Easy Steps to a Great Thesis Statement

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Easy Steps to a Great Thesis Statement

• Get out your notes on the writing process

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You know how to read the promptYou know how to
annotate your textNow lets start
writing!First thing you MUST do is write a good
thesis statement
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Whats a thesis statement?

• UMMMM, Its THE most important thing in your
  whole essay!
• It is an extension of the ISSUE/SUBJECT you
  identified in TIP

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What is a thesis statement?

• The prompt you are given asks a specific
  question, right? (the answer is YES! it
  inspires a response to a topic so think of it
  as a question)
• Your answer to that question, in a clear, concise
  sentence, is the thesis statement.
• The thesis statement packs in all the information
  that you will talk about in your essay (what the
  prompt has told you to do) into one sentence

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WHAT IS A THESIS STATEMENT?

• So, your thesis statement should inform the
  reader what the task, issue and purpose is!
• Arent you glad you paid attention and took notes
  on Wednesday???

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What does the thesis statement do?

• It contains the essays topic and your viewpoint
  (if the prompt asks you to express a viewpoint)
• Tells your reader what the essay will be about
• Usually comes at the end of the introduction
• Only one sentence
• Must be a complete sentence
• Everything in the essay must support the thesis
• Introduction paragraph should follow this format
• Attention getter (commonly known as a hook)
• Introduce the topic
• State the thesis

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Thesis statement verification(How do I know Ive
written a good thesis statement?)

• Does this sentence explain a topic, and/or
  analyze an issue?
• Is it clear and specific?
• Could this sentence stand alone without the rest
  of the introduction paragraph and still make
  sense?
• Did I answer the question that the prompt
  proposed?
• Does it have information that I will be able to
  build on in the body paragraph?
• If you answered yes to these questions, then you
  probably have a good thesis statement!

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There are 3 kinds of thesis statements

1. The Working Thesis
2. The list
3. The umbrella

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The Working Thesis (thesis in progress)

• This is used to get you, the writer, going, but
  it will not appear in the final essay.
• Start off with something like, In this essay, I
  will. . . or I am going to argue that. . . and
  then insert the topic and point of the essay.
• Example In this essay, I am going to talk about
  global warming and try to persuade students that
  there are things they can do to reduce it.
• This isnt a strong thesis, but its a direction
  to help you get started.
• To change a working thesis into one you can use
  in your essay, chop off the announcement
  portion of the sentence.

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The LIST

• Contains essays topic, point, and three
  supporting reasons
• Example According to TDOT, to reduce the number
  of highway fatalities topic and point, our
  country could purposeto inform enforce the
  national law that designates twenty-one as the
  legal minimum age to drink, set up check points
  on major holidays, and take away licenses from
  convicted drunk drivers three reasons.

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The UMBRELLA

• Contains essays topic, point, and alludes to
  reasons why the reader should believe you.
• Do not directly state the supporting reasons, but
  instead allude to them.
• Example Although thought to be humane and
  necessary, animal testing topic for medical and
  cosmetic purposes does not live up to its
  promises point and reasons.
• Do NOT use language like, There are many reasons
  people dont like chocolate ice cream.

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Difference Between a List Umbrella Thesis
Statement

• List Although MTSU may offer rigorous courses,
  each student can be successful as long as they
  study, receive tutoring, and meet with their
  instructors.
• Umbrella MTSU can be a challenging school, but
  all students can be successful.

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Thesis Donts

• Dont announce your thesis In this essay, I am
  going to tell you(this is only for a working
  thesis)
• Dont confuse your reader Just make sure that
  the topic and point are clear.
• Dont be vague Words like good, bad,
  right, and wrong, dont convey specific
  meaning.
• Cannot be a question Dont you think animal
  testing is inhumane?
• Does not give the point of the paper.
• Leaves it open for readers to fill in the blank.

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Thesis statement verification (again)

• Does this sentence explain a topic, and/or
  analyze an issue?
• Is it clear and specific?
• Could this sentence stand alone without the rest
  of the body paragraph and still make sense?
• Did I answer the question that the prompt
  proposed?
• Does it have information that I will be able to
  build on in the body paragraph?
• If you answered yes to these questions, then you
  probably have a good thesis statement!

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Model learning activity

• Please read Its Not You, Its Me by Annie
  Murphy Paul andThe Secret to Raising Smart Kids
  by Carol S. Dweck.
• After you have read the texts, write an essay
  that analyzes how Dweck and Paul each use and
  refine the meaning of the term intelligence over
  the course of their articles. Be sure to also
  discuss the similarities and differences between
  their definitions.
• Cite strong and thorough evidence from both texts
  to support your analysis. Follow the conventions
  of standard written English. Write your essay in
  the space provided in the next pages.
• Based on TIP, what is the overall question this
  prompt is asking? Be very clear and specific?

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Creating a Thesis Statement what is the
question the prompt is asking?

• 1. Determine essays topic (ISSUE)
• Example How two authors define the term
  intelligence
• 2. Determine what kind of paper you are writing
  and what kind of thesis statement you need to
  use (PURPOSE).
• Example informative/analysis
• 3. Determine how you will construct your thesis
  (TASK what it needs to include)
• Example
• Explain how the authors define the term
• Compare and contrast the two definitions
• 4. What question does the prompt ask, overall?
• Example What are the similarities and
  differences in the way the two authors define the
  term intelligence and how do these authors define
  the term in their text

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Now answer that question and that is your thesis
statement!!!!

• Answer
• Annie Murphy Paul and Carol S. Dweck convey the
  term intelligence in varying ways whereas Paul
  states that intelligence is a skill that one is
  born with, Dweck takes the position that
  intelligence is a skill to be learned.

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Model Learning Activity

• You have now read Should the Driving Age Be
  Raised to 18? In this text, two points of view
  are presented, one by Representative John
  DAmico, and the other by Alex Koroknay-Palicz.
• Write an essay that analyzes the two different
  points of view, explaining how each is conveyed
  in the text. Be sure to cite evidence from the
  text to support your analysis. Follow the
  conventions of standard written English.

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• Question What are the two different points of
  view that the authors present and how does each
  author present and explain his POV?

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Now you do it with your prompt

• Read the article, Schools in Ferguson Area
• Prepare for an Emotional Opening Day.
• After reading, summarize in your own terms the
  advantages and disadvantages of discussing the
  happenings in Ferguson, Missouri in the
  classroom. Be sure to cite evidence from the text
  to support your summary. Follow the conventions
  of standard written English.

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Do the last one on your own

• Issue
• Purpose
• Task
• What is the question the prompt is asking?
• What is the answer?

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What question is the prompt asking?

• Write it down on a new sheet of paper

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Group activity

• Find three classmates to read your question and
  you read their question.
• Are your questions all similar?

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Todays graded assignment

• On your sheet of paper, write the question the
  prompt is asking, then write a PERFECT thesis
  statement for the prompt. Staple it to your
  annotated article and let me check it when you
  are finished.