2. THESIS
STATEMENT
T H E F U N N E L - S H A P E D S T R U C T U R E O F T H E
I N T R O D U C T O R Y P A R A G R A P H B E G I N S W I T H A G E N E R A L
S T A T E M E N T A N D N A R R O W D O W N T O T H E T H E S I S
S T A T E M E N T W H I C H D E F I N E S T H E S C O P E O F T H E E S S A Y .
3. THE THESIS STATEMENT:
• Usually the last sentence of the introductory paragraph
• Written as a complete sentence and not as a question
• The strongest statement in the essay
• The controlling idea
• A single idea stating a stand, attitude, opinion or intent
• Defines the scope of the essay
• Introduces the topic of your essay
4. EXAMPLE:
All those who have lived in the twentieth century have
seen numerous changes impacting every area of human
existence. Some of these people are excited by the challenges
these changes brings; others prefer to return to the simpler
lifestyle of bygone days. The twentieth century brings with it
certain benefits such as a higher standard of living, but it also
has some disadvantages such as the dilution of spiritual values
and the pollution of our natural environment.
5. EXAMPLE:
1. All those who have lived in the twentieth century have seen numerous
changes impacting every area of human existence. (GENERAL
STATEMENT)
2. Some of these people are excited by the challenges these changes
brings; others prefer to return to the simpler lifestyle of bygone days. (
MORE SPECIFIC STATEMENT)
3. The twentieth century brings with it certain benefits such as a higher
standard of living, but it also has some disadvantages such as the
dilution of spiritual values and the pollution of our natural
environment. (THESIS STATEMENT)
6. CREATE A THESIS STATEMENT BASED
ON THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION
Topic : How to avoid sports injuries
Main ideas:
1. Wearing protective gear
2. Warming up your body
3. Avoid playing when you are injured
Thesis statement:
There are several ways to avoid sports injuries such as wearing protective gear,
up your body and avoid playing when you are injured.
7. Topic : Bowling is a sport for everyone
Main ideas:
1. It is not limited to any age group
2. It can be played at any time
3. It does not require any expensive equipment
Thesis statement:
8. INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1 : Decide which one of the following sentences is the thesis statement(TS)
Step 2 : Write TS next to the sentences you have chosen
Step 3 : Decide the order of the other sentences and number them.
Step 4 : Then, number the sentences according to their order using the blanks at the
beginning of each sentence.
9. INTRODUCTION 1: BEGIN WITH A BROAD OR THE MOST
GENERAL STATEMENT ABOUT THE TOPIC AND THEN
NARROW IT DOWN TO THE THESIS STATEMENT.
Topic : Preventing accidents in the kitchen
___ A. Most of the time, these incidents happen due to carelessness.
___ B. The kitchen is the primary place for accidents at home.
___ C. You can help to prevent accidents in the kitchen by being more alert and by
following these simple rules such as avoid chaos in the kitchen, keep children away from
the kitchen and do not leave knives unattended.
___ D. Every year, thousands of injuries occur in the kitchen.
10. TOPIC
SENTENCES
A W E L L - O R G A N I S E D P A R A G R A P H S U P P O R T S O R
D E V E L O P S A S I N G L E M A I N I D E A , W H I C H I S
E X P R E S S E D I N A S E N T E N C E C A L L E D T H E T O P I C
S E N T E N C E .
11. THE TOPIC SENTENCES:
• The main ideas of a paragraph
• Tells the reader what the paragraph is about
• Details of the main idea
• These make up the rest of the paragraph
• Often best to put the topic sentence at the beginning of the paragraph
• Supports or provide evidence on an essay’s thesis statement
• Unifies the content of a paragraph and directs the order of the
sentences
12. EXAMPLE:
We have to fight dengue. One way is to make sure that mosquito
breeding places are destroyed. We must dispose of empty cans, used
bottles and food wrappers properly. We must make sure there are no
containers lying around that can collect water because mosquitoes breed
in stagnant water.
13. EXAMPLE:
We have to fight dengue(TOPIC SENTENCE). One way is to make
sure that mosquito breeding places are destroyed. We must dispose of
empty cans, used bottles and food wrappers properly. We must make sure
there are no containers lying around that can collect water because
mosquitoes breed in stagnant water (SUPPORTING DETAILS).
14. CREATE A TOPIC SENTENCE BASED ON
THE INFORMATION GIVEN
Topic : How to avoid sports injuries
Main ideas:
1. Wearing protective gear
2. Warming up your body
3. Avoid playing when you are injured
Topic sentences:
1. First to wear protective gear.
2. Warm-up exercises are often overlooked but it is actually harmful to neglect them.
3. Finally, you should not play when you are injured.
15. PRACTICE 1
DECIDE WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES IS
THE TOPIC SENTENCE OF THE PARAGRAPH
Paragraph 1
A. It enables customers to do several banking transactions twenty-four hours a day.
B. In addition, a customer can transfer funds between accounts or get cash advance on
a credit card.
C. An automated teller machine (ATM) is a convenient miniature bank.
D. For example, a customer can use an ATM to deposit money and withdraw a limited
amount of cash.
