thesisstatementtopicsentencePPT课件

1、Thesis statement (中心论点主题句中心论点主题句)第1页/共36页Whats a thesis statement?A thesis statement is a specific message about a limited subject. A thesis statement is the main idea of an essay. It is often a point you want to argue or support in an essay. So , the thesis statement explains to a reader the main i

2、dea of the essay, and the writers opinion or attitude on that idea. 第2页/共36页Thesis Statement A thesis statement is a complete sentencethat contains one main idea. This idea controlsthe content of the entire essay. A thesisstatement that contains subpoints also helps areader know how the essay will b

3、e organized. Look at the introductory paragraph below. Seeif you can identify the thesis statement andsubpoints.第3页/共36页There are three reasons that stand out for my becoming a teacher - love for the English language, my innate interest in how people learn, and my desire to help other people .Thesis

4、 StatementThe thesis statement contains the main idea that controls the content of the essay.Subpoints in the thesis help the reader know how the essay will be organized第4页/共36页Thesis Statementstates the main idea of the essay in a complete sentence, not in a question.states an opinion or attitude o

5、n a topic. It doesnt just state the topic, itself.often lists subtopics (specific & focused).does not directly announce your main topic.Be clear, strong, easy to find第5页/共36页Main Idea in a Complete Sentence Since the thesis statement is the mainstatement for the entire essay, it should expressa comp

6、lete thought and be a complete sentence.The thesis statement is asserting an opinion oridea, so it should not be a question. Look at theexamples below to see how they can be madeinto thesis statements.第6页/共36页Main Idea in a Complete SentenceThe sport of cross-country running.Why do I want to be a te

7、acher?This is not a complete sentence.The sport of cross-country running has allowed me to get in better shape and meet some interesting people.Being a teacher is a great profession, because it allows me to work with students and be creative.This is a question, not a statement.Thesis StatementThesis

8、 Statement第7页/共36页 Good thesis statements often express awriters opinion or attitude on a particular topic.This makes the thesis statement more specificand requires the writer to explain or provehis/her opinion in the essay. Look at theexamples below.States an Opinion or Attitude第8页/共36页States an Op

9、inion or AttitudeI learned to play many musical instruments when I was young. This would not be considered a good thesis statement because it is only expressing a fact. It doesnt give the writers opinion or attitude on playing musical instruments. This thesis statement doesnt give the writer very mu

10、ch to explain or prove in his/her essay. Learning to play many musical instruments when I was young helped me to become a more intelligent and well-rounded person. This thesis statement is much better because it expresses how the writer feels about the experience of learning to play musical instrume

11、nts. This thesis statement requires the writer to explain how and why playing a musical instrument made him/her a better person.第9页/共36页 You can make your thesis statement morespecific by including subtopics or supportingideas. By doing this, you give your reader aclear idea of what will follow in t

12、he bodyparagraphs of your essay.Subtopics第10页/共36页SubtopicsCountryside schools meet with some serious problems. No subtopics are named in this thesis statement. Some of the most serious problems in todays countryside schools are the overcrowded classrooms, the low percentage of trained teachers, and

13、 the lack of resources such as textbooks for students. This statement names three subtopics. Can you find all of the subtopics?subtopic #2subtopic #1subtopic #3第11页/共36页Another Example The large influx of people to California has had major effects on the state. No subtopics are named in this thesis

14、statement. The large influx of people to California has had major effects on the ability of the state to provide housing, electricity, and jobs for all residents. This statement names three subtopics. Can you find all of the subtopics?subtopic #1subtopic #2subtopic #3第12页/共36页 In thesis statements,

15、you should avoid usingstatements like, “This essay will discuss” or“Im going to write about”. Try to write athesis statement that captures your readersattention without announcing your main topicand stating the obvious. Look at the examplesbelow.Dont State the Obvious第13页/共36页Dont State the Obvious

16、In this essay, I am going to discuss the effects of long-term drug abuse. Long-term drug use can have disastrous effects on ones marriage, career, and health.第14页/共36页Exercises 1. Narow the folllowing general subjects down to thesis statements. Example Topic: Selecting a Major Thesis 1: Selecting a

17、major is the most important decision a student makes in college. Thesis 2: Changing majors is often a healthy act. 第15页/共36页 Topic: Alcoholism Thesis 1: Thesis 2: 第16页/共36页 Topic: Alcoholism Thesis 1: Alcoholism is increasing becoming a womans diease. Thesis 2: Alcoholism is an overated health probl

18、em in this country. 第17页/共36页 Topic: Cartoons Thesis 1: Thesis 2: 第18页/共36页 Topic: Cartoons Thesis 1: Cartoons are as popular with college students as with children. Thesis 2: Children are attracted to the homor in cartoons more than the violence in them. 第19页/共36页More Practice 1. Revise the followi

19、ng thesis statement to make them more specific and restricted. Example Thesis: Divorce is a healthy act. Revised thesis: Divorce can be, despite its initial devastation, like the first cut of the surgeons life, a step toward new health and a good life. 第20页/共36页 (1) Thesis: My parents are on bad ter

20、ms. Revised thesis: (2) I dislike the apartment building I am living in. Revised thesis: 第21页/共36页Topic sentence A topic sentence is the main idea of a paragraph, just as the thesis statement is the central idea of an essay. A good topic sentence is specific and well focuced, guiding the entire para

21、graph. 第22页/共36页 I need many items to be ready for a safe, enjoyable hike. I need a water bottle for the hike in case I get thirsty. A sweater is useful if it gets cold. A compass will help me go in the right direction. Sandwiches will be an easy-to-carry snack. I can use a camera to take pictures o

22、f unusual or attractive places.Writing a topic sentence第23页/共36页Requirements of a Good Topic SentenceTopic sentence should be a complete sentence with a complete meaning. (主题句必须是意义完整的一个完整句子。主题句必须是意义完整的一个完整句子。) How to read a novel. Anyone can learn how to read a novel. (X)()第24页/共36页Topic sentence sh

23、ould not be too general and should be clear in meaning. (主题句内容不能太泛，必须内容清楚。主题句内容不能太泛，必须内容清楚。) Television is very important. Television plays an educational role in daily life. (poor)(better)Requirements of a Good Topic Sentence第25页/共36页Topic sentence should have practical content. (主题句内容必须具体。主题句内容必须具

24、体。)To improve reading ability, one needs toacquire some reading skills. To improve English proficiency, one needto acquire some skills. (poor)(better)Requirements of a Good Topic Sentence第26页/共36页Exercises 1. Decide which sentence in each pair would make a better topic sentence for a paragraph. (1)

25、a. We went to the show last night. b. We had a terrible time at the show last night. 第27页/共36页 (2) a. Norris is the brightest student in our biology class. b. Norris is enrolled in a biology class. (3) a. The longest three works of my life were when our aunt visited last summer. b. Our aunt visited

26、us for three weeks last summer. 第28页/共36页 (4) a. I had my first date with Clarence last spring. b. My first date with Clarence last spring was a disaster. 第29页/共36页2. Fill in each of the following passages with a proper topic sentence. (1) . In the winter, he sleeps with six blankets over him. When

27、he goes to a football game, he wears thermal underwear, numerous sweaters, a ski parka, gloves, five pairs of socks, and army boots. He sets his apartment thermostat at eighty degrees, and he keeps the car heater on until June. You can always recognize Herman by the red knit cap he wears pulled down

28、 over his ears. Nothing bothers Herman more than being cold. 第30页/共36页(2) .The weatern sky was purplish pink, and it was streaked with gray wisps of cloud moving slowly across the horizon. The colors deepened as the light slowly faded, the purple dominating the pink and the gray wisps turning to long black gashes. As the sun sank into the ocean, it left a thin golden line separating the water and the air. I watched the sky until the last traces if th