Topic Sentence Examples to Inspire Your Students

Did you know that all topic sentences are not created equal? There are many different types of topic sentences, all of which have a specific purpose, whether it be to make a statement, ask a question or share an opinion. Using a variety of these topic sentence types makes writing more engaging and the ideas contained within more closely connected.

This matching card game has been designed by our team to help your students explore these different types of topic sentences through authentic examples. The set includes three different types of cards: 

• Topic sentence types
• Topic sentence examples
• Paragraphs

To play, students must create a three-way match by matching the correct topic sentence type, example and paragraph. They must then record their matches on the recording sheet provided.

Eight different types of topic sentences are featured in the resource:

• Clear statement
• Question
• List or number
• Opinion-based
• Compare and contrast 
• Cause and effect
• Transitional
• Pivot

Read on to learn more about using this hands-on topic sentences resource in your classroom.

Activity Ideas for Teaching How to Write a Topic Sentence

These topic sentence examples matching cards are a versatile resource that can be used in a variety of ways to engage your learners. Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Movement Match-Up – Provide each student with a card. Have the students walk around the room to find the other two students to complete their group. Once all matches have been formed, have each group read out their cards to the class. 
2. Whole-Class Sorting Activity  – Create a large display board with columns for each category (type of topic sentence, example topic sentence and supporting paragraph). Work together as a class to read each card, then place it under the correct column of the display. This makes a great visual reference for future writing lessons
3. Make Your Own Match – Once students are confident with the three different categories (type of topic sentence, example topic sentence and supporting paragraph), have them create their own set of three matching cards on a topic of their choice.  

Download and Print These Topic Sentence Examples

Ready to make paragraph writing easier and more engaging? Use the Download button above to access the easy-print PDF or editable Google Slides file. (Note: You will be prompted to make a copy of the Google Slides template on your personal drive before accessing it.)

We recommend that you print the matching cards on cardboard for added durability, then place them in a zip-lock bag or large envelope for safekeeping. This time-saving resource for teaching topic sentences is then ready whenever you are!

This resource was created by Brittany Collins, a teacher and Teach Starter collaborator.

More Resources for Exploring Topic Sentences

Looking to add more topic sentence resources to your teacher toolkit? Click below to browse more teacher-made, curriculum-aligned worksheets and activities from the Teach Starter library. 

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