TOPIC SENTENCE
THESIS STATEMENT
DR. SALMA ADEL
TOPIC SENTENCE
The topic sentence states the topic and a controlling idea about the topic . The topic •
sentence is important because it leads the reader into the points that you are trying to
make, without leaving them confused. It also helps to prevent any miscommunication
.on your part
: Example •
• People give many reasons for owning a car. The topic of the sentence is " owning
a car" . The controlling idea is " reasons" . All the supporting ideas in the paragraph
should be " reasons " for owning a car.
TOPIC SENTENCE
• There are a few qualities that make for a good topic sentence:
Brevity: Long, rambling sentences can be confusing. Don’t pack your topic sentence too full
of details. That’s what the rest of the paragraph is for.
Clarity: Likewise, don’t beat around the bush. Say exactly what you want to say. Try not to
engage in wordplay and don’t speak in vague terms.
Precision: Don’t be too broad when introducing the topic that you’re going to discuss. Not
only is that a bland approach, it is also unhelpful to readers.
TOPIC SENTENCE
: The following phrases can be used in your topic sentence to express the controlling idea •
The reasons for The problem of •
The causes of The precautions for •
The steps for The changes to •
The advantages of The characteristics of •
THESIS STATEMENT
• A thesis statement is a sentence that states the topic and purpose of your paper. A good
thesis statement will direct the structure of your essay and will allow your reader to
understand the ideas you will discuss within your paper.
• Where does a Thesis Statement go?
• Your thesis should be stated somewhere in the opening paragraphs of your paper, most
often as the last sentence of the introduction. Often, a thesis will be one sentence, but for
complex subjects, you may find it more effective to break the thesis statement into two
sentences.
THESIS STATEMENT
• The kind of thesis statement you write will depend on the type of paper you are writing.
Here is how to write the different kinds of thesis statements:
• Argumentative Thesis Statement: Making a Claim
• Analytical Thesis Statement: Analyzing an Issue
• Expository Thesis Statement: Explaining a Topic
THESIS STATEMENT
• An argumentative thesis states the topic of your paper, your position on the topic, and the
reasons you have for taking that position. For help making an argumentative thesis, try
using our Thesis Generator tool.
• An analytical thesis states the topic of your paper, what specifically you analyzed, and the
conclusion(s) you reached as a result of that analysis.
• An expository thesis statement states the topic of your paper and lists the key aspects of
your topic that will be discussed in the paper.
THESIS STATEMENT
‘’The life of the typical college student is characterized by time spent studying, attending class, and socializing with
peers’’.
• The paper that follows should:
• Explain how students spend their time studying, attending class, and socializing with peers
• Example of an argumentative thesis statement:
‘’High school graduates should be required to take a year off to pursue community service projects before entering
college in order to increase their maturity and global awareness’’.
• The paper that follows should:
• Present an argument and give evidence to support the claim that students should pursue community projects before
entering college
