Title: Thesis, Topic Sentences, Relevant Details
1Thesis, Topic Sentences, Relevant Details
ESSAY ORGANIZATION 1ST PARAGRAPH Lead-in,
THESIS (last sentence of paragraphARGUMENT 2
or 3 MAJOR POINTS) 2ND PARAGRAPH TOPIC SENTENCE
2 or 3 well developed EXAMPLES 3RD PARAGRAPH
TOPIC SENTENCE 2 or 3 well developed
EXAMPLES CONCLUSION A few sentences to wrap up
(to be discussed later)
2TOPIC MATERIALISM IS HARMFUL
BRAINSTORM FIRSTMAKE SURE YOU HAVE PLENTY OF
DETAILS! DETERMINE YOUR TWO MAJOR CATEGORIES
(THE MAJOR POINTSONE FOR EACH PARAGRAPH) DECIDE
ON TWO OR THREE DISTINCT EXAMPLES TO SUPPORT EACH
MAJOR POINT WRITE YOUR OUTLINEUSE COMPLETE
THOUGHTS FOR THE THESIS AND TOPIC SENTENCESDO
NOT USE COMPLETE THOUGHTS FOR THE DETAILS!
3TOPIC It is harmful to put a high value on
material possessions.
THESIS Putting too much value on material
possessions is harmful BODY PARAGRAPH TOPIC
SENTENCE First, when people value objects too
much, they lose sight of the importance of
people. BODY PARAGRAPH TOPIC SENTENCE Second,
when people are overly attached to their
possessions, they may end up trading their
freedom.
because people may start
to undervalue people and lose another precious
gift time.
4BODY PARAGRAPH TOPIC SENTENCE First, when
people value objects too much, they lose sight of
the importance of people. Example My Uncle
Torvald, always yelling at his kids if they get
near his expensive art work, spends more time
worrying about car than his kids Example
Friends boyfriend cares more about how she
dresses than about her personalityonly nice to
her when she has on expensive clothes Example
Desire for more oil for carsmight drive wars
that kill many for no good reason
5TOPIC Valuing material possessions can be
beneficial
THESIS Many possessions are precious, and
valuing them is beneficial BODY PARAGRAPH
TOPIC SENTENCE First, many possessions offer us
security. BODY PARAGRAPH TOPIC SENTENCE
Second, many material goods are a source of
richness and comfort in our lives.
because they offer us security
and comfort.
6Vitamins and good food for health Eating out at
restaurants for fun Material objects for
productive lives Artwork to inspire us Home as
protection from the elements Cars as a means to
get to and from work Possessions to ensure our
physical safety, well being Exercise machines/gym
memberships to look good Clothes to make us feel
good about ourselves Computers to help us work
faster, more creatively Music (CDs, sound system)
to entertain us TVs to keep us informed visually
about world events
7Vitamins and good food for health Eating out at
restaurants for fun Material objects for
productive lives Artwork to inspire us Home as
protection from the elements Cars as a means to
get to and from work Possessions to ensure our
physical safety, well being Exercise machines/gym
memberships to look good Clothes to make us feel
good about ourselves Computers to help us work
faster, more creatively Music (CDs, sound system)
to entertain us TVs to keep us informed visually
about world events
8Material objects for productive lives Cars as a
means to get to and from work Computers to help
us work faster, more creatively Possessions to
ensure our physical safety, well being Home as
protection from the elements Vitamins and good
food for health Exercise machines/gym
memberships to look good Eating out at
restaurants for fun Artwork to inspire us Clothes
to make us feel good about ourselves Music (CDs,
sound system) to entertain us TVs to keep us
informed visually about world events
feel
Entertainment?
Spiritual Growth?
Productivity?
Entertainment
Productivity?
9People less important than things Work too
much No time for family Dont read or educate
oneself Embarrassed by non-designer
clothes Prefer entertainment to education No time
for spiritual pursuits Cant let kids have fun in
fancy car Neglect children Feel bad about
ourselves if we dont have nice things Kids cant
use expensive computer In debt for fancy
car Admire people with expensive things rather
than people with strong values
10People less important than things Cant let kids
have fun in fancy car Neglect children No time
for family Kids cant use expensive computer Feel
bad about ourselves if we dont have nice
things Admire people with expensive things rather
than people with strong values Embarrassed by
non-designer clothes Work too much No time for
spiritual pursuits Dont read or educate
oneself In debt for fancy car Prefer
entertainment to education