Recognizing the topic sentences.

In a general way, the topic sentence tells the point or main idea of the topic. The topic sentence is often the first sentence of a paragraph, but not always. The other sentences usually give examples or facts or reasons for the main idea. They are the single or specific details.

Find the topic sentences in the four paragraphs of the reading.

Paragraph A ______________________________________________________.

Paragraph B ______________________________________________________.

Paragraph C ______________________________________________________.

Paragraph D ______________________________________________________.

Paragraph E ______________________________________________________.

Paragraph F ______________________________________________________.

Answers:

Paragraph A Christmas is always observed on December 25th.

Paragraph B Christmas is a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.

Paragraph C Only in the year 336 was the date of the December 25 festival set in commemoration of Jesus' birth.

Paragraph D Christmas customs spread with the westward expansion of the United States and by the late 1800s had become firmly entrenched in American society.

Paragraph E The Christmas Tree is a German tradition, started as early as 700 A.D.

Paragraph F Santa Claus originated from a real person, Saint Nicholas, a minor saint from the fourth century.