Writing / 19For instance, consider the following examples, and notice from which part of the topic
sentence the accompanying subtopics come.
Topic Sentence:
Utility bills seem to reflect household activities.
Subtopics:
Bills rise when school is out for the summer.
Bills rise when school is out for spring recess.
Bills rise during the winter holiday season.
Note that the subtopics divide the parts of the predicate referring to household activities.
Topic Sentence:
Getting away from it all makes primitive camping a preferred vacation for many.
Subtopics:
getting away from news media
getting away from telephones
getting away from job responsibilities
getting away from household responsibilities
Here, note that subtopics divide the subject, referring to getting away from it all.
Next, jot down evidence or ideas to support your topic. Use words, phrases, or com-
plete sentences in order to get your ideas on paper. Your list may look something
like this:
Topic Sentence:
Pulling out of the water on skis requires complex muscular coordination.
Subtopics:
squatting position, ski tips out of the water, rope between knees
back muscles lean against boat’s power
leg muscles keep skis in position
arm muscles give balance against towrope as rise to standing position
These four subtopics, each listing some part of the muscular coordination and each
explaining the attitude complex, will make up the main points of the paragraph.
Hint: If you have difficulty dividing your topic, reexamine the topic sentence. It may
be too narrow or too broad.
STEP 3: Arranging the Details
Next, arrange your list in some kind of logical order: chronological, spatial, or in
order of importance. [See entries for each in the Glossary.] For example, the details