ToPic SeNteNcEs
A review
TAKE OUT SHAVING NOTES AND THESIS NOTES
..please
Reiterate thesis
 Introduce new topic
 Transition

Reaffirm, Relate,
Integrate? Negotiate?
Develop?
A Verb….
That is not repeat.
What do topic sentences do?

The characters of __________ represents…

The incident of __________ is important because…

The symbol of __________ represents …

The beginning of the story demonstrates…

The Action at the end of the story is important because…

The dialogue between __________ and __________ helps
support the message of the story by…

This character is important because he demonstrates that…

This image is significant because it reinforces the theme of the
story.

The Author’s use of __________ is important because it…

The Author’s use of irony helps contribute to the theme of the
story by…
Topic Sentence Starters
Summarize story
 Define literary term
 Simply repeat part of the thesis

What DON’T topic sentences do?
Reiterate thesis
 Introduce new topic
 Transition

What do topic sentences do?

Anton Chekhov’s short story “The Bet”
demonstrates how over analysis of life can
cause its meaning to change.

The juxtapositions shown in the lawyer’s
letter demonstrate his analysis of life’s
virtues and the shame in everyday life.
Specific! Huzzah!
Analytical Verb
THESIS
TOPIC

Anton Chekhov’s short story “The Bet”
demonstrates how over analysis of life can
cause its meaning to change.

The juxtapositions shown in the lawyer’s
letter demonstrate his analysis of life’s
virtues and the shame in everyday life.

Demonstrating his too close scrutiny, the
juxtapositions in the lawyer’s letter reveal
the confusion and shame he feels toward
everyday life.

Through the banker and lawyer’s
*Very similar to thesis
*Does not is
connect
humbling experience, Chekhov
ableto to
big picture
convey the alteration of personalities,
*Just reevaluate
about the lawyer
which makes the characters
*This all weakens
their perspective on life analytical verb

A period of withdrawal and confusion
helped mold the lawyer’s newfound hate
of material possessions.
Analytical Verb
THESIS
TOPIC

Through the banker and lawyer’s humbling
experience, Chekhov is able to convey the
alteration of personalities, which makes the
characters reevaluate their perspective on life

A period of withdrawal and confusion helped
mold the lawyer’s newfound hate of material
possessions.

After period of withdrawal and confusion, the
lawyer utterly changed his perspective,
illustrating that perspective change leads to
personality change.
Analytical Verb
THESIS
TOPIC

The epiphany of the lawyer suggests that
one’s perception life changes with
experience

Perhaps more important than even the
changed perception of his enlightenment
and himself, the bet ultimately brings the
lawyer to the conclusion that there is no
meaning of life.
Analytical Verb
THESIS
TOPIC

The lawyer's 15 years experience conveys
Chekhov's theme that his quick impulsive
decisions lead to both a physical and
material consequence.

During that Dark Autumn night the lawyer
and banker were resulting in an impulsive
bet
THESIS
TOPIC

The “reach point”
◦ Dependent clauses help you be more efficient
 Emphasizing Chekhov’s theme,
 ,revealing the epiphany of the lawyer
 Emphasizing his later change,
 As a result of the ______, the ______ conveys
 Since __________, the ____ reveals
 These phrases convey WHY [or at least an
effect]
Dependent Clause

The lawyer's 15 years experience conveys
Chekhov's theme that his quick impulsive
decisions lead to both a physical and
material consequence.

Since the Banker and the Lawyer act on
pride, their impulsivity paired with the
mood of the exposition reveals the danger
with acting on egoism.
THESIS
TOPIC

The transformation of both the banker
and the lawyer in Anton Chekhov's “The
Bet” demonstrates how materialism can
affect an individual and warp one’s values

After the lawyer had served his fifteen
years in solitude, his attitudes towards
material objects and money changed
GRADE

The lawyer and the banker’s epiphanies
suggest that life experiences and
reflection have the ability to change the
entire mindset of a person.

The arrogance of the banker and the
lawyer in the exposition not only
emphasize their immaturity at the time,
but their changes in the end.
GRADE

The epiphanies of the banker and the
lawyer conveys the theme that regret is a
consequence of haste.

The consequences that the banker faces
conveys the regret and anger he feels as
a result of the bet.
GRADE

In Anton Chekhov’s “The Bet,” both the lawyer and the
banker’s change illustrate material items stand in the way
of the importance of life.

Especially apparent in the banker’s arrogance in the
exposition, Chekhov demonstrates how money can result in
being pretentious.

As demonstrated by the banker’s actions, Chekhov exposes
how people are obsessed with material items, and are
therefore driven to do crazy things.

The theme is ultimate recognized when the lawyer peers
deeply into life and comes across the realization that
humans, their actions, and their values are wrong
GRADE, THEN RANK
Reiterate thesis
 Introduce new topic
 Transition

What do topic sentences do?

The symbols in the story show that Barry is
prepared to be the patriarch of the family

The author uses characterization to show Berry’s
maturity.

Barry realizing the inevitability of father’s death
clearly displays that he has grown into the
position of the family patriarch

Throughout “Shaving” there are multiple symbols
that represent Barry growing and taking over the
new role in the household
Thesis
Best one?
Topic of BP
Reiterate thesis
 Introduce new topic
 Transition


AND THEREFORE SPECIFIC
What do topic sentences do?
V. THINGS YOU DON’T
WANT
Some counter Examples for “Shaving”
A.
B.
C.
D.
Generic Statements
Summary
Lies
Duh

Symbolism is demonstrated multiple times
throughout the short story.

There is a broad range of characters, who
all have different priorities and
personalities.

Barry accepts responsibility when he
decides to shave his father in a
“”ritualistic” type of way.
A. Generic statements

When Barry accepts the inevitability of
death he knows that his dad is going to
pass away.

Berry shows a lot of responsibility as the
book progresses.

As the story goes forward the illness his
father grows.
B. Summary

Barry has recognized the inevitability of
death through his father’s dying realizing that
he can’t live forever.

Barry truly recognizes the cruel inevitability
of death and what that means for him.

Barry wants to be as good as his father, so
when he shaves him, he wants to prove that
he can take his role.
C. Lies
= unsubstantiated claims

SAYING BERRY!!!!
D. Duh…

By performing a simple task, Barry takes
on the responsibility of a father-role,
figuratively. When he shaves his father he
demonstrates that he is mature enough to
handle the task of the household.
Awesome theses and
good ideas

Norris conveys Barry’s maturity and
acceptance of his new roles through
contrasting Barry’s priorities with his
friends’.
Good stuff

Barry shows he is no ordinary teenager
when he skips being with his friends to
take care of his ill father. He accepts his
new responsibilities, confidently, event
cooly. Thus, he demonstrates behavior
characteristic of a patriarchal role.
Good stuff

While preparing to lose his father, Barry
accepts responsibility that will soon solely
be his. Despite his evident sadness, his
cool refusal indicates his readiness.
Good stuff
VI. THINGS DO WANT





Coming of age
Rite-of-passage
Analyzing the act of Shaving
Three separate ideas
A sharp thesis
Write a thesis statement for “Shaving”
 Brainstorm 3BP topics 
