Establishing Explicit Topic Sentences

Establishing an explicit topic sentence ensures clarity for the reader by providing a single sentence that communicates the purpose of an entire paragraph.
It clarifies what the paragraph is meant to achieve, helping the reader understand the incoming evidence and commentary.
Effective topic sentences create a universal position of understanding between the writer and the audience.

Rhetorical analysis involves investigating how an author writes to emphasize their arguments. This is one of three types of essays written in AP Lang.
Emphasis on Device: The writer identifies a specific writing choice—such as syntax, allusion, repetition, anaphora, or juxtaposition—and identifies what that device achieved.
Emphasis on Chronological Structure: The writer organizes the piece based on how it develops. The paragraph begins by establishing a specific potion or plot point of the text that leads to a specific conclusion.
Emphasis on the Claim: This approach breaks down the thesis statement into smaller, quantified claims. The topic sentence focuses on one specific claim that builds toward the overall argument.

Sample Sentence: The reader notes how Albright emphasizes the triumphs that women have achieved throughout history even when at the time it might have seemed unachievable.
Context: This sentence refers to a graduation speech given by Madeleine Albright at a women’s college regarding her desire to inspire the next generation of world-changers.
Classification: This is a proficient topic sentence that emphasizes a claim relating to the overall argument rather than a specific rhetorical device or chronological summary.
Function: It establishes a clear concept—that significance is achieved through triumph over hardship—which the paragraph will then delineate.