Need to write an essay ASAP but can’t find good topic sentence examples?
After plenty of trial and error working with over 150 HSC English students and writing countless essays for my PhD in Literature, I’ve learnt a thing or two about how to write a good one.
So without further ado, here’s how to ace the most important part of any essay paragraph!
What is a Topic Sentence?
Why are Topic Sentences important?
The 3 Types of Topic Sentences
How long should a Topic Sentence be?
Step #1: Highlight the Question’s Keywords
Step #2: Consider Your Module
Step #3: Construct Your Argument
Step #4: Formulate Your Topic Sentence
Topic Sentence Examples with HSC Texts
What is a Topic Sentence?
A topic sentence is the first sentence of your body paragraph, which establishes your upcoming argument in your paragraph. This sentence also defends the thesis you would have already established in the introduction.
Why are Topic Sentences important?
Topic sentences are key to scoring well in your essays because they act like a roadmap, helping readers follow your ideas and keeping your response connected to the question.
A strong topic sentence doesn’t just kick off the paragraph—it drives your argument by linking back to the thesis and shaping the discussion. For example, take the essay question:
“How does Shakespeare explore the corrupting influence of power in Richard III?”
👎 A weak topic sentence example might be:
“Richard III’s hunger for power leads to his downfall.”
👍 A stronger topic sentence example could be:
“Shakespeare highlights the corrupting influence of pursuing power at any cost through Richard III’s moral decline, showing how an insatiable hunger for control ultimately leads to self-destruction.”
This version not only answers the question but also clearly frames the argument.
If your teacher often says that your essays don’t closely reference the question or lack a strong thesis, improving your topic sentences (and linking sentences too!) could be key to better marks!
The 3 Types of Topic Sentences
Topic sentences may serve different purposes depending on where they appear in your essay. Here’s a quick rundown of the the 3 main types of topic sentences and some handy sentence starters for each:
1️⃣ Introductory Topic Sentences
These introduce the main idea of the paragraph and link back to the essay question and thesis. You’ll usually find them at the start of the first body paragraph.
Sample Sentence Starters:
- “Shakespeare uses [technique/idea] to explore…”
- “Through [character/event], the composer shows…”
- “In [text], [idea] comes through…”
2️⃣ Transitional Topic Sentences
These topic sentences connect one paragraph to the next by referencing the previous argument while introducing a new one.
Sample Sentence Starters:
- “Building on the idea that…”
- “Similarly, [composer] looks at…”
- “In contrast to [previous argument], [new argument] is clear through…”
3️⃣ Concluding Topic Sentences
These wrap up the previous paragraph’s arguments and reinforce its link to the question or thesis. They may be found at the beginning of your final body paragraph, where you are making the final defence of your thesis.
Sample Sentence Starters:
- “Therefore, it’s clear that…”
- “Ultimately, this shows how…”
- “Thus, there’s no doubt that…”
How long should a Topic Sentence be?
A topic sentence should be short and to the point, outlining the main argument of the paragraph without overwhelming the reader. Here’s an example of a ‘too long’ topic sentence:
| Before | After | Why it is more effective |
|---|---|---|
| "Shakespeare’s Richard III employs intricate rhetorical strategies, including appeals to pathos and masterful manipulation of language, to reveal Richard’s deceitful nature and his calculated quest for power, which ultimately leads to his downfall." | "In Richard III, Shakespeare reveals Richard’s deceitful nature and calculated quest for power through rhetorical strategies." | The refined version removes excessive detail, focusing on the main argument. |
Step #1: Highlight the Question’s Keywords
Since the latest syllabus was introduced in 2019, HSC English questions have become much more specific and can include obscure themes, quotes, or scenes from texts.
Let’s consider this HSC 2020 English Advanced Module A question:
The keywords from this question that we would highlight would be: textual conversations, later text, shadow, lacking, originality, power, extent and true.
Step #2: Consider Your Module
The second most important thing to do after considering the actual question is making sure you’re aware of what your specific module is asking of you.
Module A
We’re looking at a pair of texts and not a single text, so if you’re going for an integrated essay structure where you discuss both the original text and newer text in the one paragraph, then you need to take that into consideration in your topic sentence.
On the other hand, if you’re going for body paragraphs that focus on one text at a time, then your thesis may only become more apparent in the topic sentences of the paragraph in which you talk about the later text. I’ll get to this down the track.
Common Module
If we were writing an essay for the Common Module, then our topic sentence should start with the human experience we’re exploring in the paragraph, not the texts themselves. We could then introduce our texts in the sentence following the first sentence.
Module B
This is an easier answer. Because Module B is a Critical Study of Literature, we can start off with the prescribed text in our topic sentence.
Step #3: Construct Your Argument
One of the biggest mistakes that students make with topic sentences is simply recounting the plot of their text or defining the topic in their essay, instead of presenting and constructing an argument.
Let’s say we’re studying Virginia Woolf’s ‘Mrs Dalloway‘ and Stephen Daldry’s ‘The Hours’ for Module A with the following essay question from Step 1.
Instead of just recounting how ‘The Hours’ might be seen as “a shadow” or “lacking the originality” of o ‘Mrs Dalloway,’ I have to actually explore whether I agree or disagree with the statement.
With “to what extent” questions, you also have to think about the extent to which you agree or disagree!
Step #4: Formulate Your Topic Sentence
So now you’ve chosen the angle at which you’re going to attack the question — let’s get to actually formulating the topic sentences.
Taking our ‘Mrs. Dalloway’ and ‘The Hours’ example, here are 3 topic sentences we could write depending on whether we’re going for a single text or integrated paragraph:
Notice how in these topic sentences, time is discussed, which is the theme that has been chosen to explore in both of the paragraphs and some of the keywords that we found in the question!
Did you know that our AI English Tutor, Artie can help you write stronger topic sentences? Here’s how to use the “Topic Sentences” tool:
- Head to the Art of Smart website and create an account.
- Log in and select “Topic Sentences” from the sidebar.
- Select either “I don’t have topic sentences” to get some inspiration or “Help me polish my topic sentences” to get some instant feedback.
- Upload your topic sentence into Artie, or follow the prompted steps to get started.
- Use the feedback to polish your sentences and make your essay even stronger!
Topic Sentence Examples with HSC Texts
Studying The Merchant of Venice, Great Expectations, 1984 or another HSC prescribed text right now? We’ve created Band 6-level topic sentence examples for the top 10 HSC English texts to get you started on your essay paragraphs.
| Text | Topic Sentence Examples | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| All the Light We Cannot See | In All the Light We Cannot See, Anthony Doerr weaves together the lives of Marie-Laure and Werner to show the strength of the human spirit during the chaos of World War II. | This topic sentence introduces the theme (the strength of the human spirit) and connects it to the characters and context (World War II), setting the stage for a discussion on resilience. |
| Past the Shallows | Favel Parrett's Past the Shallows examines the fragile bonds of family through the journey of three brothers dealing with loss in a small Tasmanian town. | This sentence highlights a key theme (the fragile bonds of family) and links it to the characters and setting, laying the foundation for exploring relationships and loss. |
| 1984 | In George Orwell's 1984, Big Brother's constant surveillance showcases the oppressive nature of totalitarian regimes and how they strip away personal freedom. | This sentence introduces an important theme (oppression and surveillance) and ties it to surveillance, setting up for a discussion about the dangers of totalitarianism. |
| The Merchant of Venice | William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice examines themes of mercy and justice through Portia's character and her subversion of societal norms. | The sentence addresses the themes of mercy and justice while focusing on the character (Portia), framing the argument for a closer look at Elizabethan-era societal norms. |
| The Crucible | Arthur Miller's The Crucible uses the Salem witch trials as an allegory for McCarthyism to highlight the dangers of mass hysteria and extreme ideologies. | This topic sentence connects the historical context of the Salem witch trials to broader societal implications, making a strong case for discussing themes of hysteria and ideologies. |
| Great Expectations | In Great Expectations, Charles Dickens uses Pip's character development to critique social class mobility and the nature of ambition. | The sentence links character development with social critique, establishing a clear argument for exploring class mobility and ambition. |
| Emma | Jane Austen's Emma satirises the issues of social class and matchmaking to demonstrate the protagonist's growth and self-awareness. | This sentence introduces the themes (social class and matchmaking) and connects them to Emma’s character development to precede an analysis of Austen's social commentary. |
| Henry IV Part 1 | Shakespeare's Henry IV Part 1 explores honour through the contrasting characters of Prince Hal and Hotspur to reflect on what makes for a noble leader. | This topic sentence clearly presents the theme of honour and contrasts two characters, setting up an analysis of their different views on leadership and what defines nobility |
| The Tempest | In The Tempest, Shakespeare explores power and forgiveness through Prospero's control of the island and his eventual reconciliation. | The sentence introduces two major themes (power and forgiveness) and connects them to specific narrative elements to provide a clear direction for the paragraph’s analysis. |
| Richard III | Shakespeare's Richard III shows the manipulative rise of its main character, serving as a study of ambition and moral decay. | This sentence highlights the central focus on Richard’s character and the themes of ambition and moral decay, offering a concise and insightful entry point for analysis. |
Don’t overthink your topic sentences! It’s better to keep it short and sweet as opposed to trying to go for too much and possibly convoluting your sentence, making for a confusing argument.
Also even though it is referred to as a “topic sentence”, remember you can actually have up to two sentences which act as your “topic sentence”. Just be sure to not overwhelm the reader with too many ideas at once.
Good luck with your assessments! 💪
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Holden Walker is a Senior English Coach at Art of Smart Education, with 7+ years of tutoring experience. He is currently a PhD candidate in English Literature at the University of Wollongong and was named Art of Smart’s 1-on-1 Coach of the Year in 2024. Having taught over 150 students tutored since 2021, Holden brings a wealth of expertise and dedication to his work.
Marina Liu is currently completing her Honours in French and Francophone Studies at the University of Sydney, having finished her Bachelor of Arts (Languages). She has over 3 years of experience supporting senior English students at Art of Smart Education. In her spare time, she loves giving herself a manicure and listening to music from My Chemical Romance to Simon and Garfunkel.
