Writing / 27STEP 4: Writing the Topic Sentences
With the thesis sentence in place, you can easily write a topic sentence for each body
paragraph. Study the following:
Thesis sentence:
Caring for pets requires tedious daily chores, sometimes heartbreaking tasks,
and loving attention.
Topic sentence for first body paragraph:
Tedious chores are necessary for a pet’s good health and demand daily routines.
Topic sentence for second body paragraph:
Caring for a sick or injured pet can be heartbreaking and demands even more
time than the normal routines.
Topic sentence for third body paragraph:
The joy of pet care lies in the constant loving attention owner and pet heap
upon each other.
Using this as a guide, develop topic sentences for each of your body paragraphs.
With their completion, your theme will be well under way.
STEP 5: Selecting the Method of Development
A theme can be developed in at least a dozen ways. Choose any of the methods
included in this handbook [see development, methods of, in the Glossary] or any
combination of methods. Each body paragraph may follow a different method. Use
the one most appropriate to the subject and purpose.
Make a tentative list of the method(s) you will use in each body paragraph.
For the pet care example above, the list might appear as follows:
First body paragraph:
Method of development: description (daily chores)
Organization: chronological order
Second body paragraph:
Method of development: cause and effect (pet’s illness or injury and resulting
care)
Organization: order of importance
Third body paragraph:
Method of development: comparison (pet’s point of view and owner’s point of
view)
Organization: order of importance