Speed reading

The topic sentence

 

As there are key words within a sentence, there are topic sentences within a paragraph. These 

are the few sentences that convey most of the meaning and the point of the paragraph. By 

looking for these topic sentences, you can quickly understand the point of the passage. 

Usually, there is only one topic sentence in a paragraph. Once you have found the topic 

sentence, you can choose to skip the rest of the paragraph.

 

As an example, consider the paragraph you just read. Quickly move your hand in the motion 

that you should now be used to, across the lines of the above paragraph. Which one is the 

topic sentence? You should have come up with “These are the few sentences that convey 

most of the meaning and the point of the paragraph”.

 

In the examples below, the topic sentence is underlined using dots. Keywords within this 

sentence are underlined using a solid line.

 

Example:

The proliferation of computer systems in the American workplace has brought with it 

various health related problems caused by the continual use of computer devices such as 

keyboards, computer mice and monitors . Mainly affecting the arms and wrists, these 

maladies are commonly termed as repetitive motion injuries. In just a few minutes each 

day, you can prevent and treat such injuries. This book teaches the stretches and 

adjustments needed to prevent and treat Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and numbness of the 

forearm and upper arm.

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Example:

The coming of the winter months in the northern parts of the country brings an amazing 

migratory pattern as documented by etymologists. Large swarms of Monarch butterfly 

make their way from the cold Canadian provinces to the warmer Pacific coasts of the 

United States and Mexico. The number of butterflies is so large that in many parts of 

their nesting grounds in California and north-western Mexico, the ground is almost 

completely covered with butterflies.