Handout 6
Choosing Controlling Ideas for Topic Sentences
Below are two topics. For each topic, think of three possible controlling ideas, and
then write a topic sentence for each of these controlling ideas. An example is done
for you.
Topic: My mother
Three possible controlling ideas:
1.
Unusual childhood___________________________________________________________
2. Silent woman
_______________________________________________________________
3. Defi
nite ideas about alcohol_______________________________________________
Three different topic sentences:
1. My mother had a most unusual childhood.
______________________________________
2. My mother is a very silent woman.
____________________________________________
3. My mother has defi nite ideas about alcohol.
____________________________________
1. Topic: My grandmother
First controlling idea:
___________________________________________________________First_topic_sentence:___________________________________________________________'>__________________________________________________________'>_________________________________________________________
First topic sentence:
_________________________________________________________
Second controlling idea:_
_______________________________________________________
Second topic sentence:
_________________________________________________________
Third controlling idea:
_________________________________________________________
Third topic sentence:
__________________________________________________________
2. Topic: California (or another state)
First controlling idea:
__________________________________________________________
First topic sentence:
__________________________________________________________
Second controlling idea:
________________________________________________________
