Topic Sentence
The topic sentence and the thesis are analogous. In other words,the topic sentence is to the paragraph what the thesis is to the entire essay, chapter, or book. While the thesis gives unity to the essay, the topic sentence gives unity to the paragraph by developing one major point suggested in the controlling idea of the thesis. Like the thesis, the topic sentence is integral to the organization of the essay. Each paragraph should have a topic sentence.The organization of a paragraph is based on the topic sentence.Although it can be found in any part of the paragraph,the topic sentence is frequently the first sentence in the paragraph.
Elements of a topic sentence are:
- main subject
- controlling idea.
A topic sentence contain the main subject of the paragraph and a controlling idea.The controlling idea steers the main topic in the direction that the writer wants.
Writing goal: Understanding paragraph parts
Language focus:
Writing goal: Understanding paragraph parts
Language focus:
- Identifying verbs and fragments
- nouns and nouns forms
1. It contains the dominating idea that the paragraph will develop.
2. It normally appears as the first sentence in each paragraph.
3. The controlling idea of the topic sentence is the essential descriptive or judgmental or argumentative part of the sentence and falls in the predicate of the sentence
4. The topic sentence, like the thesis, is also focused.
5. It is never a prediction nor a question, but rather a single declarative statement.
2. It normally appears as the first sentence in each paragraph.
3. The controlling idea of the topic sentence is the essential descriptive or judgmental or argumentative part of the sentence and falls in the predicate of the sentence
4. The topic sentence, like the thesis, is also focused.
5. It is never a prediction nor a question, but rather a single declarative statement.
Thesis statement
A thesis statement is the basic stand that an author takes, the opinion that he expresses, and the major point that he wishes to make about his subject. It contains the controlling idea of the essay, and therefore, gives the direction and the unity to all the separate elements of the writing. The purpose of the essay is to convince the reader that the thesis is indeed a valid one.
1. The first step in writing an effective thesis statement involves the focusing, limiting, or narrowing of the topic. The scope of the thesis will depend on length, purpose, audience, occasion, and knowledge's (see handout—Narrowing the topic)
2. Each thesis will (a) state the subject clearly and specifically so that it can be broken into parts; (b) take a stand or attitude about the subject; and (c) provide the direction by indicating, implicitly or explicitly, the order in which the essay will develop the points.
3. The controlling idea in the thesis is a word, phrase, or clause that states the opinion, attitude, or stand that the writer takes about the subject; it provides the angle from which the writer wishes to approach his subject.
2. Each thesis will (a) state the subject clearly and specifically so that it can be broken into parts; (b) take a stand or attitude about the subject; and (c) provide the direction by indicating, implicitly or explicitly, the order in which the essay will develop the points.
3. The controlling idea in the thesis is a word, phrase, or clause that states the opinion, attitude, or stand that the writer takes about the subject; it provides the angle from which the writer wishes to approach his subject.
The thesis statement states the thesis or argument of the author in an essay or similar document. Usually no more than a sentence or two long, it is a focused section of text that clearly delineates the argument that is presented in the work and is usually found at the end of the first paragraph of a paper. The thesis statement says what the author or authors are trying to prove in the document. The subject of the thesis statement reflects the topic of the paper and the predicate is usually what the author of the paper is trying to prove. The thesis statement is invaluable when constructing an outline, as it shows what points need to be proven.
A thesis statement is usually restated in a closing paragraph, if in a formal essay, containing a slightly varied format and using synonyms as to not make a passive statement. A thesis statement could be described as a 'topic sentence of the topic sentences (in the essay)' or an 'outine of the outline(in an essay or similar document)' because it can be the most important part of the opening section or paragraph in an essay or similar document. It has to be argued with whatever topic you have chosen to write a bout and you have to back it up on how it argues it.
