Theme: How to derive the topic sentence from the theme
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Each of the below means of developing a paragraph will have its own video. But...
First, we will take the themes, developed in the last video, and turn them into topic sentences. In subsequent videos, we shall begin to look at some of the means by which the idea or theme of a paragraph, as given formally in the topic statement or held in the mind of the writer, may be systematically developed.
If we regard the topic-statement as the germ-idea, it is evident that it contains, potentially, all that may be said on the subject in hand. The work of the other sentences is to bring out and develop clearly the thought contained in the topic-statement, or so much of the thought as is necessary for the purpose which the writer has in view.
These means of developing the germ-idea are the typical methods of growth of all the forms of discourse. Although they are numerous and various, they may be grouped, for practical purposes, under the following heads:
(a) Development by particulars and details
(b) Development by definitive statements which restate, restrict, or enlarge the idea
and may take the form of contrasts, positive or negative
(c) Development by comparison and illustration
(d) Development by specific instances or examples,
(e) Development by presenting reasons,
(f) Development by applying a principle,
(g) Development by stating causes and effects or results.