Thesis and Topic Sentences

1
Thesis and Topic Sentences

• How does transcendentalism teach us to model
  ourselves after nature in order to become
  self-reliant individuals who, in turn, are able
  to fully and positively contribute to society?

2
Thesis

• A thesis is your ONE-SENTENCE answer to the
  prompt.
• Without it, I WILL HAVE NO IDEA what you will be
  proving in your essay.
• If you turn in a paper without a thesis, I will
  not read past the introductory paragraph.

3
How does transcendentalism teach us to model
ourselves after nature in order to become
self-reliant individuals who, in turn, are able
to fully and positively contribute to society?

• Good
• People should turn to nature as their role model
  to improve the quality of life for oneself and
  others.
• Better
• Using nature as a role model, people can improve
  the quality of life for oneself and others by
  living simply, making the best of what they have,
  and refraining from passing judgment on others.
• Best
• According to Transcendentalist writers such as
  Emerson and Thoreau, nature, since it exists
  peacefully and simply, can teach human beings to
  live simply, to make the best of what we have,
  and to refrain from passing judgment on others,
  and therefore, we can learn true self-reliance
  which creates not only a better individual but
  ultimately a better society.

• Good
• Answers the question, but without specifics.
• Better
• Defines the relationship
• States how nature is a role model
• Best
• Answers the question
• Discusses how transcendentalists view nature
• States how Nature is a role model
• Explains why we should follow Nature as a role
  model for the good of society

4
Topic Sentences

• Topic sentences are like mini thesis statements.
  They narrow the thesis down to one topic to be
  discussed in the paragraph.
• A more specific and insightful topic sentences
  will result in stronger analysis specificity
  forces the writer to look deeply at one topic.
• Thus, the quality of the topic sentence affects
  the quality of the analysis!

5
According to Transcendentalist writers such as
Emerson and Thoreau, Nature, since it exists
peacefully and simply, can teach human beings to
live simply, to make the best of what we have,
and to refrain from passing judgment on others,
and therefore, we can learn true self-reliance
which creates not only a better individual but
ultimately a better society.

• Good
• Transcendentalists suggest that people should
  simplify their lives.
• Better
• By limiting the number of focal points, people
  can both simplify their lives and create a more
  efficient society.
• Best
• Simplification of priorities allows both
  individuals and societal institutions to clear
  their minds, slow down, and fully explore and
  appreciate each event, therefore getting the most
  out of the experience before moving on to the
  next experience.

• Good
• Narrows the topic.
• Better
• Narrows the topic
• States how one should simplify
• Best
• Narrows the topic
• States how one should simplify
• Explains why one should simplify