Controlling Idea versus Topic Sentence
A topic sentence has two parts: the topic (what the paragraph is about) and the controlling idea (the specific attitude, claim, or angle that limits and directs the paragraph). The controlling idea tells the reader exactly what the paragraph will prove or develop.
Example: In "Functional illiteracy is a complex social problem that stems from several sources," the topic is functional illiteracy and the controlling idea is stems from several sources — so the paragraph must list those sources (the educational system, the community, the home).
| Topic sentence | Topic | Controlling idea |
|---|---|---|
| Bingston has two reasons to attend | Bingston University | two reasons |
| A newborn baby is really not very beautiful | a newborn baby | not very beautiful |
| The Greenhouse Effect will cause dramatic changes | the Greenhouse Effect | dramatic changes |
Tip: The controlling idea is the key word(s) that the whole paragraph must develop. Underline it before you write so you stay on track.
Common mistake: Writing a topic sentence with a topic but no controlling idea ("This paragraph is about leases"). Add an angle: "A lease protects both the renter and the landlord."
✏️ Test Yourself
1. "A newborn baby is not very beautiful."
2. "There are two reasons I chose Bingston."
3. The topic sentence = topic + ___ idea.
4. The controlling idea tells what the paragraph will ___ .
📒 Words to learn
“The detainees were ravenous in prison.”
“The boat capsizes in water.”
“We can't subsist with such meager resources.”
“We should never let our nation get exterminated.”
“He claimed that he was pushed, therefore; He toppled.”