The Thesis Statement and Topic Sentences (46a)



The Thesis Statement and Topic Sentences (45)

The thesis statement is the most important sentence in your paper because it unifies and gives direction to the entire paper by expressing a single, specific, clearly stated idea that states the primary point of the paper. In the same way, topic sentences are vital to the paper because they relate back to the thesis and give the point(s) to be discussed in individual body paragraphs, which in turn support/prove the topic sentence and the thesis. This tutorial is designed to give you various ways to think about the thesis and topic sentences.

Enumerative Thesis and Umbrella Thesis[i]

Two types of thesis statements:

1. The enumerative thesis (or “three-part” thesis) lists the evidence that supports your primary argument, and each body paragraph discusses one piece of evidence.

1 A, B, and C cause Y

2. The umbrella thesis encompasses the entire argument in a concise statement without enumerating each piece of evidence.

The “Easy Thesis Generator”[ii]

This method offers a formulaic way to create a thesis by answering the following questions.

1. What is the topic?

2. What is your stand on the issue? Why did you take this stand?

3. How is your stance in opposition to others?

The formula, then, looks like this:

Qualification + Stance + Rationale = Thesis

The “Family Tree” Analogy[iii]

The thesis statement can be thought of as the paper’s parents that give birth to the topic sentences. In turn, the topic sentences give birth to the evidence that supports the point(s).

Thesis

Topic Sentence Topic Sentence Topic Sentence

Evidence Evidence Evidence Evidence Evidence Evidence

The “Roof and Pillar” Analogy[iv]

1. The thesis statement covers the entire argument/the primary point of the paper.

2. The topic sentences give the main point(s) of individual body paragraphs and, in turn, support a part of the argument/primary point of the thesis.

The “Writing Wheel” Analogy[v]

1. The inner core is a word or phrase

that best represents the essence

of what the writer is trying to say.

2. The spokes are the evidence.

3. The outer rim is the thesis

statement, which encapsulates

all of the inner evidence.

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[i] Melissa Blackman, University Writing Center Tutor at Middle Tennessee State University (2002).

[ii] Susanna Gibson, Brigham Young University Tutor. In article from The Writing Lab Newsletter (November 2002)

[iii] Carlotta Jones, University Writing Center Tutor at Middle Tennessee State University (2002).

[iv] Kris Blais, University Writing Center Tutor at Middle Tennessee State University (2002).

[v] Colleen Rae, social studies teacher from Mexico Community College. In article “Before the Outline—The Writing Wheel” Social Studies 81.4 (1990).

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