How to Write a TOEFL Essay Body
PAGE 2 OF 2
The topic sentenceThe topic sentence is the first sentence of the paragraph. This sentence should do 2 things:
- Give 1 reason to support your thesis statement.
- Tell the reader what the rest of the paragraph is about.
Everything that comes after the topic sentence is called a supporting idea. This is because it "supports" your topic sentence.
A supporting idea could be almost anything: a story from your life, a philosophical argument, a personal experience, or some statistical information. The important thing is that it explains why you believe that the topic sentence is true.
Learning MoreTopic sentences and supporting ideas are important concepts. If you would like to learn more about them, there are tutorials available for both topic sentences and supporting ideas.
END
1 2
