IDENTIFYING THE TOPIC SENTENCE

1.1 WHAT IS A TOPIC?

A topic is a noun phrase that expresses what a sentence is about, and to which the rest of the sentence is related as a comment.
Another definition of a topic is: Topic is another word for subject. It answers the question, “Who or what is the paragraph (or article) about?” The topic is stated as a single word or phrase—not a complete sentence. see link

1.1.1. IDENTIFYING THE TOPIC SENTENCE

Why is identifying the topic important? Identifying the topic is key to monitoring your comprehension, getting the full meaning of the text, and answering your instructor when she asks, “So what is this section about?” Once you identify the topic, you can more easily determine the author’s main idea. see link

Identifying the topic is key to monitoring your comprehension, getting the full meaning of the text, and answering your instructor when he/she asks, “So what is this section about?” Once you identify the topic, you can more easily determine the author’s main idea.

Preview your text before you begin. Ask yourself, “What is the article about?” The answer can often be found in the title. If the topic is not specifically stated in the title, you will want more information before reading the entire article. Preview further by reading subtitles and headings. Look at diagrams and/or visual aids. Read the introductory material, opening paragraph, final paragraph. If the text is only one paragraph long, read the first and last sentences. The point is to quickly gain as much understanding as possible.