Topic Sentences

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Designing a meaningful and eloquent topic sentence sets the tone for the entire expository or narrative essay.  Wouldn't it be nice to take the guess work out of creating such a sentence while at the same time having fun?   Read this post, I have designed activities that will encourage your writers to do just that; learn through play while creating topic sentences.

Spin the Wheel

Struggling to get your student to draft a topic sentence? Consider downloading this engaging tool.  Divided into eight sections, writers will explore seven styles of topic sentences. The eighth space is reserve for personal choice to allow freedom of expression.  Download this wheel on Venture2Learn's Etsy Page. 

How could you employ this wheel in the classroom or at home? First, have them spin for a specific style of sentence to adopt in their essay.  The classroom writing center could also benefit from this wheel as a quick reference tool for identifying and writing topic sentences. Or, perhaps you will use this as a game to promote fun with writing. Clearly there are many ways to use this handy wheel but most importantly students will be engaged having fun learning to draft beginning sentences. The following topic sentences are covered in the wheel each with starter words and an example:

  • Love to List

  • Number Power

  • Preposition Ponder

  • Quick Question

  • Conjunction Junction

  • Verb Vernacular

  • Complex Sentences

Fun with Writing Game Board

Bring back the fun in writing with a game! Designed just this week to incorporate skills for writing, this short but fun game can be used as a writing center, home school lesson or learning tool. Divided into four categories, questions are grouped into four colors and ready to print on avery 5160 labels.  Just download print and stick to notecards, paper or simply cut into rectangles to have an easy and creative game.  Surprises await the learners on various note cards. Giggles and fun are guaranteed as kids play this game. Expect the unexpected! Find this game in my Venture2Learn's Etsy Page. Categories covered are:

  • Topic Sentences

  • Transitions

  • Details and Idea Jogger

  • Fun with Writing

Transition Stickers

Use this adorable printable tool as a visual for kids working on their transitions. Using the tag line "transitons are the glue"(Auman, Karas, Sage & Tyler, 2003), I have placed transition words onto labels (avery 5160) for stickers.  Or, simply print and have kids paste these transitions into their journals.  For further clarity, the first 15 glue bottles are traditionally used with procedural writing while the second 15 bottles are for use with narrative stories.  Help kids get a kick start on blending their stories together with these delightful glue bottle stickers. Download this tool on Venture2Learn's Etsy Page. 

Creative Transition Manipulatives

What are manipulatives?  These tools, most often used with math, reading and science are small objects used to cement visual understanding and assist in solving problems.  Why not use them to help teach transitions? Try one of these items with the following tagline:

  • Cubes: Connect your writing with transitions

  • Links: Link your story together with transitions

  • Buttons:  Button up your story with colorful transitions.

Have a handful of cubes laying around?  Use stickers or write transition words directly onto the cubes. If you're not looking for something permanent, use a vis-a-vie or an expo marker. For links, print the stickers and wrap them around the tool. Buttons are an also easy to write on with a vis-a-vi or place a small sticker.  These manipulative are a fun, creative and interactive way to blend transitions into your writing.

Conclusions

In another post, I will cover conclusions in depth.  However, as a side note, I like to outline my conclusion before I begin drafting, just after I have written my topic sentence. Why?  Doing so allows me to see and set the goal of my paper.  A conclusion is simply revisiting the beginning the writing.  Yes, it differs from narrative to expository as I will explore more. But, for now try using one of the following transitions to reword your topic sentence, thereby sketching out your conclusion. Find this printable on Venture2Learn's Etsy Page. 

Expository (revisit the topic sentence)

  • Consequently

  • Finally

  • Third

Narrative (revisit a character, or share a feeling)

  • As a result

  • Finally

  • Afterwards

Have Fun!

Cultivate positive, excited momentum for young writers as they learn to write clear, concise topic sentence and create fluidity with transitions. Enjoy trying out these activities and games to embrace the fun and enjoyment of the writing process.

Works Referenced:

*Auman, Maureen E., Karas, Gwen., Sage, Peg., Tyler, Caela. 2003. Primary Steps Reproducibles, Step-Up to Writing 2nd Edition. Longmont, Colorado. Sopris West.

*Auman, Maureen E. 2003. Step-Up to Writing. Longmont, Colorado. Sopris West.