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English 21
Instructor: Stephanie Brown
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Basic
Descriptive
Contrast
Support Points
Support Points with Contrast
Creative
*Note: For the purpose of these examples, you
must pretend as if you are going to write a
descriptive paragraph about the City of Los
Angeles.

A basic topic sentence
will provide a topic and
a statement or opinion
about the topic
presented. This form
of topic sentence
should only be used
during the prewriting
and drafting stage of
writing a paragraph.

Example:
 Los Angeles is a fun city.
▪ Topic: Los Angeles
▪ Statement: fun city

A descriptive topic
sentence will provide a
topic and a statement
about the topic using
descriptive language
that evokes one or more
of the senses:
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
Sight
Sound
Smell
Taste
Touch

Example:
 Warm beaches and spicy
Mexican cuisine make Los
Angeles a popular place to
visit.
▪ Topic: Los Angeles
▪ Statement: a popular place
to visit
▪ Senses evoked: warm
beaches (touch) and spicy
Mexican cuisine (taste)

A topic sentence that
uses contrast will
provide a way to
introduce a topic and
statement by making a
point to show how two
topics are dissimilar.

Example:
 Although New York is a
popular urban city, Los
Angeles is the perfect place
for a summer vacation.
▪ Topic: Los Angeles
▪ Statement: perfect place for
a summer vacation
▪ Note: Complex sentences
work very well for contrast
topic sentences!

A topic sentence with
support points provides a
roadmap to your reader of
the three main support
points you will present to
your reader.

Example:
 Los Angeles is the best
vacation destination for its
warm beaches, five-star
restaurants, and theme parks,
which can be enjoyed by the
whole family.
▪ Topic: Los Angeles
▪ Statement: best vacation
destination
▪ Support 1 – beaches
▪ Support 2 – restaurants
▪ Support 3 – parks

A topic sentence that uses
support points and
contrast will show how
two topics are dissimilar
and provide three main
support points to your
reader.

Example:
 Although New York is a
popular urban city, Los
Angeles is the best vacation
destination for beaches,
dining, and leisurely activities.
▪ Topic: Los Angeles
▪ Statement: best vacation
destination
▪ Support 1 – beaches
▪ Support 2 – dining
▪ Support 3 – leisurely activities

A creative topic
sentence will add a bit of
flair using literary
devices such as
metaphors, similes, etc.
to introduce your topic
and statement about
that topic.

Example
 Los Angeles is like a
permanent summer
vacation away from school.
▪ Topic: Los Angeles
▪ Statement: like a permanent
summer vacation
▪ A simile will use the words
“like” or “as” to make a
comparison