How to

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How to

• Write your Topic Sentences and your Thesis
  Statement.

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Topic Sentence

• What is a Topic Sentence?
• A Topic Sentence states the main idea of the
  paragraph. All the other sentences are related
  to this topic sentence.

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Topic Sentence

• A Topic Sentence makes a general statement that
  is wider in its scope than the rest of the
  sentences in the paragraph. A good Topic
  Sentence is broad enough to be developed by
  specific details.

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Topic Sentence

• A Topic Sentence has several important functions.
• It supports an essays thesis statement.
• It unifies the content of a paragraph.
• It directs the order of the sentences,
• A Topic Sentence controls the content of the
  paragraph.

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Topic Sentence

• Three questions you should ask yourself when
  determining if you have a good topic sentence.
• Does the Topic Sentence present one and only one
  topic?
• Is the Topic Sentence an over generalization?
• Does the sentence give a strong direction for the
  whole paragraph?

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Topic Sentence

• It is difficult to say if a Topic Sentence is
  good or bad, but it is possible to say that one
  topic sentence is better than another.

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Topic Sentence

• Here is an example of a good Topic Sentence.

There is a lot of work involved in fixing
bicycles. First, it is necessary for one to
become familiar with the structure and parts of
the vehicle. Second, one must have the correct
tools to make the necessary repairs. Third, the
person making the repairs must prepare him or
herself to put a lot of time and effort into the
job and only expect minimal results at the end.
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Thesis Statement

• What is a Thesis Statement?
• A Thesis Statement should be specific, focused
  and interesting. It should come at the very end
  of your thesis paragraph, and should tell your
  reader exactly what your essay is about.

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Thesis Statement

• Tips for having a good Thesis Statement
• Try to have a creative thesis statement to
  capture your reader, to make the reader want to
  continue on and finish reading your essay.
• Avoid beginning with a definition because this is
  overused and uncreative.
• Try to begin with referring to a historical
  event, or to another book, or personal story that
  fits the focus of your essay.

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Thesis Statement

• Three reasons why your essay should contain a
  thesis statement are
• To test your ideas by breaking them down into a
  sentence.
• To better organize and develop your argument.
• To provide your reader a guide to your argument.

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Thesis Statement

• How to tell a strong Thesis Statement from a weak
  one.
• A strong Thesis takes some sort of stand.
• There are some negative and positive aspects to
  the Banana Herb Tea Supplement.
• Strong Thesis- Because Banana Herb Tea Supplement
  promotes rapid weight loss that results in the
  loss of muscle and lean body mass, it poses a
  potential danger to customers.

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Thesis StatementStrong v Weak Cont.

• A strong Thesis justifies discussion.
• My family is an extended family.
• Strong Thesis- While most American families would
  view consanguineal marriage as a threat to the
  nuclear family structure, many Iranian families,
  like my own, believe that these marriages help
  reinforce kinship ties in an extended family.

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Thesis StatementStrong v Weak Cont.

• A strong Thesis expresses one main idea.
• Companies need to exploit the marketing potential
  of the Internet, and web pages can provide both
  advertising and customer support.
• Strong Thesis- Because the Internet is filled
  with tremendous marketing potential, companies
  should exploit this potential by using web pages
  that offer both advertising and customer support.

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Thesis StatementStrong v Weak Cont.

• A strong Thesis statement is specific.
• World hunger has many causes and effects.
• Strong Thesis- Hunger persists in Appalachia
  because jobs are scarce and farming in the
  infertile soil is rarely profitable.

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Conclusion

• Your Topic Sentences and Thesis Statement define
  what your paper is about and what you have in
  store for the reader. Having A good Thesis
  Statement and Topic Sentences is a prelude to
  having an outstanding paper.

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Reviewing the Main Ideas

• In your own words what would make a well written
  Thesis Statement?
• In your own words, what would make a well written
  Topic Sentence?
• Your Topic Sentence should be the _______ of the
  paragraph.

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Reviewing the Main Ideas Cont.

• It is difficult to say if a Topic Sentence is
  ____ or ____, but it is possible to say that one
  topic sentence is ____ than another.
• Three reasons why your essay should contain a
  thesis statement are

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THE END