How to Write Nursing Essay Topic Sentences

How to Write Nursing Essay Topic Sentences

The role of the topic sentence in paragraph development can be best understood by viewing each paragraph as a mini-essay with its own thesis, support, and conclusion. The components of a paragraph align closely with those of an essay, as shown in the following table:

Essay Level Paragraph Level
Thesis statement Topic sentence
Body paragraphs Supporting details, explanation, analysis
Conclusion Wrap-up sentence(s)

Similar to an effective essay that begins with an introduction presenting the thesis statement and indicating the specific claim or argument to be developed, each paragraph should commence with a topic sentence that highlights the focus of the paragraph. This alerts the reader to the particular subtopic for which the paragraph will provide evidence. For guidance on crafting impactful nursing essay topic sentences, continue reading.

A strong topic sentence should be positioned near the beginning of a paragraph. Furthermore, it should narrow down to a specific issue, avoid direct quotations, and allow room for support and analysis within the paragraph’s body. Further information on creating effective topic sentences is provided below.

How to Write Nursing Essay Topic Sentences Placement

The topic sentence does not necessarily have to be the first sentence in the paragraph. However, it should appear early enough to immediately orient the reader to the paragraph’s focus. Occasionally, a writer may place a transition sentence before the topic sentence to establish continuity between topics.

Topic Sentence to begin paragraph:

In the novel Sula, Morrison employs the physical bonds of female friendship to propel her characters into self-awareness.

Transition Sentence + Topic Sentence to begin paragraph:

However, Morrison does not solely rely on emotional and spiritual bonds between her female characters to initiate their coming-of-age. Additionally, she utilizes the physical bonds of female friendship to propel her adolescent protagonists into self-awareness. How to Write Nursing Essay Topic Sentences.

Specificity

A topic sentence should be more specific than the thesis sentence. It should present a claim that can be supported, argued, and analyzed within the paragraph’s body.

Example: In the novel Sula, Morrison uses the physical bonds of female friendship to propel her characters into self-awareness. How to Write Nursing Essay Topic Sentences.

In the above topic sentence, the essayist argues that physical bonds of friendship, specifically, contribute to the female characters’ self-awareness. The claim can be refuted or supported by readers, based on the essayist’s ability to persuade them with examples and analysis from the novel. Due to its narrow focus, addressing it within a single paragraph, this topic sentence is successful.

Direct Quotations (Are Best Avoided)

While starting a paragraph with a captivating quotation may be tempting, it is generally advised to state the main idea of the paragraph in your own words. Direct quotations are more suitable for later use in the paragraph to support the topic sentence. How to Write Nursing Essay Topic Sentences.

Needs Improvement: As Morrison (1982) conveyed, the girls’ “friendship let them use each other to grow on… they found in each other’s eyes the intimacy they were looking for” (p. 52).

Better: In the novel Sula, Morrison uses the physical bonds of female friendship to propel her characters into self-awareness. Pointing to the connection of eyes meeting and bodies growing together, Morrison makes coming-of-age an interactive physical process between the adolescent protagonists. Specifically, Morrison describes how Sula and Nel have used “each other to grow on… they found in each other’s eyes the intimacy they were looking for” (p. 52). How to Write Nursing Essay Topic Sentences.

In the improved paragraph, the topic sentence takes precedence, immediately introducing readers to the main focus or topic of the paragraph. The quotation is utilized later in the paragraph as evidence or support for the topic sentence.

Extra Tips ON How to Write Nursing Essay Topic Sentences

If you struggle to create effective topic sentences, consider outlining before starting to write your paper. The points and subpoints of an outline can serve as topic sentences for the paragraphs.

Moreover, since the topic sentence functions similarly to the thesis statement at the paragraph level, it may be helpful to refer to our resource on constructing thesis statements. Our paragraph guide contains valuable information about the scope of a paragraph. While writers often perceive paragraphs as units of length, they actually measure something more abstract than inches of paper—they measure ideas. Each paragraph in an academic paper represents a concrete unit of the central argument. Every paragraph presents a new claim that builds upon the preceding claims until the writer firmly establishes the position of the entire paper. How to Write Nursing Essay Topic Sentences.

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