Topic Sentences Mini-Lesson

What is the thesis statement? What is the formula?

Thesis Statement Examples Topic 1: Bradbury uses imagery to reveal a society that uses government censorship as a way to control its people, and warns that this could be any society’s fate if people refuse to speak up. Topic 2: Bradbury uses similes to illustrate Montag’s struggle to gain knowledge and to ultimately urge people to rebel against oppression. Topic 3: Learning opens the doors to many opportunities because it raises one’s awareness about the world around them.

What is a topic sentence? What does it tell you about that body paragraph?

Topic Sentences connect back to thesis Thesis Formula: Topic (reality T.V.) + Opinion (What I think about it) + Why or How (because…) Thesis Example: Reality TV highly influences and dictates the decisions and actions of teenagers because they are highly impressionable and seek acceptance at this vulnerable age.

Topic Sentences are more specific than the thesis Thesis Example: Reality TV highly influences and dictates the decisions and actions of teenagers because they are highly impressionable and seek acceptance at this vulnerable age. Topic Sentence 1: First, reality TV gives teenagers unrealistic expectations about real world situations. For example, MTV’s reality show Teen Mom gives the false impression that having a baby as a teenager is a key to fame. Cindy and Zach, a couple from the show…

Topic Sentences are not examples Thesis Example: Reality TV highly influences and dictates the decisions and actions of teenagers because they are highly impressionable and seek acceptance at this vulnerable age. Topic Sentence 2: Additionally, reality TV perpetuates teenage stereotypes, which dictates how adults treat teenagers. In the same show, Zach and Cindy reinforce the stereotype that teenagers make terrible parents. In the first episode, they…

What is a topic sentence? Tells you the main idea of the paragraph Connects back to the thesis Is more specific than the thesis (your essay should move from general to specific, like an inverted triangle) Does not include an example Thesis Topic Sentence

Final Draft In a different color ink that what you used for your final draft, do the following before turning your paper in: 1. Underline thesis statement 2. Underline topic sentence(s) 3. Circle transitions and topic strings