The Thesis Statement

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The Thesis Statement
A Road Map for Your Essay
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Introduction
Thesis Statements

• After you have figured out your paper topic you
  can
• begin thinking about writing a thesis statement.

Whats a thesis statement????
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Definition
Thesis Statement

• A thesis statement is a complete sentence
• that addresses your paper topic and contains
• the main idea of your essay. This idea controls
• the content of the entire essay and should
• express your opinion about the topic that you
• are trying to prove. A thesis statement
• that contains sub points also helps a reader
• know how the essay will be organized. Sub
• points are written in an additional sentence
• and breaks up the complexity of your thesis
• statement.

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Key Features
Your Thesis Statement should

• address the paper topic and states the main idea
  of the essay in a complete sentence, not in a
  question.

• state an opinion or attitude about a topic that
  has to be proved. It doesnt just state the
  topic, itself.

• have subtopics to break up the complexity of your
  thesis statement.
• be at the end of an introduction.

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Definition
Thesis Statement
When I was young, I always knew that I
wanted to become a teacher someday. When I
played, I would often gather my dolls together
and pretend to teach them how to do math problems
or how to read a book. As I grew older, my
desire to become an ESL teacher became clearer as
I did some volunteer teaching overseas and in the
United States. As I look back on my reasons for
becoming a teacher, there are three reasons that
stand out. They are my love for the English
language, my innate interest in how people learn,
and my desire to help other people .
Subpoints in the thesis or nearby help the reader
know how the essay will be organized
The thesis statement contains the main idea that
controls the content of the essay.
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Thesis Statement
Another Example
Psychologists have argued for decades about
how a persons character is formed. Numerous
psychologists believe that ones birth order
(i.e. place in the family as the youngest,
oldest, or middle child) has the greatest
influence. Based on my own experience growing up
in a family of four, I believe birth order can
have a significant impact in the formation of a
childs character. Birth order can strongly
affect ones relationship with parents,
relationships with others, and how one views
responsibility as an adult.
The thesis statement contains the main idea that
controls the content of the essay.
Subpoints in the thesis or nearby help the reader
know how the essay will be organized
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Addressing the Topic

• An important thing that your thesis statement
  has to do is
• address the paper topic that you have been asked
  to write about.
• Below are some examples of paper topics and
  thesis statements
• that address them.
• Topic In a 4 page essay write about an
  experience that positively
• influenced your life. Make sure that you give at
  least 3 reasons why
• the experience was influential.
• Thesis Taking Mr. Richards class my senior year
  positively
• influenced my life in many ways. Taking Mr.
  Richards class allowed
• me to become open minded, question the beliefs
  that guided my
• life, and grow as a human being.

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Addressing the Topic One way to make sure that
you are addressing the topic is to underline the
part of the topic that you are supposed to write
about. Look at the examples blow. Topic Herman
Melville explores the complexity of the human
psyche in his novel Moby Dick. Throughout the
novel Melville expresses the true nature of
mankind. Explain how Ahab shows the Melvilles
expression of human nature. You must have at
least 5 examples from the book to support your
point. Thesis Herman Melville uses the
character Ahab to show the true nature of mankind
through Ahabs constant search to hunt down and
kill the white whale. Topic In the epic film
series Star Wars, George Lucas explores the
struggle with morality following what you think
is right and fighting against the dark side.
Lucas uses many characters in his epic to
illustrate mankinds conflict and the struggle
with evil. Explain how Lucas uses certain
characters to show the struggle with evil.
Thesis George Lucas uses the personal
decisions of Anakin and Luke Skywalker to show
the different ways that human beings can struggle
with or be affected by evil, or the dark
side.
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Key Features
Main Idea in a Complete Sentence

• Since the thesis statement is the main
• statement for the entire essay, it should express
• a complete thought and be a complete sentence.
• A thesis is a statement about a book, your
• life, or a particular topic that must be proved.
• The thesis statement is asserting an opinion or
• idea, so it should not be a question. Look at
  the
• examples below to see how they can be made
• into thesis statements.

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Key Features
Main Idea in a Complete Sentence
The sport of cross-country running has allowed me
to get in better shape and meet some interesting
people.
Thesis Statement
Being a teacher is a great profession, because it
allows me to work with students and be creative.
Thesis Statement
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A Complete Sentence
Another Example
The problem of pollution in major cities can
be alleviated by limiting the number of cars
allowed to drive on city streets and creating
more efficient public transportation systems.
Thesis Statement
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Key Features
Location

• Readers like to know what an essay
• will be about near the beginning of the essay
• rather than at the end. This is why the thesis
• statement is often found at the end of the
• introductory paragraph.

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Location
Example
Maya Angelou is an accomplished
African-American author in the United States.
While growing up, she suffered tremendous
hardship. Some of her most difficult life events
are portrayed in novels and poems such as, I Know
Why the Caged Bird Sings, and, Still I Rise. Her
written works often include strong themes such as
perseverance through trials, love for family, and
passionate optimism.
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Key Features
States an Opinion or Attitude

• Good thesis statements often express a
• writers opinion or attitude on a particular
  topic.
• This makes the thesis statement more specific
• and requires the writer to explain or prove
• his/her opinion in the essay. Look at the
• examples below.

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Key Features
States an Opinion or Attitude
Learning to play many musical instruments
when I was young helped me to become a more
intelligent and well-rounded person.
I learned to play many musical instruments when I
was young.
This thesis statement is much better because
it expresses how the writer feels about the
experience of learning to play musical
instruments. This thesis statement requires the
writer to explain how and why playing a musical
instrument made him/her a better person.
This would not be considered a good thesis
statement because it is only expressing a fact.
It doesnt give the writers opinion or attitude
on playing musical instruments. This thesis
statement doesnt give the writer very much to
explain or prove in his/her essay.
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Key Features
Dont State the Obvious

• In thesis statements, you should avoid using
• statements like, This essay will discuss or
• Im going to write about. Try to write a
• thesis statement that captures your readers
• attention without announcing your main topic
• and stating the obvious. Look at the examples
• below.

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Key Features
Dont State the Obvious
In this essay, I am going to discuss the
effects of long-term drug abuse.
Long-term drug use can have disastrous
effects on ones marriage, career, and health.
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Dont State the Obvious
Another Example
This essay will discuss some ways teachers
can fight teenage drug abuse.
Teachers can fight teenage drug abuse by
educating young people on its dangers and by
being good role models.
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Remember
Your Thesis Statement should

• address the paper topic and states the main idea
  of the essay in a complete sentence, not in a
  question.

• state an opinion or attitude about a topic that
  has to be proved. It doesnt just state the
  topic, itself.

• have subtopics to break up the complexity of your
  thesis statement.
• be at the end of an introduction.