unity power point

8/14/2019 Unity Power Point

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Thesis and Topic Sentences


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Dictionary.com says that unity in writingis a relation of all the parts or elementsof a work constituting a harmonious

whole and producing a single generaleffect.

In short, this means that the essayfocuses on one substantial idea or claim.

It does not start off talking about oneidea and then randomly move ontoanother thought or tangent.


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1. First, IDENTIFY YOUR OVERARCHINGCLAIM OR IDEA (THESIS).

2. Then, toss any ideas or details that do

not support this overarching claim.3. Finally, be sure that you include enough

ideas and details to support your THESISSTATEMENT.


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Since the topic sentences of all threebody paragraphs were all asserting that

Jack Russell Terriers exhibit some sort of

undesired quality, perhaps theoverarching idea of the essay is:

Jack Russell Terriers do not make good pets.

Dog shoppers should think carefully before

adopting a Jack Russell Terriers. Jack Russell Terriers are not easy pets to deal

with.


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The topic sentence of the first bodyparagraph asserts the positive reputationcloth diapers have maintained.

The topic sentences of the proceeding threeparagraphs assert something negative aboutcloth diapers.

The topic sentences of the second and thirdbody paragraphs give details about thediapers regarding their negative impact onthe environment.

Therefore, the thesis statement, yet

unstated, could be something like: Despite their reputation for being particularly good

for the environment, cloth diapers actually damagethe natural world, use excessive energy, and lackease of use.


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The topic sentence of the first body

paragraph describes the positivereputation of hybrid vehicles.

The topic sentences of the second twobody paragraphs describe reasons why

they are not necessarily goodalternatives to fuel-powered vehicles.

Therefore, the thesis statement, yetunstated, could be something like:

Despite hybrid vehicles reputation for beingcost-friendly, fuel-efficient, green alternatives tofuel-powered cars, most consumers would besurprised to know that this is not necessarilytrue.


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Identify the thesisof an existing essayoutline.

But can you definea thesis for anessay yet to becreated based onthe ideas youvedeveloped ininventing?


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Freewrite: Communities. I dont know.Communities. Im a part of a lot ofcommunities, and I know of many of which Imnot a part. I think Im more interested in

communities of which Im not a part. After all, Icould learn more by writing about such groups.Hmmmm. The Amish. There are so manyaround here, and I am so curious about theirlifestyles. I want to what sort of successes the

Amish have. I know we arent doing anyresearch yet, but that doesnt mean I cantspend time with some Amish people, ask themquestions, learn from them.


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Your syllabus explains that Essay Asthesis statement should both identifythe success and the root of the success.

We know now that it isnt enough to identifya community. We have to think aboutone success and its root.


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In my freewrite, I decided to write about theAmish community. However, I admit to beingsomewhat ignorant of them.

After spending some time with some Amishpeople and learning from them (observation isits own brand of research, allowable in thisassignment), I may do some more freewriting.


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Amish and success. Nancy has five sisters. All aremarried. All have children. All go to church twice aweek. All are responsible for upkeep of the home andalso have jobs outside the home. I ask Nancy whatshe knows about living green, and she smiles. Nancyand her family are greener than I could ever hope tobe. Although her lifestyle is based on a belief aboutfamily, and not necessarily about the largerenvironment itself, she does not participate in activitiesthat would deepen her carbon footprint, and while her

family eats locally, avoids using fuel or running water, Ipraise myself for merely recycling, buying a fuel-efficient car, and using green diapers. This isNancys success. This is her communitys success.


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I can eliminate everything I wrote aboutNancys five sisters running their homes andworking jobs. These details wont support myclaim about green living.


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The Amish community of Berks County,Pennsylvania is a community who successfullylives with almost no carbon footprint everydayas a result of their desire to embrace familycloseness and their loyalty to their religion.

All three components of the required thesisstatement are fulfilled in this thesis statement.


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After you develop your thesis statement, youcan now work on developing miniature thesisstatement or topic sentences which will identifythe focus of each body paragraph.

There is no rule that says you must have threebody paragraphs.

However, I would suggest including at LEAST

three body paragraphs in your essay.


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In order to support a thesis, you need to haveadequate, reliable information/details to provethat what you say is a reliable claim to make.

You must not merely claim but support yourclaims by showing your reader how what yousay is accurate.

In order to adequately support your thesis, you

want to use a scholarly tone, Standard English,adequate and obviously reliable details, andcareful logic.


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ATTORNEY/PLEA WRITER/THESIS

Must substantiate theirclaims with evidence.

Cant merely say Myclient is innocent then sitback down without givingany proof or evidence.

Must seem trustworthyand reliable by dressingprofessionally andspeaking clearly, correctly,and appropriately.

Must substantiate theirclaims with evidence.

Cant merely claim thatAmish have almost nocarbon footprint withoutsubstantiating that claim withreal, reliable evidence.

Must seem trustworthy andreliable by using StandardEnglish, a professional tone,and offering information in anorganized, clear manner.


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Some professional articles provide no written or explicitstatement of thesis. Instead, they have an unstatedthesis. The entire essay remains just asfocused/unified, but the thesis is not stated.

Academic essays require explicit thesis statements fora number of reasons: To teach academic writers to be aware of their purpose/focus. To give instructors a measurable way of determining whether or

not a student writer is aware of his/her purpose/focus. To give student writers the opportunities to learn how to assert

claims simply and explicitly in one, two, or three sentences (thisincreases the maturity of a writers use of language and canhelp the student learn to avoid wordiness).


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After the introduction.

The thesis should be short, concise. It shouldbe between one and three sentences long.

The thesis should usually end a paragraphunless you find good reason to make it is ownparagraph.


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A topic sentence is usually the first sentence ofa paragraph preceded only by a transitionalword, phrase, or sentence. These transitionalwords, phrases, or sentences contribute tocoherence so that the jump from oneparagraph to the next is not too jarring for thereader.


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Every academic essay and body paragraphmust have a thesis statement/topic sentence toexplicitly state its focus/claim.

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