CREATING A THESIS AND TOPIC
SENTENCES
ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Today’s Agenda
1. Getting ready for the Unit 3 Project
2. What is a thesis—how to write a thesis
3. What are topic sentences—how to write
topic sentences
WHERE RALPHIE WENT WRONG . . .
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppOXpyhM2w
A
UNIT 3 PROJECT
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1.
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You have 4 components to complete:
A 3-point thesis
Topic sentences (3 in total)
Thoughts on modes of illustration
Be sure to follow through on reading and
discussion
We’ll look at a sample after we go over the
individual components.
THESIS STATEMENTS
Every essay you write will have a thesis
statement.
 The thesis is the main idea of your essay.
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Expresses a comment
 Limits the topic
 Indicates the kind of support to follow. Helps to organize
the supporting material
 Is precisely worded
 Is expressed in a single sentence
 It does NOT announce by saying: I am going to tell you
about….or My essay will explain….
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To construct a thesis, we’ll go back to our prewriting.
LAST WEEK . . .
Types of plastic surgery—nose jobs, breast reductions, breast
implants, liposuction
Complications of plastic surgery—silicone poisoning, botched
operations, infection, death
Popularity of plastic surgery—it’s glamorized on television
and magazines
Teen plastic surgery—changing bodies, immaturity, social
pressure
Reasons for plastic surgery—corrective, cosmetic, because
people want to, to repair something from an accident or
birth defect, to fit in, more self-esteem
FROM PREWRITING TO THESIS POSSIBILITIES
Now that I have some ideas, it’s time to ask some
questions. I’ll start with the ideas that interest
me the most--reasons to have plastic surgery.
 Research question = what I want to know
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Is plastic surgery just about wanting to look
better?
LAST WEEK . . .
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Some people have plastic surgery because they don’t like
how they look—maybe they think their nose is too big.
When people don’t like how they look, they may feel selfconscious.
They may have low self-esteem.
They may feel pressured because there are so many
“perfect” celebrities.
Some people may have plastic surgery to correct
deformities and birth defects.
Some people may have plastic surgery to correct a prior
plastic surgery.
Some people may choose to have plastic surgery after an
illness—like women choosing to have breast implants after
a mastectomy.
ANSWERS = POSSIBILITIES
A thesis statement is an answer to a research
question.
 My potential answer/thesis is: Plastic surgery is
often oversimplified, but the pressures of our
media-saturated culture, low-self-esteem, and
even the correction of deformities and birth
defects are anything but simple.
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THESIS FORMULA
A thesis= a comment about your topic (what you
think, what you want your reader to know) + 3
key points (ways of explaining your comment)
What’s my comment?
What are my 3 key points?
THESIS FORMULA
A thesis= a comment about your topic (what you
think, what you want your reader to know) + 3
key points (ways of explaining your comment)
What’s my comment? Plastic surgery is
oversimplified
What are my 3 key points? Pressure from our
culture, to improve self-esteem, and to correct
deformities.
WORKING THESIS
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Your thesis will evolve—like every other part of
writing, it’s a draft, a working version.
My first attempt: People have plastic surgery for lots of
reasons, even not so obvious ones. It may be because they
feel pressure from Hollywood, may have low-self-esteem,
and even to correct deformities and birth defects.
My second attempt: It’s easy to oversimplify plastic surgery
as vanity, but people seek it out because they feel pressure
to conform to beauty standards, suffer from low selfesteem, and to correct nature’s errors.
THESIS FORMULA RECAP
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Comment about your topic + 3 key points
My comment: It’s easy to oversimplify plastic
surgery as vanity, but
 My 3 key points:
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Pressure to conform
 Low self esteem
 Corrective reasons
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KEY POINTS TO TOPIC SENTENCES
You will write a topic sentence for each key point.
 A topic sentence explains why the key point is
important.
 A topic sentence explains why the key point
supports the comment in your thesis.
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Example:
With magazines and movies promoting the perfect
face and body, more people pursue plastic
surgery in a quest to conform.
WHAT ABOUT MY OTHER KEY POINTS?
Low self-esteem
 Corrective procedures
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Remember, whatever I choose, it has to prove my
comment—that there are serious reasons for
choosing plastic surgery
Help me brainstorm . . . How can I connect my
comment to the above key points?
SOME PRACTICE . . .
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To make a marriage work, a couple must build trust, communication, and
understanding.
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A. Knowing why a spouse behaves as he or she does can improve a relationship.
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B. People get married for reasons other than love.
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C. The ability to talk about feelings, problems, and likes, and dislikes should grow as
a marriage develops.
D. Marital problems must rely on each to make sensible decisions that benefit both of
them.
It is unwise to make adoption files available to adult children since the
biological parents have made the choice to sever all ties and because it can
also be an emotional nightmare for the natural parent and adopted child.
A. A woman who gave up her biological child because she became pregnant as a
result of rape or incest should not have to live in fear that her child could one day
confront her.
B. If a woman gives up a child for adoption, it is probable that she does not intend to
have a relationship with that child
C. Research has shown that all biological parents want to meet with the sons and
daughters they gave up many years before.
D. Adult children who try to contact their biological parents often meet resistance
and even hostility, which can cause them to feel hurt and rejected.
WHAT’S WRONG WITH THESE TOPIC SENTENCES?
Unfocused: Some members of minority groups do not approve of affirmative
action.
Unfocused: Many students believe that hate groups shouldn’t be allowed on
campus.
Unfocused: In our state, the lottery is a big issue.
Unfocused: People watch reality television because they find it irresistible.
Unfocused: Procrastinating can have a negative effect on your success in
college.
YOU’LL CONTINUE BRAINSTORMING . . .
Use the discussion board to your advantage
 Remember, you’re working with ideas—no
commitment
 Your project is a commitment—be thoughtful
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And, have a great week--