EXAMPLES OF MAIN IDEA SENTENCES

  1. The three drugs which cause the most serious threat to the health of Americans are alcohol, nicotine, and amphetamines.

  2. A modern American woman must play three roles: wife, homemaker, and breadwinner.

  3. American automobiles are a better buy than foreign automobiles because the American cars are cheaper to buy, safer to drive, and easier to repair.

  4. More and more people are connecting to the Internet because of the entertainment it provides, the educational resources it makes available, and the convenience it offers for transacting business.

  5. Crime in America is reduced when criminals are given stiffer prison terms, the public is educated about how to prevent crime, and law abiding citizens are permitted to carry concealed weapons.

  6. A person can have a safe outing on a pleasure boat by carrying the proper equipment, by checking the weather forecast before leaving, and by operating the boat in a responsible way.

Each of points listed in the main idea sentence would then become a major topic of development in the essay and would be designated by a Roman numeral in the outline.
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