Often the topic sentence can be fine-tuned or even added after you have finished writing the draft. If you had to state the purpose of your paragraph in a single sentence to your audience, whether it is a single person or a convention center full of thousands, what would you say? If you are not used to including a topic sentence with each new paragraph you write, save this step for your revision work. To write an effective topic sentence, picture your audience sitting beside your desk. Clear, concise writing is a gift for the reader.” Heather Rainey, Administrative Assistant, Doctor of Ministry Program Use the best words to make your point, rather than the most words. But you are free to place the topic sentence anywhere that is most effective for your meaning, as long as you have one. The easiest place to situate the topic sentence is as the first line of each new paragraph, followed by direct evidence. Just as subject + verb = sentence, your readers will expect this equation of each paragraph you write: topic sentence + evidence = paragraph. If you do not have a topic sentence, how will your readers understand your intent? If you are unsure what your topic sentence should be, how can you expect your readers to dig through to locate your meaning? If you aren’t clear on the purpose of a single paragraph, why have you bothered to include it?Īs we move from the sentence equation to the paragraph equation, it is important to recognize that the simple math is equally important at the paragraph level. Topic Sentence = the purpose of your paragraphĮvery paragraph must have a topic sentence that states clearly for your readers the purpose of that specific paragraph.Harrop Every paragraph must have a topic sentence that clearly states your purpose for that paragraph. Essay Development PowerPoints, available in Blackboardĭr.Some of these theories are more likely to be valid than others. In particular, they are looking at the increased use of pesticides, insecticides, and genetically modified wheat as culprits. Researchers think the incidence of celiac disease is increasing in the USA not only because of an increase in the ability and awareness to diagnose it, but also because of changes in the agricultural system. The amount of foul language in movies is disproportionate to the amount of foul language in real life.Īrguable thesis statement/opening paragraph: The government should ban 4x4 pickup trucks except for work-related use. Small cars get better fuel mileage than 4x4 pickup trucks. Sometimes you will be writing to persuade others to see things your way and other times you will simply be giving your strong opinion and laying out your case for it. In order to make your writing interesting, you should develop a thesis statement that is arguable. Thesis Statements always take a stand and justify further discussion. If you were to write a paper around the next two statements, your writing would probably be quite dull because you would be restating facts that the general public already knows. Such theses prevent you from demonstrating critical thinking and analytical skills, which you want to show your instructor. The problem is that you cannot write engaging papers around statements of fact. Statements of fact seem easy to write about because, well, they are easy to prove. Consequently, you must write thesis statements that are arguable, not factual. ![]() Your readers-especially your instructors-want to read writing that engages them.
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