Topic Sentences

• Good Topic Sentences often give an opinion. See how the one below does.

• Example of a Topic Sentence– My favourite meal is spaghetti and

meatballs

• A well structure answer usually supports that opinion with at least 3 examples.

A Step by Step View

Four Square Writing

Step #1: Choose a main idea

My favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs.

Step #2: Insert supporting ideas

My favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs.

easy to cook fun to eat

delicious

Step #3: Build a Wrap-Up Sentence

easy to cook fun to eat

delicious My favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs because it’s easy to cook, fun to eat and delicious.

My favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs.

Now your turn!My School is the Best/Worst in the World

   My School is the Best in the World

Now your turn!My School is the Best/Worst in the World

   My School is the Best in the World

Now your turn!My School is the Best/Worst in the World

 I like the people at my school There are lots of great activities

 

I have interesting classes

 

My school is the best school in the world. First, I like the people at my school. Also, there are lots of great activities to get involved with. Finally, I have interesting classes which make the day go quickly.

My School is the Best in the World

Now your turn!My School is the Best/Worst in the World

 I like the people at my school There are lots of great activities

 

I have interesting classes

 

My school is the best school in the world. First, I like the people at my school. Also, there are lots of great activities to get involved with. Finally, I have interesting classes which make the day go quickly.

My School is the Best in the World

Now your turn!Pizza is the Best/Worst food

 

 

Now your turn!Pizza is the Best/Worst food

It is fast and easy to get It’s inexpensive

It has all the food groups

 

To summarize pizza is the best food. First, it is fast and easy to get. Another reason is it’s inexpensive and finally it has all the food groups.

Pizza is the best food.

Others for expressing an opinion/Topic Sentences

-It is/isn’t easy to waste a lot of time online

-It is better to buy a new/used car

-Eating MacDonald's once a week is/isn’t ok

-Basketball is/isn’t the greatest sport.

-The beach does/doesn’t make a good vacation

-It is/isn’t important to have friends

-Kids should/should not start smoking

-Reading is/isn’t important

-Computers are/aren’t a great invention

-Canada is the best/worst country in the world

-Teens should/should not have more freedom

-Weekends are/aren’t great

-Everybody should/shouldn’t recycle

-The school week should/shouldn’t be shortened to three days

-Ontario is/isn’t a beautiful place

• But what if I ask you to expand your answer into an essay?????

Step #4: Add specific supporting details

It’s easy

• roll up meat

• throw in pot

• pour store-bought sauce

My favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs because it’s easy to cook, fun to eat and delicious.

My favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs.

It’s fun to eat

• twirl on fork

• slurp it

• splatter the sauce

It’s delicious

• tomatoes

• Italian spices

• filling meat

Step #5: Add transition words

FirstIt’s easy

• roll up meat• throw in pot• pour store-bought sauce

So you can see

My favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs because it’s easy to cook, fun to eat and delicious.

My favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs.

AlsoIt’s fun to eat

• twirl on fork• slurp it• splatter the sauce

ThirdIt’s delicious

• tomatoes• Italian spices• filling meat

Transition Words

Green Yellow Red

One reasonFirst For exampleOne exampleTo begin withTo start with

SecondThirdAnother reasonAnother exampleAlsoAs well asToo In Addition Additionally

Last FinallyIn conclusionIn summaryIn shortSo you can seeAs one can seeTo summarizeHence

Step #6: Write the sentences to create the paragraphs

My favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs.  First, my favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs because it’s easy. You simply roll up the meat, then throw it in the pot and pour on the store-bought sauce.  Also, my favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs because it’s fun to eat. I like to twirl it on my fork. It’s fun to slurp. I always splatter the sauce.  Third, my favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs because it’s delicious. I like the taste of tomatoes. The Italian spices are great. The meat is very filling.  So you can see, my favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs because it’s easy, fun to eat and delicious.

Accommodate Language Levels

My favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs.

First

It’s easy• roll up meat golf balls

• throw in pot huge cauldron-size

• pour store-bought sauce Mama someone or other

Also

It’s fun to eat• twirl on fork looks like a twister

• slurp it loud smacking noise

• splatter the sauce like an explosion

Third

It’s delicious• tomatoes red and tangy

• Italian spices zippy garlic

• filling meat like a hamburger

So you can see

My favorite meal is

spaghetti and meatballs

because it’s easy to

cook, fun to eat and

delicious.

My favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs. First, my favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs because it’s easy. You simply roll up the meat into golf ball-sized pieces, and then throw it in the pot. I use a huge, cauldron-size pot. Pour on the store-bought sauce. My favorite brand is Mama someone or other.  Also, my favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs because it’s fun to eat. I like to twirl it on my fork. It looks just like a twister. It’s fun to slurp because it makes a loud smacking noise. I always splatter the sauce. When I’m done, it looks like an explosion. Third, my favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs because it’s delicious. I like the tangy taste of red tomatoes. The Italian spices are great, especially the zippy garlic. The meat is very filling, like a hamburger. So you can see, my favorite meal is spaghetti and meat-balls because it’s easy, fun to eat and delicious.

Others for expressing an opinion/Topic Sentences

-It is/isn’t easy to waste a lot of time online

-It is better to buy a new/used car

-Eating MacDonald's once a week is/isn’t ok

-Basketball is/isn’t the greatest sport.

-The beach does/doesn’t make a good vacation

-It is/isn’t important to have friends

-Kids should/should not start smoking

-Reading is/isn’t important

-Computers are/aren’t a great invention

-Canada is the best/worst country in the world

-Teens should/should not have more freedom

-Weekends are/aren’t great

-Everybody should/shouldn’t recycle

-The school week should/shouldn’t be shortened to three days

-Ontario is/isn’t a beautiful place

Narrative Writing

• The best day of my life would be filled with all the things I love

• The worst day of my life

• My unbelievable dream

• What I found in my locker

• The worm in my french fries

• When my cat started talking

• Think about a time that you had a narrow escape from danger

• Describe the place in your home that is your favourite

• When I am 30 years old and describe my life it will look like…

Now your turn!   

   

Now your turn!