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Introduction

Thesis

Main Ideas

Supporting Ideas

Transitional Words and PhrasesConclusion

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Background about a topic

Narrative

Quotation

Dramatic statistics/facts

Shocking statementQuestions that lead to the thesis

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THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OFYOUR ESSAY!!!

THE THESIS ADDRESSES THE PROMPT THE THESIS TELLS THE AUDIENCE WHAT

YOUR ENTIRE ESSAY IS ABOUT

THE THESIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANTIDEA OF YOUR ESSAY

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A good thesis statement gives the readersome hint about what you will say aboutthe topic.

Weak Thesis: Mahatma Gandhi was an

interesting man. Good Thesis: Mahatma Gandhi was a

person of contradictions.

Weak Thesis: Television is a total waste of

time.

Good Thesis: Parents should chooseappropriate, educational television shows fortheir children to watch.

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A good thesis statement presents youropinion about the topic and is not just afact or an observation.

Weak Thesis: London is the capital of

England.

Good Thesis: For tourists interested in Britishhistory, London is an ideal travel destination.

Weak Thesis: Many movies today are violent. Good Thesis: The violence in movies today

makes children less sensitive to otherpeoples suffering.

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A good thesis statement is written as acomplete statement. Weak Thesis: Should something be done

about bad drivers?

Good Thesis: Bad drivers should have to takea driving course before being allowed todrive again.

Weak Thesis: There is a problem with the

information on the Internet. Good Thesis: To make sure information found

on the internet is valid, computer users mustmake sure the sources of the information arecredible.

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A good thesis statement does notformally announce what your opinionabout the topic is.

Weak Thesis: In my paper, I will write aboutwhether schools should require uniforms.

Good Thesis: Public schools should notrequire uniforms.

Weak Thesis: The subject of this essay is drugtesting.

Good Thesis: Drug testing is needed for allprofessional athletes.

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NEVER WRITE I THINK or I

BELIEVE or I.. IN YOURTHESIS STATEMENT

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Usually, each main idea is its ownparagraph.

TOPIC SENTENCE

The topic sentence is at thebeginning of the paragraph.

The topic sentence introduces the

main idea of that paragraph.

Think of the topic sentence as aMINI THESIS STATEMENT.

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Supporting ideas help to convince yourreader that your main idea is a good one.

Back up your main ideas by using:

Evidence

Examples

Stories

Facts/numbers/data

Logic

Quotations

Argument and counter argument

And more

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Use transitional words and phrases totake the reader from one idea to thenext.

Transitional words and phrases give thereader an idea of the relationshipsbetween the various ideas andsupporting points.

They also help to show the relationshipbetween sentences.

They make your essay FLOW!

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The concluding paragraph is separatefrom the other paragraphs and bringsclosure to the essay.

It discusses the importance of yourideas.

It restates the thesis with fresh

wording. It sums up the main idea of the

paper.

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The conclusion can:

Include a provocative or

memorable quotation. Make a prediction or

suggestion.

Leave the reader withsomething to think about