Which statement about topic sentences and transitions is NOT accurate?

• A. Topic sentences introduce the paragraph's main idea.
• B. Transitions link ideas within and between paragraphs to maintain coherence.
• C. Topic sentences are used to cite sources.
• D. Transitions link ideas across sections of the essay.

Answer: (C)

Topic sentences introduce the paragraph's main idea and set its direction, while transitions provide the smooth connection between ideas to keep the writing coherent. The statement about topic sentences being used to cite sources isn’t accurate because citations belong in the part of the paragraph where evidence is presented, not in the topic sentence itself. A topic sentence might declare a point like “Community engagement strengthens recycling programs,” and then the paragraph would develop that claim with evidence and analysis. Citations would appear after the specific evidence, such as after a sentence that presents data, rather than in the topic sentence. Transitions, on the other hand, help readers move from one idea to the next within a paragraph and between paragraphs, signaling relationships like addition, contrast, or consequence. They can also connect ideas across sections of the essay to guide the reader through the overall argument. So, topic sentences establish the paragraph’s main idea, and transitions link ideas to maintain coherence throughout the piece.