Thesis to Topic Sentences

Make sure your thesis forms an argument that you can prove using the novel, and a related text.

So your thesis is your ONE sentence answer to the question – in a manner of speaking (it may be more than one). Each subsequent Topic sentence is used to prove your thesis to be true.

Your topic sentences will come from this thesis – topic sentences breaks your argument up into smaller bite size pieces, which you can argue out – they will begin each of your body paragraphs, and provide an indepth discussion of your overall argument.

Once you have your topic sentence, you choose evidence from the text to prove the topic sentence to be true, hence proving your thesis.

Here are some sample Topic Sentences: Warning – some need clarification

• Living in a global village can affect an individual’s sense of identity because they are exposed to … (MAKE SURE ‘GLOBAL VILLAGE HAS BEEN DEFINED)
  
• An Individuals’ attitudes to life and relationships can be influenced when faced with…..
  
• A global community offers the opportunity for individuals to experience a sense of freedom, free from prejudices and discrimination.
• Individuals respond differently to living in a global context, some take advantage of the situation…. (WHAT IS MEANT BY GLOBAL CONTEXT – CLARIFY)
  
• The global village can place unnecessary pressures on an individual, this results from a heightened human awareness…. (WHAT ASPECT OF A GLOBAL VILLAGE MIGHT PRESENT PRESSURES, BE SPECIFIC)
  
• The important role of the mass media in communicating information to the world enables an exploration into the self interests that drive it.
• Individuals coexist with differing values, attitudes and beliefs within the global village, sometimes affecting social and moral choices…. (IS THIS REFERRING TO MULTICULTURAL ISSUES THAT ARISE WITHIN A GLOBAL VILLAGE – CLARIFY)
  

Topic Sentences: 12STD1 (2010)

Original Sentence ideas reworked:

1. Living in a global village can affect an individual’s perspective on people around them (This is limiting change to-)
   • Living in a global village can affect an individual’s perspective on others and the world. (IS THIS BECAUSE THE GLOBAL VILLAGE CHALLENGES INDIVIDUAL IDEOLOGIES BECAUSE CULTURES COINCIDE? – MAKE SURE CLARIFICATION IS MADE)
     
2. Attitudes of an individual are affected by the GV under certain circumstances (again requires more explanation, keep it broad. Change to-)
   • Attitudes of an individual are affected by experiences within a GV, (AGAIN CLARIFY –  IS THIS BECAUSE OF A CLASH OF CULTURES OR AN ENRICHMENT FROM DIFFERENT CULTURES?)
     
3. The role of the media dictates the major issues within a GV. (The role of the media needs to be reworked to make a better sentence)
   • The media plays an important role in dictating major issues within a GV, it is the medium which creates a human awareness, however an awareness on the ‘right’ values (i.e those of the greater community) (DOES THE MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY CONSTRUCT THE GLOBAL VILLAGE DUE TO ITS ABILITY TO CREATE GLOBAL AWARENESS?..)
     
4. The role of the media dictates how the world views emerging forces in the GV. (The role of the media needs to be reworked to make a better sentence)
   • The media is a powerful tool in dictating how the world views emerging forces on the global stage.
     

• The role of the media becomes a driving force for individuals and global awareness; and technology is the means by which globalisation is realised.
• Globalisation is inherently motivated by the use of technology and media.
• Within a GV (YOU MAY USE THE PHRASE GLOBAL VILLAGE HERE BECAUSE THE FOLLOWING PHRASES DEFINE WHAT YOU MEAN BY THE PHRASE ‘GLOBAL VILLAGE’) individuals are exposed to different influences either through our extended senses or a new network of relationships that in turn may be the catalyst for a new direction regarding attitudes, values and beliefs.

More topics – 12SDT3 D’Souza

• Global village has the power to manipulate the beliefs, values and attitudes and hence significantly impact on the individual. HOW? NEXT SENTENCE SHOULD ANSWER THIS QUESTION THAT IS RAISED
• The role of the media is highlighted as a significant force in making people relate to each other. IN WHAT WAY? GIVE A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE
  
• The global village can change individual attitudes. – CLARIFY in what way
• The leadership of one individual affects the global context people live in positively or negatively. WHAT DOES POSITIVELY MEAN? WHAT DOES NEGATIVELY MEAN? SO YOU NEXT SENTENCE SHOULD ANSWER THE QUESTION IN WHAT WAY MAY IT BE POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE, WITHOUT REPEATING THESE WORDS.
• A significant impact of living in the global village is the loss of cultural identity ELABORATE
• Characters change and adapt often through fear or compassion. THIS MUST BE THEN LINKED IN WITH THE CONCEPT
• Characters are greatly affected by politics and the media. WHY? IS THE MEDIA A POWERFUL TOOL IN DICTATING IDEOLOGIES?
  

Make your own topic sentences are based on your thesis and begin getting a skeletal overview of your essay.

Eg:

• TOPIC SENTENCE  for Paragraph 1

Living in a global village can affect an individual’s sense of identity because they are exposed to … GO ON TO DEFINE GLOBAL VILLAGE AND CLARIYFY WHAT ASPECTS OF IT MAY AFFECT IDENTITY – IS IT IMMERSION INTO A NEW CULTURE, AND THUS A SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF THEIR OWN CULTURAL TRADITIONS?

– 1 or 2 Examples from the novel used to prove this point

– Example from the related text

• TOPIC SENTENCE for paragraph 2

A global community offers the opportunity for individuals to experience a sense of freedom, free from prejudices and discrimination. IS THIS FREEDOM AVAILABLE IN ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD? DOES THE DOMINANT CULTURAL IDEOLOGIES BEING EXPERIENCED EXPOSE INDIVIDUALS TO A NEW OUTLOOK, OR FORCE THEM TO RE-ASSESS PREVIOUS HELD BELIEFS?

– 1 or 2 Examples from the novel used to prove this point

– Example from the related text

etc

• Remember: The rubric points are all interlinked, so you can’t talk about them in isolation.
  
• Structure your essay so your argument flows smoothly, linking your thesis ideas where appropriate.