Homework #3: Topic Sentences, Thesis Statements and

Introductions

A topic sentence clearly states the central message of a paragraph. They

are usually found at the beginning or end of the paragraph, but can also be located
in the middle. The purpose of the topic sentence is to alert the reader of the topic
being discussed and, often, to give a hint as to what details and/or examples might
be provided.

Practice: in the following paragraphs, identify the topic sentence:

For pirates to prosper there must be a safe haven where they can go to restock,
sell their loot, repair their ships and recruit more men. In the early 1700s, the
British Caribbean was just such a place. Towns like Port Royal and Nassau thrived
as pirates brought in stolen goods to sell. There was no royal presence, in the form
of governors or Royal Navy ships in the area. The pirates, possessed of weapons
and men, essentially ruled the towns. Even on those occasions when the towns
were off-limits to them, there are enough secluded bays and harbors in the
Caribbean that finding a pirate who did not want to be found was nearly impossible.

Sometimes it is hard to fall asleep. Maybe you are not sleepy, or maybe you are
thinking about what happened during the day. You can also lie awake if a big event,
like a test or a party, is happening the next day. There are several things you can
do to try and fall asleep. You can try counting sheep, or just counting, which will
keep your mind busy with a repetitious activity. Sometimes listening to soft music
or gentle sounds, like rain, helps. You can even try telling yourself a story, which
may distract your mind enough that you will be asleep in no time.

Michael Jackson's musical career began to decline with the lukewarm reception to
1995's HIStory: Past, Present, and Future, Book I, which featured some of his
earlier hits as well as new material. The record spawned two hits, "You Are Not
Alone" and his duet with sister Janet Jackson, "Scream." The spaceship-themed
video for "Scream," which cost a record-setting $7 million to produce, earned a
Grammy Award for its slick effects. However, another track from the album, "They
Don't Care About Us," brought Jackson intense criticism for using an anti-Semitic
term.

Simon Bolivar wasn't the only patriot general with an army in the field in Venezuela
in the turbulent years between 1813 and 1819. There were several others,
including Santiago Mariño, José Antonio Páez and Manuel Piar. Even though they
had the same goal - independence from Spain — these generals did not always get
along, and sometimes came close to warring amongst themselves. It wasn't until
1817, when Bolívar ordered Piar arrested, tried and executed for insubordination
that most of the other generals fell into line under Bolívar.

Practice: Choosing the Topic sentence

The topic sentence has been removed from these paragraphs. Choose the best one.

Homework can be used to (1) establish communication between parents and

children; (2) fulfill directives from school administrators; (3) punish students; and
(4) inform parents about what is going on in school. Most homework assignments
have elements of several different purposes.

1. Most kids hate to do their homework.

2. Homework gets harder the older you get.
3. In general, science homework is harder than humanities homework.
4. Homework also can serve purposes that do not relate directly to instruction.

This belief is especially common among weight lifters who often consume large
quantities of high protein foods and dietary supplements, thinking it will improve
their athletic performance. Like weightlifters, football players consume too much
protein, expecting it to produce additional muscle energy. Although it is true that
muscles contain more protein than other tissues, there is no evidence that a high
protein diet actually constructs more muscle tissue than a normal diet. Nutritionists
point out that muscle cells grow not from excess protein but from exercise: when a
muscle is used, it pulls in protein for its consumption. This is how a muscle grows
and strengthens. If athletes want to increase their muscle mass, then they must
exercise in addition to following a well‐balanced, normal diet.

1. Many athletes have false ideas regarding proper nutrition.

2. My brother, a weightlifter, is an example of someone who consumes a lot of
protein because he thinks it will make him bulky.
3. Many athletes falsely believe that protein improves athletic performance by
increasing muscle mass.
4. The public is often confused by the seemingly conflicting advice nutritionists
give us about our health.

Three tips for good topic sentences:

Phrases such as “I think” or “in my opinion” may muddle or weaken topic

sentences. Your writing is always your opinion, so you don’t need these phrases
unless they are central to the idea that you are trying to convey.

Weak:
I think that it is important for every woman to carry pepper spray.

Strong:
As violent criminals take over the city streets, women must carry pepper spray to
protect themselves.

The topic sentence should provide clear relationships among all of its elements so
that it can provide a framework for understanding the rest of the paragraph.
Weak:
Historians record only dry statistics; we should read novels.

Strong:
Accurate historical novels give us a deeper understanding of the past than do the
dry collections of facts and statistics that pass for history texts.

A topic sentence needs to be clear and specific, so that it can predict and
summarize the rest of the paragraph for the reader.

Weak:
Public transit is terrible.
Strong:
Incapable of providing reliable, comfortable service, the San Francisco Municipal
Transit System is failing its ridership.

Practice: Fix the weak topic sentences

Justin Bieber’s new album sucks.

With low quality, repetitive sounds, Justin Bieber's new album managed to
disappoint.

I definitely think that dogs make better pets than cats.

From the fact that dogs greet you with great affection by wagging their tail, to
sleeping with you in any position, dogs are better than cats.

Quito is a good place for foreigners to learn Spanish.

According to many foreigners, Quito is a place where you can put your Spanish into
practice.

Thesis Statements

A thesis statement is basically a topic sentence, but it applies to a longer

piece of writing than a paragraph, such as an essay. The thesis statement
usually appears in the first paragraph of an essay, but it can appear later, in some
cases as late as the third of fourth paragraph in certain cases. It should clearly
state the main point of the essay and give some hint as to the evidence, arguments
or other details which will be used to support the writer’s most important claims.
Sometimes, a thesis statement can be divided between two sentences, especially if
the content/support is complicated.

Tips for writing good thesis statements:

Avoid announcements. You do not need to write things like “In this essay, I will,” or
“It is easy to conclusively prove that…” These are wordy and serve no useful
purpose.

Weak Thesis Statement: “In this essay, I will show conclusively that tennis is
better than bowling for teenagers who need more exercise.”
Better Thesis Statement: “Tennis is much more active, social and inexpensive
than bowling, which makes it perfect for teenagers who need more physical
exercise.”

Make a strong statement. Your thesis statement should be clear and firm. Do not
make wishy-washy statements or hedge your bets with weak words.

Weak Thesis Statement: “In my opinion, King Crimson could be considered

perhaps the best of the progressive rock bands of the 1970’s because some people
found their eclectic sound to be innovative and dynamic.”
Better Thesis Statement: “Their groundbreaking sound, combined with heady
themes and the powerful vocals of Greg Lake, put King Crimson at the head of the
pack in the 1970’s Progressive Rock scene.”

Don’t overdo the statement. Although you need a strong thesis, it is possible to
overstate your thesis to the point where it is ridiculous, unprovable or difficult to
quantify. Keep it simple and don’t make claims that you cannot prove.

Weak Thesis Statement: “Jumanji is the best movie ever made.”

Better Thesis Statement: “Jumanji (2017) features strong acting, solid directing,
memorable one-liners and a solid plot and pacing, making it much superior to past
Dwayne Johnson movies such as Hercules or Central Intelligence.”