A writer drafts this paragraph opening: 'The experiment produced three unexpected results. First, the reaction was faster at lower temperatures. Second, the yield increased when the catalyst was removed. Finally, the product was colorless rather than yellow.' What function does the first sentence serve?
AIt is a transitional sentence linking to the previous paragraph.
BIt is the topic sentence, announcing the controlling idea of the paragraph.
CIt is a thesis statement controlling the entire essay.
DIt is a supporting sentence providing specific evidence.
The first sentence announces the single controlling idea — that there were three unexpected results — and the remaining sentences support it with specifics. This is the classic function of a topic sentence: it frames what the paragraph will prove or explain, so the reader knows what to expect.
Question 2 True / False
A topic sentence and a thesis statement serve the same organizational function, just at different scales.
TTrue
FFalse
Answer: False
While both announce a controlling idea, they are not simply scaled versions of each other. A thesis controls an entire essay and often previews the main argumentative moves across multiple paragraphs. A topic sentence controls a single paragraph and must be supportable within that paragraph's scope. Treating them as identical leads to either overly narrow thesis statements or overreaching topic sentences.
Question 3 Short Answer
What is the difference between a paragraph that has supporting sentences and one that has coherence?
Think about your answer, then reveal below.
Model answer: Supporting sentences provide the evidence or detail needed, but coherence means those sentences are logically ordered and linguistically connected — through transitional words, pronoun reference, and consistent tense — so the reader can follow the reasoning without confusion.
You can have all the right content but still produce an incoherent paragraph if the sentences jump between ideas, use unclear pronoun references, or shift tense unexpectedly. Coherence is about the flow and logical linkage between sentences, not just the presence of relevant information.