five page essay

Thesis and Topic Sentences An argumentative thesis represents a student’s purpose for writing. Without the thesis, the paper has no clear direction. A thesis statement is a sentence that articulates the thesis in one sentence which is the last sentence of your introduction. It explains to the reader what exactly the student is planning to argue in his/her paper. Thesis or central claim should state the focus for the paper that is relevant to the readings and the prompt. It presents an arguable position (people can disagree with it easily) , not the topic of the paper. It uses an active form of the verb and strong language. The position should have reasons that will be later supported in the body paragraphs. It should also mention the significance of the writer’s claim – what can they learn from that paper and why they should care. Topic sentence(s) or sub-claim(s) also makes a claim which should be debatable. It just specifies the point stated in the thesis. The topic for each body paragraph should be different or distinct from other body paragraphs to avoid repetition. The claim should be applicable to both readings. It is a stand-alone, self-contained sentence not attached to any quote or summary. It will not repeat the words from the thesis statement, but relate to the idea stated there. However, it will support the thesis. To sum up: thesis statement and topic sentences should be relevant to the prompt , original (student’s idea only), debatable and not obvious, complex that does not promote easy answers, and be the result of the student work with the assigned readings. Thesis and topic sentences

should NOT: � Restate the instructor’s prompt � Be a “shopping list” format � Be in comparison/contrast or problem solution form � Include the opening “In my opinion” or “I think” � Include any authors’ ideas, arguments, or direct reference to them � Include modal “should” since it leads the discussion to moralization � Be just a clear cut fact known to everybody � Be in agree/disagree form “I agree/disagree with Henig” � Be too broad to be discussed in a student paper � Be a discussion of your personal experience “I was raised when the social media...” � Contain any quotes or author’s names or paraphrase their direct ideas Adapted from “The Norton Field Guide to Writing” by R.Bullock and M.Goggin, W.W. Norton & Company 2016