Thesis statements

1
Thesis statements
2
Thesis statement

• A thesis statement is the central
• message of your paper it is the
• main idea and should reflect the
• papers content.

3
Thesis statement

• The thesis statement usually creates
• the strongest impression when it is
• the first or last sentence in the
• introductory paragraph.

4
Thesis statement requirements

• States the essays subject.
• Conveys the essays purpose.
• (informative or persuasive)
• Indicates the focus your point of view.
• Uses specific language, appropriate words.
• May state major subdivisions of the topic.

5
Questions to ask when reviewing thesis statements.

• Is the main idea, the central point,
• clearly stated?

6
Ask yourself

• Is the purpose of the essay clear?

7
Ask yourself

• Is the thesis stated in specific terms?
• Does it avoid overly general, vague ones?

8
Ask yourself

• Can this thesis be developed
• in the time available?

9
Ask yourself

• Can this thesis be developed in
• an essay of the length planned?

10
Ask yourself ...

• Is the thesis limited enough for
• development, but general enough
• to be worth the effort?

11
An example of a good thesis statement

• The first time I drove a car, I was
• a jumble of nerves and fear.
• The purpose is to express a feeling
• about an experience.

12
Another good example

• The Japanese Tea Ceremony reveals
• the beauty in everyday routine.
• The purpose is to explain a factual subject.

13
An example of a descriptive thesis statement

• The roller rink comes to life on Saturday
  afternoon.
• The purpose is to describe.

14
A persuasive thesis statement

• A healthy society depends on a high degree of
  citizen participation in the government.
• The purpose is to persuade.

15
Topic sentences

• The topic sentence has a clearly limited subject
  and makes a clear statement about that subject.

16
Topic sentences

• The best topic sentence has a single,
• clear subject that is just right for
• development.

17
Topic sentence locations

• When it is the first sentence of a paragraph, it
  serves as an introduction.
• When the topic sentence is the last sentence, it
  serves as a summarization.
• Sometimes it is implied, but not stated. This is
  not recommended.

18
Topic sentence function

• It is oftentimes a general statement, but not too
  broad.
• A double-dip chocolate ice-cream cone after a
  rough ball game is my idea of fun.

19
Topic sentences should

• Be supported by a number of more specific
  statements that provide additional information to
  make the main idea more meaningful.
• Facts
• Examples
• Incidents
• Reasons

20
For example,

• The Mexicans who lived in the Southwest taught
  the settlers from the East many things.
• Supported by
• The vaqueros showed the settlers how to
• handle cattle and to train horses.
• The Mexicans introduced high-horned saddles and
  sombreros to the new ranchers.

21
Unity in an essay

• The definition of unity is the state of being
  united physically, socially or morally.
• An essay has unity when all the sup-porting
  paragraphs relate to the main idea in the thesis
  statement.

22
Sentences in a paragraph

• Should
• Develop the paragraphs main idea OR
• Explain the paragraphs main idea OR
• Prove the paragraphs main idea.
• Sentences carry out closely related
• information and do not deviate from
• the topic.

23
Coherence in essays

• Coherence is a quality that makes
• the ideas in the paragraph flow
• logically and naturally from one to
• the next.
• Coherence is the glue of the paragraph.

24
Coherency

• Essays with coherent organization
• are easily read and understood.
• Coherence can be achieved by
• using transition words or phrases.

25
Achieving coherency

• Tip 1
• Double-check your organization to
• make sure each detail fits logically
• into your method of organization.

26
Achieving coherency

• Tip 2
• Use transitional words and phrases.

27
Achieving coherency

• Tip 3
• Every now and then, repeat key words.

28
Achieving coherency

• Tip 4
• Use similar words or phrases in
• place of key words.

29
Achieving coherency

• Tip 5
• Use pronouns in place of key words.

30
Good writing

• Remember, becoming a good writer
• takes time and practice.
• Invest in a good dictionary and thesaurus.
• Proofread your material before
• handing it in.
• Take pride in your work