Balancing Ideas Compiled by Erica Ellsworth, MA

Ideas• In writing, you will be building ideas in three

ways:– Sentence level– Paragraph level– Essay level

Sentence Level• Nouns signal ideas• In sentences, nouns will guide the ideas

forward

Technology is more than computers.

The focus is Technology. When the noun causes the verb to act, that noun is the main idea of the sentence.

Computers is also a noun. Because of its placement in the sentence, it is supporting the idea, not acting as the main idea.

Paragraph Level• Topic sentences control ideas in the paragraph.• The first sentence is the topic sentence.

Working dogs provide a type of non-machine technology in law enforcement and fire science.

Nouns: dogs, non-machine, technology, law enforcement, fire science

Main idea: Working Dogs

Supporting Ideas: non machine technology, law enforcement, fire science. The supporting ideas limit the main idea and gives focus to the paragraph.

Essay Level• Thesis statements control ideas in essays• Thesis statements contain–Main idea– Stance concerning main idea

In criminal justice and fire science, technology is more than just gadgets.

Main idea: Technology

Stance: more than gadgets

Limit: criminal justice and fire science

The Balancing Act• To balance ideas . . . .– Use a noun to show the idea– One idea per sentence– One main idea per paragraph– One main idea and a stance for the

thesis statement