What should a paragraph's topic sentence accomplish?

• A. It expresses the main idea of that paragraph and connects to the thesis.
• B. It reveals the conclusion of the essay.
• C. It lists all evidence to be used in the paragraph.
• D. It includes a direct quote from the source as the first words.

Answer: (A)

A topic sentence should state the paragraph’s main idea and show how it connects to the overall thesis. It guides the reader by signaling what this paragraph will argue or explain, and it sets up the specific evidence or details that will follow. It needs to be focused and tied to the thesis so the paragraph stays on track and the essay feels unified. The other options describe actions that belong to other parts of the writing process—reaching a final conclusion, listing every piece of evidence, or starting with a quoted source—rather than establishing the paragraph’s focal point.