You Want to Get A Job

1
You Want to Get A Job

• Name 3 Things About Yourself That Would Convince
  Your Future Boss You Deserve to Get That Job!

2
The Thesis Statement

• 9th Grade English/Social Studies

3
What is a thesis statement?

• Its complete thought that explains in some
  detail what you expect to write about. You may
  use one or more sentences to preview the ideas of
  the supporting paragraphs.
• It takes a stand rather than announces a subject
• (Its not In this paper I am writing about
  George Washington)
• A thesis statement is narrow/specific, rather
  than broad. If the thesis statement is
  sufficiently narrow, it can be fully supported
  (Brunsvold).
• For example Hannah Montana is the greatest
  singer this century! Whats wrong with this?

4
Exactly!

• Its too broad! Do you know all the singers of
  this century and do you really want to research
  all of them? You want to narrow your thesis
  statement so that you will be able to fully
  support your assertion.

5
What is a thesis statement?

• It has one main point rather than several main
  points. More than one point may be too difficult
  for the reader to understand and the writer to
  support (Brunsvold).
• The thesis statement is typically located at the
  end of your opening paragraph. (The opening
  paragraph serves to set the tone for your paper
  and why you are writing about the topic)

6
How do you make a good thesis statement?

• A good preliminary/tentative thesis will help you
  focus your search for information about your
  topic. But don't rush! You must do a lot of
  background reading before you know enough about a
  subject to identify key or essential questions
  that you want to write about. You may not know
  how you stand on an issue until you have examined
  and thought about your topic. You will likely
  begin your research with a working (preliminary
  or starter) thesis which you will continue to
  refine until you are certain of where the
  evidence leads.

7
How do you make a good thesis statement?

• You can think of your thesis as a map or a guide
  both for yourself and your audience, so it might
  be helpful to draw a chart or picture of your
  ideas and how theyre connected before you get
  started.

8
How do you make a good thesis statement?

• Again, as you write and revise your paper, it is
  okay to change your thesis statementsometimes
  you dont discover what you really want to say
  about a topic until you have started (or
  finished) writing! Just make sure that your
  final thesis statement accurately communicates
  what will happen in your paper.

9
How do you make a good thesis statement?

• Simple equations for a thesis might look
  something like this
• Take a specific topic (like _________)
• (then add)
• Attitude/Angle/Argument for example, I feel
  (attitude) as a supporter of _the topic_
  (angle), because____(argument your reasons)
• Thesis Statement
• Or to put it another way
• What you plan to argue
• How you plan to argue it
• Thesis

10
Thesis Statement, cont.

• How do you know if you've got a solid starting
  thesis? Try these five tests
• Does the thesis  inspire a reader to ask, "How?"
  or Why?" or I want to learn more?
• Would a reasonable reader NOT respond with "Duh!"
  or "So what?" or "Gee, no kidding!" or "Who
  cares?"
• Does the thesis  avoid general phrasing and/or
  sweeping words such as "all" or "none" or
  "every"?
• Does the thesis lead the reader toward the topic
  sentences (the subtopics needed to prove your
  thesis located in your other paragraphs)?
• Can the thesis be explained in the required
  length of the paper or project? (2-3 pages
  academic, 4-5 pages AP)
• If you cannot answer "YES" to these questions,
  what changes must you make in order for your
  thesis to pass these tests?

11
AGAIN, REMEMBER!!!!!!

• You can revise your thesis statement whenever you
  want to while you are writing your essay.
  Writers often discover what their real purpose
  and point is in the process of putting their
  thoughts into words and then reading what theyve
  written!

12
Sample Thesis Statements

• Sample Thesis Statements Remember You Have to
  Prove What You Say in Your Final Paper!
• Best There is no excuse for e-coli
  contamination considering the modern technology
  available to us now.
• Good - E-coli contamination should not happen
  with the modern technology available to us now.
• Bad E coli contamination will never happen
  again.
• Why is the 3rd one a bad thesis statement?
•  
•  
•  
•  

13
Sample Thesis Statements, cont.

•  Good - The causes of the Civil War were
  economic, social, and political.
• Bad The Civil War was a war between the north
  and the south.
• Why is the 2nd one a bad thesis statement?

14
Sample Thesis Statement, cont.

• Good - The Simpsons represents one of the
  greatest animated shows in television history
  because of the length of time the show has been
  on, the number of awards its won, and the
  millions of dollars of merchandising spent on it
  each year.
•  
• Bad Every Family Guy episode is the best
  television show ever.
•  
• Why is the 2nd one a bad thesis statement?

15
Sample Thesis Statement, cont.

• Good - Hair styles often symbolize reaction or
  compliance to cultural, religious or social
  values.
• Bad The Mohawk look began in the late 1970s,
  early 1980s.
• Why is the 2nd one a bad thesis statement?

16
Thesis Statement

• http//owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/general/gl_
  thesis.html

17
Your Assignment

• DUE A/Blue Day November 30th
• B/Black Day December 1st

• Write a 3 sentence thesis paragraph with the
  following
• 1st sentence introduction of the topic by
  telling us why you chose it (2 points)
• 2nd sentence short one sentence history of the
  topic (since this is a history class!) (2 points)
• 3rd sentence your thesis sentence (4 points)
• After you finish your paragraph for the remaining
  two points put down which category your project
  will go under what are the categories again
  look at your Social Science Fair Handout or
  click here!

18
For Example
I have liked the New York Yankees every since I
went to my first game on Fathers Day weekend,
1981. The Yankees hold the record for the most
number of World Series Championships. I think
the Yankees are the best major league baseball
team due to the variety of records they have
broken throughout their long history. (Category
Recreation, Arts, and Entertainment)
19
Works Cited
Brunsvold, Libby. Thesis Statement. Literacy
Education Online 14 Oct. 2003 02 Nov. 06
lthttp//leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/thesistatem
ent. Htmlgt. What is a Thesis? 2 Nov 06
lthttp//mciunix.mciu.k12.pa.us/spjvweb/thesis.htm
lgt.
20
The End