Review: Narrowing a Topic Worksheet on Teachers Pay Teachers


The Narrowing a Topic worksheet is a free download available on Teachers Pay Teachers. The worksheet is a basic draft sheet for writers to use to take a general area of interest and hone it down to a developed topic statement.

The worksheet is a basic tool built on a fairly simple concept. Students name a topic, do some brainstorming, come up with questions, and then generate a topic statement that is then further analyzed to be sure it can support a well-rounded essay. It’s a single sheet with two sections. The first section has an example modeling how best to use the worksheet, and then there is a second, blank section for students to practice on their own.

There is truly something to be said for simple, basic tools like this. In my own life, writing and otherwise, I find it very help to have pre-made charts, graphs, and tables to give me some structure when I need/have/want to brainstorm something. And there’s something about this particular worksheet that brings to mind a passage I read in Mary Higgins Clark’s memoir, Kitchen Privileges, wherein she says that a lot of her novels start with a little question – “What if...?" or “Suppose...?" If she thinks the question is interesting enough, she writes the story to answer it. This guide will help intermediate and advanced writers come up with a good structure for their writing, whether it’s fiction or nonfiction.

You can download your own copy of the Narrowing a Topic worksheet here.

You may also enjoy the following TeachersPayTeachers products:

- First Grade Writing Prompts for Holidays

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- 50 Writing Prompts for Homeschoolers (free)

If you’re interested in opening your own TeachersPayTeachers shop, click here to find out more.

Done with this review? Go back to Teachers Pay Teachers.


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Written by Bryan Cohen

Bryan Cohen is the author of more than 30 books, many of which focus on creative writing and blasting through that pesky writer's block. His books have sold more than 20,000 copies. You can find him on and Facebook.
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