Thesis Statements and Topic Sentences
As you get older and write even more papers, you will really need to become confident with using thesis statements and topic sentences.
Thesis Statement
The thesis statement tells the reader what your paper is going to be about. It usually lives as the last sentence of the introductory paragraph.
Think of the thesis statement as the road map for your reader to follow.
The formula we will use for a thesis statement is:
Topic (plus) your opinion on that topic = Thesis statement
Sample thesis statements:
- The Simpsons treats the issues of ethnicity, family dynamics, and social issues effectively.
- Often dismissed because it is animated, The Simpsons treats the issue of ethnicity more powerfully than did the critically praised All In The Family.
- The Simpsons represents the greatest animated show in the history of television.
Practice
- Try this thesis builder website for fun.
- Take a look at a bunch of cartoons here. Select any three cartoons and write out the author’s thesis statement. Do this on your blog. Be sure to include the cartoon.
- Brainstorm a listof topics that are interesting to people your age. We will write some thesis statements from these topics.
- Take one of the thesis statements you wrote above. Decide on the topics of two paragraphs that support the thesis statement. Write a topic sentence for each paragraph.
Topic Sentences
While the thesis statement tells the reader what the entire piece of writing will be about, the topic sentence just tells the reader what the upcoming paragraph will be about. It is the window into the future for the reader. The topic sentences sill need to support your thesis statement.
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