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Mini-module: Quick Guide to Critical Writing

The top ten tips for showing critical thinking in your writing. This mini-module is for you if you are being a critical thinker, but you are not sure how to show this in your writing.

Fifth Tip:
Start paragraphs with a topic sentencePage 7 of 13

Decorative

 

The topic sentence is usually the first sentence in a paragraph. It:

  • states the subject or point of the paragraph
  • is in your own words
  • is not a question 
  • usually, does not need a reference because it is in your voice

How does this show critical thinking?

Putting a topic sentence forces you to think what point you want to make. You also have to bring in evidence and arguments to support that point in the paragraph. This means you naturally write more critically and less descriptively, 

For more about topic sentences and how to write good paragraphs, see:

Quick practice activity for topic sentences

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