Circle the topic and underline the controlling idea 1. Driving on freeways requires skill and alertness. 2. Driving on freeways requires strong nerves. 3. Driving on freeways requires an assertive attitude. 4. The Caribbean island of Trinidad attracts tourists because of its calypso music. 5. Spectacular beaches make Puerto Rico a tourist Terms in this set (5) A paragraph is a series of sentences that are organized and coherent, and are all related to a single topic. A well-organized paragraph supports or develops a single controlling idea, which is expressed in a sentence called the topic sentence. ntroduction: the first section of a paragraph; should include the topic sentence controlling idea, using facts, arguments, analysis, examples, or other information. • Conclusion: the final section; summarizes the connections between the information discussed in the body of the paragraphs and the paragraph's controlling idea. The following paragraph illustrates this pattern of organization. workable topic sentence more than one main idea too broad includes statement of intent a fact Topic Sentence Exercise #2 Instructions: In each of the topic sentences below, circle the topic (subject) and underline the main idea (focus). Example: My cousin Loretta is a terrible gossip. 1. Andre’s bedroom looks like a bomb hit it. 2. The topic sentence states the main idea of the paragraph. It not only names the topic of the paragraph, but it also limits the topic to one or two areas that can be discussed completly in the space of a single paragraph. The specific area is called the controlling idea. Ex: For example, if the topic sentence of a paragraph is "Exercise has numerous benefits for overall health," the controlling idea would be that exercise is beneficial for one's health. The supporting sentences in the paragraph would then provide evidence and examples to support this controlling idea. So, to summarize, while the topic sentence may topic: [noun] the subject of a discourse or of a section of a discourse. a heading in an outlined argument or exposition. Write the topic sentence 2. Underline the controlling idea(s) in that topic sentence. 3. How is the controlling idea connected to the information in the paragraph? 4. Can you name three benefits of exercising several times each week? Exercise 2 Read the 5 paragraphs below. Choose and write the best topic sentence for each paragraph on the line PxBOFxX.