Transcript Thesis & Topic Sentences

Thesis &
Topic Sentences
Things Fall Apart
ESSAY OUTLINE
 INTRODUCTION
 BODY PARAGRAPH 1
 BODY PARAGRAPH 2
 BODY PARAGRAPH 3
 CONCLUSION
Introduction
 Thesis
 What + Why
 What is the answer to the prompt?
 Why do you know it?
 This should include a reference to each of your body paragraphs
Thesis Statement
Prompt: How has your theme developed throughout the
novel, Things Fall Apart?
What: Chinua Achebe emphasizes that strong communication is necessary for
healthy relationships
Why:
1. Okonkwo doesn’t communicate with his clan about his reservations about
killing Ikemefuna, resulting in Ikemefuna’s death (ends relationship)
2. Okonkwo doesn’t communicate his favoritism towards Ezinma, resulting in a
relationship that never is able to occur (lack of relationship)
3. Okonkwo doesn’t strongly communicate his feelings about Nwoye’s
decision to convert to Christianity, resulting in a loss of his son (ends relationship)
Chinua Achebe emphasizes that strong communication is necessary for healthy
relationships through Okonkwo’s interactions with Ikemefuna, Ezinma, and Nwoye.
Body Paragraphs
 The body paragraphs of an essay aim to prove or argue
your thesis statement in detail
LAYOUT OF OUR ESSAY…
Thesis Statement
Chinua Achebe emphasizes that strong communication is necessary for
healthy relationships through Okonkwo’s interactions with Ikemefuna,
Ezinma, and Nwoye.
Ikemefuna’s murder
Body Paragraph 1
Not telling Ezinma
Okonkwo’s true feelings
Body Paragraph 2
Not telling Nwoye how
Okonkwo truly felt about
his conversion
Body Paragraph 3
Body Paragraph Outline
1: Topic Sentence
2: Lead in/evidence
3: Commentary (analysis)
4: Commentary (analysis)
5: Lead in/evidence #2
Topic Sentence
The topic sentence …
 Explains what this specific paragraph will prove or argue
 Comes from the thesis statement
For OUR essay…
What is our thesis statement?
Chinua Achebe emphasizes that strong communication is necessary for
healthy relationships through Okonkwo’s interactions with Ikemefuna,
Ezinma, and Nwoye.
What argument is the first body paragraph defending?
Ikemefuna’s murder
What should our topic sentence be?
Chinua Achebe emphasizes that strong communication is necessary for healthy
relationships through Okonkwo’s interactions with Ikemefuna.
Our Sample Topic Sentences
Thesis Statement
Chinua Achebe emphasizes that strong communication is necessary for
healthy relationships through Okonkwo’s interactions with Ikemefuna,
Ezinma, and Nwoye.
Chinua Achebe
emphasizes that strong
communication is
necessary for healthy
relationships through…
Chinua Achebe
emphasizes that strong
communication is
necessary for healthy
relationships through…
Chinua Achebe
emphasizes that strong
communication is
necessary for healthy
relationships through…
Okonkwo’s interactions
with Ikemefuna.
Okonkwo’s interactions
with Ezinma.
Okonkwo’s interactions
with Nwoye.
Body Paragraph 1
Body Paragraph 2
Body Paragraph 3
Topic Sentence
“Academic Transformation”
What is core topic sentence?
Chinua Achebe emphasizes that strong communication is necessary for
healthy relationships through Okonkwo’s interactions with Ikemefuna.
Trick One: Flip it around from end to beginning:
Okonkwo’s interactions with Ikemefuna prove that strong communication is
necessary for a healthy relationship.
Trick Two: Change key words:
Chinua Achebe emphasizes that strong communication is necessary for
healthy relationships through Okonkwo’s interactions with Ikemefuna.
Achebe emphasizes that clear communication is critical to create healthy
connections through Okonkwo’s experiences with Ikemefuna.