Thesis Statements

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Thesis Statements

• How to state your opinion wisely
• in the introduction.

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What is a thesis statement?

• Located at the end of the introductory paragraph,
  the thesis is the core statement and the main
  idea of the essay
• It directly answers the writing prompt question.
• It is an opinionated and complex statement.
• It includes sub-points the three elements
  supporting the authors main idea.

How interesting is this thesis?
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How big is the thesis statement?

• The thesis is essential because it maps the form
  and the substance of the essay.
• Without a thesis, an essay drifts into a series
  of meaningless observations.
• The thesis is to the essay as the bones are to
  the bodywithout either one, all thats left is a
  pile of shapeless blubber.

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Does the thesis answer the prompt?

• Which thesis answers the writing question?
• How do you react when you dont get your way?
• __1. When they dont get their way, some get
  angry, others get noisy, and still others get
  physical.
• __2. When I dont get my way, I tend to become
  quite angry, start yelling aloud, and then hit
  someone really hard.

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The thesis must answer the prompt!

• One thesis directly answers the question
• Question How do you react when you dont get
  your way?
• __1. When they dont get their way, some people
  get angry, others get noisy, and still others get
  quiet.
• X_ 2. When I dont get my way, I tend to become
  quite angry, start yelling aloud, and then hit
  someone really hard.

Ever seen this reaction?
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Does the thesis answer the prompt?

• What should college students know about debt?
• __1. College students should know that they can
  reduce their debt load by working part-time,
  cutting credit card use, and attending
  less-expensive colleges.
• __2. Working part-time, cutting credit card use,
  and even attending cheaper colleges can help
  college students avoid major debt.

How funny is this one?
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The thesis does answer the prompt!

• What should college students know about debt?
• X_1. College students should know that they can
  reduce their debt load by working part-time,
  cutting credit card use, and attending
  less-expensive colleges.
• __2. Working part-time, cutting credit card use,
  and even attending cheaper colleges can help
  college students avoid major debt.

How funny is this one?
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Which thesis answers the prompt?

• What kind of college student are you?
• __1. In college, there are the overachievers, the
  strugglers, and the slackers.
• __2. Among the types of college students, I am a
  struggler because I must balance work and a
  social life with my school demands.
• __3. I would probably be an overachiever if I
  werent such a slacker.

Do we see this student type?
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This thesis answers the prompt!

• What kind of college student are you?
• __1. In college, there are the overachievers, the
  strugglers, and the slackers.
• X_2. Among the types of college students, I am a
  struggler because I must balance work and a
  social life with my school demands.
• __3. I would probably be an overachiever if I
  werent such a slacker.

Do we see this student type?
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Does the thesis answer the prompt?

• Should the US raise the driving age to eighteen?
• __1. Even sixteen-year-olds are old enough to
  drive, so let them behind the wheel.
• __2. Raising the driving age to eighteen could
  help reduce teen driving accidents.
• __3. The US should raise the driving age to
  eighteen to allow teens time to mature, to make
  our roads safer, and to reduce teen driving
  deaths.

How useful is this observation?
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Does the thesis answer the prompt?

• Should the US raise the driving age to eighteen?
• __1. Even sixteen-year-olds are old enough to
  drive, so let them behind the wheel.
• __2. Raising the driving age to eighteen could
  help reduce teen driving accidents.
• X_3. The US should raise the driving age to
  eighteen to allow teens time to mature, to make
  our roads safer, and to reduce teen driving
  deaths.

How useful is this advise?
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What else is a thesis statement?

• The argumentative thesis takes a side of an
  issue
• In an argument concerning the nuclear power
  plant, the thesis for a paper on this topic might
  be
• Governments should ban further construction of
  nuclear power plants since they are dangerous.
• Yet someone else might argue
• The U.S. should continue building nuclear power
  plants because we need the energy.

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What isnt a thesis statement?

• A thesis states an arguable opinion.
• Ex. Despite the opposition, the president needs
  to improve the economy.
• A non-arguable fact cant be a thesis.
• Ex. Government figures show decreasing economic
  activity.

• An announcement is too personal to be a good
  thesis.
• Ex. In this essay, I will prove that the national
  economy needs help.
• A broad statement is impossible to argue as a
  thesis.
• Ex. Currently, the national economy is weak.

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Can you match statement types?

• What is each item?
• a. thesis
• b. broad statement
• c. fact
• d. announce-ment
• Free Doritos Ad

__1. Two unemployed brothers created the
Superbowl Free Doritos advertisement. __2. Marco
Martinez was wrong to sell his daughter aged 14
for a hundred cases of beer. __3. I believe that
we should accept the native custom of selling
daughters for cash. __4. Congress should pass the
stimulus plan to provide jobs, improve roads, and
jumpstart the economy.
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Can you match statement types?

• What is each item?
• a. thesis
• b. broad statement
• c. fact
• d. announce-ment
• Jail for bad beer deal?

BS 1. Marco Martinez was wrong to sell his
daughter aged 14 for a hundred cases of beer. FT
2. Two unemployed brothers created the Superbowl
Free Doritos advertisement. AN 3. I believe that
we should accept the native custom of selling
daughters for cash. TH 4. Congress should pass
the stimulus plan to provide jobs, improve roads,
and jumpstart the economy.
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Can you match statement types?

• What is each item?
• a. thesis
• b. broad statement
• c. fact
• d. announce-ment
• Star Trek Teleporting

__1. Researchers contend that boys with unpopular
names often become criminals. __2. January is a
big month for drinkers who want to quit. __3.
About 1 in 5 people with alcohol dependence stop
drinking without any help. __4. In this essay, I
will prove that teleportation is real, but you
still shouldnt try it at home.
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Can you match statement types?

TH 1. Researchers contend that boys with
unpopular names often become criminals. BS 2.
January is a big month for drinkers who want to
quit. FT 3. About 1 in 5 people with alcohol
dependence stop drinking without any help. AN 4.
In this essay, I will prove that teleportation is
real, but you still shouldnt try it at home.
Is the title a thesis or a broad statement?
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Can you match statement types?

• What is each item?
• a. thesis
• b. broad statement
• c. fact
• d. announce-ment
• Toasting the enemy

__1. The US military should leave Iraq to save
our national image, our hurting economy, and even
our soldiers lives. __2. The war in Iraq has
turned into a very bad mess. __3. The money saved
from one year of the Iraq war could be used to
put all of America on free solar electric
power. __4. The purpose of this essay is to
convince the reader that the Iraq war has gone
wrong.
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You can match statement types!

• What is each item?
• a. thesis
• b. broad statement
• c. fact
• d. announce-ment
• An innocent victim

TH 1. The US military should leave Iraq to put an
end to save our national image, our hurting
economy, and even our soldiers lives. BS 2. The
war in Iraq has turned into a very bad mess. FT
3. The money saved from one year of the Iraq war
could be used to put all of America on free solar
electric power. AN 4. The purpose of this essay
is to convince the reader that the Iraq war has
gone wrong.
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How does the thesis shape the essay?

• Thesis College students should know that they
  can reduce their debt load by
• working part-time,
• cutting credit card use,
• and attending less-expensive colleges.
• Topic sentence 1 College students should know
  that they can reduce their debt load by working
  part-time.
• Topic sentence 2 College students should know
  that they can reduce their debt load by cutting
  credit card use.
• Topic sentence 3 College students should know
  that they can reduce their debt load by attending
  less-expensive colleges.

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Whats missing from the introduction?

• I believe that students should know about debt
  with college loans, credit cards, and car loans.
  All must be paid back. In my opinion, too many
  students attend college not knowing about
  finances. I think they didnt learn about
  economic stability. Therefore, it is hard for
  them to remain financially sound.

Is this starting at the bottom?
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Add a thesis to the introduction!

• In my opinion, Too many attend college not
  knowing about finances. I think They didnt learn
  about economic stability. Therefore, it is hard
  for them to remain financially sound. I believe
  that Students should reduce their debt loads by
  working part-time, shunning unnecessary
  borrowing, and attending less-pricey colleges.

Wouldnt college be an idea?
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Which thesis is on the topic?

• At which professional level will you work?
• __1. There are three levels of professional work
  low, mid, and high.
• __2. Most college graduates begin working at the
  low professional level as nurses, technicians, or
  salespersons.
• __3. After graduation, I will work in a mid-level
  profession as a manager.

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Just one sentence is correct

• At which professional level will you work?
• __1. There are three levels of professional work
  low, mid, and high.
• __2. Most college graduates begin working at the
  low professional level as nurses, technicians, or
  salespersons.
• X_ 3. After graduation, I will work in a
  mid-level profession as a manager.

How management cuts costs!
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Which thesis is most on the topic?

• What do people reveal about themselves by driving
  style?
• __1. Road rage, weaving through traffic, and
  cutting others off show aggressive driving
  styles.
• __2. Through their driving styles, people show
  whether they are cautious, moderate, or
  dangerous.
• __3. While the elderly ride the brakes, teens
  rule the roads by putting the pedal to the metal.

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Just one sentence is correct

• What do people reveal about themselves by driving
  style?
• __1. Road rage, weaving through traffic, and
  cutting others off show aggressive driving
  styles.
• X_ 2. Through their driving styles, people show
  whether they are cautious, moderate, or
  dangerous.
• __3. While the elderly ride the brakes, teens
  rule the roads by putting the pedal to the metal.

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What is a thesis statement?

• The thesis is the main idea of the essay
• It directly answers the question.
• It is an opinionated and complex statement.
• It includes three sub-points supporting the main
  idea.