ENG Mod 4 AS 1 DB

Thesis “1-2-3” Method

Writing a Thesis

Your thesis is the key to structuring the entire essay. If your thesis is weak, so is the structure of your essay. If your thesis is strong, then you have started to develop a stronger structure.

When writing your thesis, I recommend that you include three concise points that capture your reasons for why you think social media is beneficial or detrimental to society, and list them in your thesis. Here are some examples:

Pro:  Social media is beneficial to society because 1, 2, and 3. Con: Social media is detrimental to society because 1, 2, and 3.

Using this formula, you can insert whatever main reasons you have.

"Pro" thesis:  Social media is beneficial to society because it allows people to form relationships across great distances, it provides a place for the free exchange of ideas, and it is entertaining. "Con" thesis:  Social media is detrimental to society because it spreads hateful speech, causes social unrest, and is a bad influence on children.

Your thesis statement should be the last sentence of your introductory paragraph.

Writing Topic Sentences

Topic sentences are used to introduce the issue you will discuss within your body paragraphs. Generally, you want only one topic sentence for each paragraph.

To write your topic sentences, take each of the three points and develop a complete sentence that introduces each topic. Using the “Pro thesis” from above, the three topic sentences could be something like this:

Topic sentence #1: Social media is beneficial to society because it allows people to form relationships across great distances (notice this uses reason #1).

Topic sentence #2: Social media is beneficial to society because it provides a place for the free exchange of ideas (notice this uses reason #2).

Topic sentence #3: Social media is beneficial to society because it is entertaining (notice this uses reason #3).

Now, once you have a good thesis and your topic sentences, you can begin to structure your paragraphs accordingly. Notice that you need topic sentences at the beginning of each body paragraph...these topic sentences are going to be your 1, 2, and 3, and then you will provide evidence/details, and analysis to support each. Your topic sentences and your body paragraphs must be in the same order as the three points you listed in your thesis.

Placement

(Introductory Paragraph) Hook Define the scope of the problem Thesis

(Background Paragraph) Brief history of the issue. The impact of the issue. Relevance to current events.

(Body Paragraph 1) Topic sentence:  Reason 1 Supporting evidence/details:  Details that support reason 1 Analysis of evidence/details

(Body Paragraph 2) Topic sentence:  Reason 2 Supporting evidence/details:  Details that support reason 2 Analysis of evidence/details

(Body Paragraph 3) Topic sentence:  Reason 3 Supporting evidence/details:  Details that support reason 3 Analysis of evidence/details

(Conclusion) Restate the thesis in fresh words Wrap up any loose ends Make one last attempt to persuade the reader by emphasizing the importance of the issue