What is an appropriate topic sentence for a paragraph about solar energy's benefits?

What is an appropriate topic sentence for a paragraph about solar energy's benefits?

• A. Solar energy offers a clean and sustainable alternative to fossil fuels.
• B. Solar energy is less expensive than wind energy.
• C. Solar energy has no environmental impact.
• D. Solar energy requires complex installation.

Answer: (A)

Choosing a topic sentence that clearly introduces the benefits of solar energy sets up the paragraph to discuss its advantages in a broad, positive way. The sentence Solar energy offers a clean and sustainable alternative to fossil fuels does that exactly: it presents a general, defensible claim about the benefits and gives you room to elaborate on environmental benefits, renewability, and potential long-term impacts. It signals to the reader what to expect and lets you develop multiple supportive points within the paragraph. Other options don’t fit as well. A sentence that focuses on cost relative to wind energy narrows the topic to a single comparison rather than introducing the broader benefits. An absolute claim that solar energy has no environmental impact is inaccurate and overstated, which weakens the paragraph’s credibility. A statement about complex installation shifts the focus to a drawback rather than highlighting the benefits.

Choosing a topic sentence that clearly introduces the benefits of solar energy sets up the paragraph to discuss its advantages in a broad, positive way. The sentence Solar energy offers a clean and sustainable alternative to fossil fuels does that exactly: it presents a general, defensible claim about the benefits and gives you room to elaborate on environmental benefits, renewability, and potential long-term impacts. It signals to the reader what to expect and lets you develop multiple supportive points within the paragraph.

Other options don’t fit as well. A sentence that focuses on cost relative to wind energy narrows the topic to a single comparison rather than introducing the broader benefits. An absolute claim that solar energy has no environmental impact is inaccurate and overstated, which weakens the paragraph’s credibility. A statement about complex installation shifts the focus to a drawback rather than highlighting the benefits.