COMMENTS

  1. Thesis vs. Topic Sentence

    A thesis statement is a concise and arguable claim that presents the main idea or argument of an essay or research paper. It provides a roadmap for the entire piece of writing and guides the reader on what to expect. On the other hand, a topic sentence is a statement that introduces the main idea of a paragraph.

  2. PDF Topic Sentences and Thesis Statements

    With the prompt as a guide, here are the topic sentences for each body paragraph: Topic Sentence #1: The repeated characterization of Lilith as "too spirited" highlights her tenacity and pride, which are unusual traits for the enslaved characters to possess. Topic Sentence #2: The term "spirited" also connects Lilith to the spiritual ...

  3. PDF Thesis Statements and Topic Sentences

    **Thesis s •A thesis statement can appear as one sentence (see examples C and D) or several sentences (see examples A and B); this is dependent on the requirements of your rhetorical context. ** Note: these are general guidelines for constructing a strong thesis statement and topic sentences in a thesis driven essay; always refer to your ...

  4. Thesis Statement or Topic Sentence?

    Thesis statements summarize the central position of an entire essay and typically appear at the end of the introductory paragraph. Think of them as guideposts for the entire essay. They provide the reader of the essay an idea of the direction it will take. While beginning essay writers will typically write a single-sentence thesis statement ...

  5. PDF Thesis Statements and Topic Sentences

    A strong set of topic sentences will work together to support a thesis. A . thesis statement (the main point of a whole essay) is usually found at the . end of an introduction. A . topic sentence (the main point of a paragraph) is usually at the . beginning of a paragraph. Thesis statements and topic sentences are similar in some ways: − They are

  6. PDF Thesis statement / topic sentence relationship

    A thesis statement is written to state the main purpose or argument of your writing. That means that your thesis statement will be supported through all of the body paragraphs that make up your essay. A topic sentence is the first sentence of a body paragraph. This sentence indicates for your reader how the paragraph will support your thesis.

  7. PDF Connecting Topic Sentences & Thesis Statements Handout

    A topic sentence is one part— just one element— of our thesis statement. Our thesis statement, then, should be present or emphasized within our topic sentence in order to show relevance and cohesion throughout our paper. A topic sentence consists of: Reference to thesis + one specific idea for paragraph. (order doesn't matter, but we must ...

  8. Thesis Statements and Topic Sentences

    As the thesis statement is the unifying force in the essay, so the topic sentence must be the unifying force in the paragraph. Further, as is the case with the thesis statement, when the topic sentence makes a claim, the paragraph which follows must expand, describe, or prove it in some way. Topic sentences make a point and give reasons or ...

  9. PDF Topic and Thesis Differences

    thesis is what one decides to say about the "topic.". The thesis is a specific argument that will be involved in every paragraph of the paper whether one is introducing it, defending it, or reinforcing it. It is the sole reason for the paper's existence and should be one written as a well-constructed sentence that acts as a map for how ...

  10. Thesis and Topic Sentences

    Thesis and Topic Sentences. You'll remember that the first step of the reading process, previewing, allows you to get a big-picture view of the document you're reading. This way, you can begin to understand the structure of the overall text. A later step in the reading process, summarizing, allows you to encapsulate what a paragraph ...

  11. PDF Tutorial #26: Thesis Statements and Topic Sentences

    5. A troublesome thesis is a fragment; a good thesis statement is expressed in a complete sentence. Example: How life is in New York after September 11th. Better: After September 11th, the city of New York tends to have more cases of post-traumatic disorder than other areas of the United States and rightfully so.

  12. 5.2: Identifying Thesis Statements and Topic Sentences

    Adaptions: Reformatted, some content removed to fit a broader audience. 5.2: Identifying Thesis Statements and Topic Sentences is shared under a license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts. Topic sentences and thesis statements are similar to main ideas. This section discusses those similarities and the differences ...

  13. Difference Between Thesis Statement and Topic Sentence

    The thesis statement is the fundamental stand the writer takes. It incorporated the generalized idea of the essay, including the author's perspective of the topic and the key points included in the text. Striving to make this part influential, the learner should fixate on the topic, limit it, and narrow it down, presenting only the most ...

  14. How to Write a Thesis Statement

    Step 2: Write your initial answer. After some initial research, you can formulate a tentative answer to this question. At this stage it can be simple, and it should guide the research process and writing process. The internet has had more of a positive than a negative effect on education.

  15. Thesis Statements and Topic Sentences

    Thesis Statements. A thesis statement defines the scope and purpose of the paper. It needs to meet three criteria: 1. It must be arguable rather than a statement of fact. It should also say something original about the topic. Bad thesis: Lily Bart experiences the constraints of many social conventions in The House of Mirth.

  16. 2.3: Thesis Statements and Topic Sentences

    Thesis Statement and Topic Sentences. It is important to distinguish between thesis statements and topic sentences. An essay can have only one thesis statement, but it can have three to five topic sentences. While the thesis is the main idea of the whole essay, the topic sentences are the main ideas of the body paragraphs.

  17. Thesis Statements

    For the reader, the thesis statement: Serves as a "map" to guide the reader through the paper. In the same way the thesis helps you organize your paper, the thesis helps organize the reader's thinking. Once a solid thesis is presented, the reader will understand that all of the evidence presented is in service of proving the thesis.

  18. What is a Thesis Statement: Writing Guide with Examples

    A thesis statement is a sentence in a paper or essay (in the opening paragraph) that introduces the main topic to the reader. As one of the first things your reader sees, your thesis statement is one of the most important sentences in your entire paper—but also one of the hardest to write! In this article, we explain how to write a thesis ...

  19. Thesis Statements

    A thesis statement: tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion. is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper. directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself.

  20. What are a topic statement and a thesis statement?

    Expert Answers. Thesis statements and topic sentences are your guide to writing your essay, and they are also a guide for the reader in reading your essay. They both have the same essential ...

  21. Thesis Statements

    An effective thesis statement has two parts: (1) the topic and (2) your claim about the topic. Your thesis is a contract that you establish with your readers. The voice, tone, assurances, and promises of your thesis must continue throughout the essay. An effective thesis statement should be as specific as possible and be limited enough to make ...

  22. Academic Guides: Writing a Paper: Thesis Statements

    The thesis statement is the brief articulation of your paper's central argument and purpose. You might hear it referred to as simply a "thesis." Every scholarly paper should have a thesis statement, and strong thesis statements are concise, specific, and arguable. Concise means the thesis is short: perhaps one or two sentences for a shorter paper.

  23. Topic sentence vs thesis statement Flashcards

    Terms in this set (5) True or false? Topic sentences and thesis statements are the same thing. False. What is a thesis statement? A sentence at the beginning of an essay that explains what the essay is talking about. What is a topic sentence? An introductory sentence at the beginning of each body paragraph that says what the paragraph is going ...