Article: Every paragraph of your essay should have a main idea, point, or goal that you're trying to get across. The topic sentence will identify that main idea. For you to write good topic sentences, you need to know what your paragraphs are going to be about. An outline will help you do that. You don't have to write a formal outline using Roman numerals and the like. Even a loose, idea-based outline can help you know what you want to discuss. A thesis statement presents the main idea, goal, or argument of your essay. It may be an analytical thesis, such as "In King Lear, William Shakespeare uses the theme of fate to critique the religious beliefs of his era." Or, it may be a thesis that attempts to persuade the reader of something, such as "Public funding for education should be expanded." Topic sentences are like the mini-thesis statements of each paragraph. A topic sentence, unlike a thesis statement, doesn't have to present an argument. It can present a "preview" of what the paragraph will argue or discuss. If you are new to writing topic sentences, it can help to look at some examples. The Purdue OWL has several pages with sample topic sentences. UNC Chapel Hill has a helpful online handout on paragraph development that includes a "model" paragraph and explains how to develop your own, from topic sentence to conclusion. For example, a topic sentence could look like this: "In addition, increasing funding for public roads in Jackson County will improve local residents' quality of life." The rest of the sentences in this paragraph would relate to the main idea of public roads and how they will help benefit local residents. This is not as successful a topic sentence: "Increased funding for public roads in Jackson County has decreased traffic by 20%." While this is probably an interesting fact for your argument, it's too narrow for a topic sentence. The topic sentence has to direct the whole paragraph.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Write an essay outline. Understand the connection between thesis statements and topic sentences. Look at some examples.
Article: Break open each bean pod and remove the individual fava beans. Discard the empty shells when finished. Snap off the string/stem end of the pod, then peel the string away down the entire pod length. Use your fingers to pry open the new seam and pluck out the individual beans inside. You should be able to gather four to eight beans from each pod. The skins covering each bean also need to be removed. Do so by quickly steaming or blanching the beans until the skins shrivel up. Steam the beans in a steamer basket set over boiling water for roughly 1 minute. Let them cool, then peel or pop the beans out of their skins by applying light pressure to one end. Parboil/blanch the beans by submerging them in boiling water for 30 seconds. Transfer the beans to a bowl of ice water for another 30 seconds, then peel or pop them out of their skins. Place the oil in a large saucepan and set it on the stove over medium-high heat. Allow the oil to heat up for 30 to 60 seconds. Toss the diced onion into the oil and cook, stirring frequently, for 5 to 7 minutes. The onion should become more aromatic after the first few minutes. Continue cooking it until the pieces become notably soft and slightly translucent. Toss the four ingredients into the saucepan and stir until evenly combined with the onion. Allow the contents of the saucepan to sit over medium-high heat until the water begins a steady simmer. Cover the pan and reduce the heat to medium-low. Continue cooking the beans at a gentle simmer until they become very tender. You don't need to stir the beans as they cook, but if you want to stir them to prevent them from sticking to the bottom of the pan, only do so once or twice. Opening the pan too often could cause too much steam to escape and may increase the overall cooking time. Add the lemon juice to the saucepan and simmer, uncovered, for another 5 minutes. Taste the mixture after it simmers. Adjust the seasonings as desired to match your personal sense of taste. Pour the contents of the saucepan into a blender and puree until it becomes thick and smooth. Stop the blender and stir the puree with a spoon to make sure that the mixture is thoroughly mashed. You could also use a food processor instead of a blender during this step. Pour the fava bean puree into a bowl. Cover and chill the paste in your refrigerator, then enjoy it cold. You can use fava puree as a topping or dip. It can also be garnished with lemon wedges or fresh dill, if desired.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Remove the outer shell. Remove the inner skins. Heat the oil. Saute the onion. Add the beans, sugar, salt, and 3 cups (750 ml) of water. Simmer for 45 minutes. Add the lemon juice. Puree the mixture until smooth. Chill and serve.
Article: Although chlamydia often presents few symptoms in its early stages, it's important to be aware of any symptoms you may exhibit. Consult your doctor for a definitive diagnosis if you notice any signs of chlamydia, especially if you've engaged in unprotected sex. Both men and women can contract chlamydia and repeat infection is common. The early stage of a chlamydial infection often has little symptoms and even when signs are present, usually within 1 to 3 weeks after infection, they may be mild. Common symptoms of chlamydia are: painful urination, lower abdominal pain, vaginal discharge in women, discharge from the penis in men, painful sexual intercourse, bleeding between periods and after sex in women, or testicular pain in men. If you experience any symptoms of chlamydia, including discharge from your genitals, or a partner has revealed they have chlamydia, make an appointment to see your doctor. She will run tests and confirm a diagnosis and develop the best treatment plan for you. Tell your doctor about the symptoms you're experiencing, signs of chlamydia that you've noticed, as well as if you've had unprotected sex. If you've had chlamydia in the past and are experiencing a recurrence, contact your doctor to get a prescription. If your doctor suspects that you have chlamydia, she may order further medical examinations or tests. These simple screenings will help definitely diagnose the sexually transmitted disease and make it easier to develop a treatment plan. If you're a female, your doctor may swab the discharge from your cervix or vagina and submit the sample to a laboratory for testing. If you're a male, your doctor may insert a slim swab into the opening of your penis and swab the discharge from your urethra. She will then submit the sample to a laboratory for testing. If you've engaged in oral or anal sex, your doctor takes a swab of your mouth or anus for chlamydia testing. In some cases, a urine sample may detect a chlamydia infection.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Be aware of the symptoms and signs of chlamydia. Consult your doctor. Undergo medical examinations.