Content
Choosing a topic: broad vs. narrow topic
-Topic Sentences vs. Thesis Statement
-Essay organization
-From paragraph to essay
-Topic Sentences vs. Thesis Statement
-Essay organization
-From paragraph to essay
Learn English WritingMost ESL students learning to write an English passage have a hard time understanding the purpose of a thesis statement.
Here’s a simple approach: one thesis sentence pattern suitable for intermediate+ level students.
Part 1. What’s a Thesis?A thesis has a few important features:
Bad Thesis ExamplesI asked a group of students to write an essay. The subject was poverty. I gave them a question to start their thinking:
Part 2. How to Write a Thesis StatementHere is a four-step process to write a thesis sentence using the above example about poverty.
First, choose a narrow topic. Poverty is a big idea. Be specific. So let’s pick an area. Poor villages in Africa is a good start.
Second, find the key parts of the topic. In this case, the question is, “What is the best way to stop poverty in a poor African village?” There are two parts in the question:
Here’s a simple approach: one thesis sentence pattern suitable for intermediate+ level students.
Part 1. What’s a Thesis?A thesis has a few important features:
- usually one sentence
- tells the reader the main idea
- is the focus of the essay or story
Bad Thesis ExamplesI asked a group of students to write an essay. The subject was poverty. I gave them a question to start their thinking:
- What is the best way to stop poverty?
- “My essay is about poor people.”
- “My essay is about Iran.”
Part 2. How to Write a Thesis StatementHere is a four-step process to write a thesis sentence using the above example about poverty.
First, choose a narrow topic. Poverty is a big idea. Be specific. So let’s pick an area. Poor villages in Africa is a good start.
Second, find the key parts of the topic. In this case, the question is, “What is the best way to stop poverty in a poor African village?” There are two parts in the question:
- a) stop poverty and b) the best way.
- a) how can we stop poverty in a poor African village? and b) why is it the best way?
- HOW (your idea about what to do) because WHY (the benefit or reason)
- Donating money to World Vision is a great way to stop poverty in poor African villages because this organization helps children by giving them food, clothing and shelter.
- Helping people in poor African villages start their own businesses is a good way to stop poverty because it builds independence, creates wealth that stays in the local communities and reduces their need for donations from charities.
- the way to stop poverty
- why it is a good idea