What do we call the sentence in the introduction that gives the main idea of the whole essay?
Thesis Statement
Name one purpose of an introduction.
Hook the reader / introduce the topic / present the thesis
How many body paragraphs does a basic academic essay have?
3
What should each body paragraph start with?
Topic sentence
What type of introduction starts general and becomes more specific until it reaches the thesis?
Funnel introduction
Which introduction gives dates, events, or context to help the reader understand the topic?
Historical background introduction
What mistake happens when a thesis is too narrow?
Not enough to support in the body paragraphs
Here is a topic: Online learning improves access to education. Write one surprising statistic sentence you could use as a hook.
More than 90% of universities now provide online courses that allow students to study from anywhere.
Improve this thesis so it isn’t too broad: Technology is very important in the world today.
Technology plays a vital role in healthcare, education, and communication in modern society.
Thesis: Fast fashion is harmful. What controlling idea could make it stronger?
Fast fashion is harmful because it creates pollution and exploits workers.
What does a controlling idea do in a topic sentence?
Shows the direction of the paragraph or essay
What is the job of a conclusion?
Restate the thesis and wrap up the essay
Create one sentence of historical background for this topic: The danger of smoking.
Since the early 1900s, doctors have warned the public about the harmful chemicals in cigarettes.
Give one example of a surprising statistic sentence for this topic: Sleep deprivation among students.
Nearly 60% of students sleep less than 6 hours a night, which harms their concentration and memory.
Topic: The benefits of reading fiction. Write a topic sentence that could appear later in the body paragraphs.
Reading fiction improves imagination and creativity in young people.
