Crafting Thesis and Subtopics

Thesis

The main point sentence that the entire essay comes back to develop. 

All points made in essay are meant to support this statement (sometimes posed as a question).

• subject (a noun or noun phrase that acts) + verb (how we act upon subject) + object (the idea, a noun or noun phrase, that receives the action)

• Use specific language over abstract/too general words, whenever possible.

• Avoid all-incusive language (everyone, no one, is, all, ...)

• Avoid using standalone pronouns (It, this, these, ...) as subject

• Use an analysis verb to indicate to your reader how dynamic you are looking at your subject 

• The more action on the subject, the more you transform our view of it. The more you can pose questions about subject with that verb.

• Example: The myth is...  versus The myth illustrates...

• Be specific about what your body paragraphs discuss. Do not tease the reader with an unclear object!!! 

• One of the most ineffective thesis statements is the type that only suggests ideas but does not actually identify what ideas will be developed in the body paragraphs.

"Topic" Sentences  

• The same "rules" that are outlined for the Thesis apply to the "topic" sentences

• Perhaps we shouldn't call them "topic" sentences--because they are much more than just topics. Topics sounds and insinuates broadness. 

• What can you call them to remember that they are more about the thesis subject?

• Example: thesis subject point 1, thesis subject point 2, ....

• You are not in high school anymore, so a simple "fact" is no longer good enough for the analytical pieces you will write.

• As you develop as a writer, your language gets less "topical" and "broad" and more clear on "taking an interpretive stance" on "subject matter."

• Of course, these sentences should directly, explicitly connect to the thesis and its subject. 

• A paragraph can be on topic and not be unified. Strong topic sentences allow you, the writer, to know which details and information to focus on for the rest of the paragraph. An effective topic sentence helps you control what needs to be in the paragraph. 

• The same "rules" that are outlined for the Thesis apply to the "topic" sentences--yeah, I just repeated the first bullet point here at the end...it's important.