• Choose one of the broad topics from the list below. 
  • The Electoral College in the US
  • Learning to Speak another Language
  • Going to an Online University
  • Immigration
  • Art and Artists
  • Owning a Home
  • The Director’s Role in Filmmaking
  • Repairing a Car Engine
  • The Environment
  • Music
• Refine your chosen topic to something manageable; it is impossible, for example, to write all there is to know about music.
  • Too broad: Many musicians have had a great influence on history.
  • Refined: Beethoven’s accomplishments as a musician, his loss of hearing, and his continued influence on today’s music make him one of the finest composers of all time.
• Write a thesis statement that includes the refined topic + argument/assertion + 3-point map.

Example below.

Topic: Music

Refined Topic: Music is the best form of art.

Thesis Statement: Music is the best form of art because it is universal, easily created by anyone, and requires no external tool to create.

Topic Sentence with transition words:

• (Body Paragraph 1) First, music is universal and able to be found in any culture around the world
• (Body Paragraph 2) Furthermore, most people are able to sing, although there are different levels of being able to sing.
• (Body Paragraph 3) Finally, no external tools are required to make music which makes it more accessible than other types of art.