Topic sentence examples

Topic Sentences

Agamemnon's fear of losing glory convinces him that retreating from the war will save it. - sentence structure and word choice – “it” the war? Agamemnon suggests retreat to assuage his fears of losing to the Trojans and the dishonor that loss brings.

As a King in Ancient Greece, Menelaus demonstrates how leaders had minimal respect for their subordinates. Word choice - how/that stronger opinion would offer a rationale for this. Because battles are won or lost by the promochoi, King Menelaus needs to have little respect for his subordinates.

Agamemnon's pride causes a personal problem to become a country problem. Word choice and sentence structure. Agamemnon's pride causes unnecessary problems for his community.

Achilles is torn between the logic of wanting to live and the passion to achieve glory and maintain his pride. Unclear - what are the two sides? Where does the last phrase go? What’s the cause or the effect of this internal division?

A warrior’s ignorance of his code of honor causes distrust between him and his fellow warriors. Too general - which warrior does this? name the scene and give the opinion context.

Achilles chooses to fight not for his fellow warriors but for himself. Too close to a fact - Why does he do this? Make this an opinion by offering an interpretation. Is it a moral or philosophical decision? Is it motivated by a human desire to stay alive? By some other psychological force?

Menelaus' age and lesser strength cause him to always be the most ready and willing to fight. – The problem of “always” - Inaccurate - Diomedes

The ritual of food in Book 1 helps the community relax and forget about the problems at hand. Be a little more specific - which community? What problems?

Menelaus acts unreasonably in Book 7 when he volunteers to battle Hector because of his emotional involvement. What will be proven in this paragraph? Emotional involvement is unreasonable? That it is bad?

Hector's return to battle in Book 6 shows that his honor is determined as much by his familial motivations as his physical domination of other warriors. What will be proven in this paragraph? Are familial motivations surprising? If so, why?

Diomedes rises as a leader within the rank to compensate for Agamemnon's growing inadequacy. Excellent

Both sides burn their dead to come to terms with their loss. Excellent

Homer's characterizations of the Gods come from the psychological need to justify tragedy in warrior society. Excellent