentences for narrative paragraphs

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