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 brainstormed and you have some
  main
• ideas of what you would like to write in your
  essay, 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 contains one main idea. This idea
  controls the content of the entire essay.
  Additionally, a thesis statement contains
  subpoints which help the reader know how the
  essay will be organized.

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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 has
the greatest influence. Birth order can have a
significant impact in the formation of a childs
character because of ones relationship with
parents, relationships with others, and ones
ideas about 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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Key Features
Thesis Statement

• states the main idea of the essay in a complete
  sentence.

• is usually at the end of an introduction.

• states an opinion or attitude on a topic. It
  doesnt just state the topic itself.

• includes subtopics.
• It has a set format or formula (called a three
  point thesis) that consists of
• Opinion/claim because reason a, reason b, and
  reason c.

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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.
• The thesis statement is asserting an opinion or
• idea, so it should not be a question.
• Look at the following examples 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 because my heart rate is
increased, I have dropped weight, and I can run
longer.
Thesis Statement
Being a teacher is a great profession, because it
allows me to work with students, be creative, and
learn.
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 generally found at the end of the
• introductory paragraph.

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Key Features
States an Opinion or Attitude

• Good thesis statements express a writers
  opinion about a 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 following examples.

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An Opinion or Attitude
Another Example
This would not be considered a good thesis
statement, because it is only expressing a fact.
It doesnt reflect the writers opinion or
attitude on Cancun. This thesis statement
doesnt give the writer very much to explain or
prove in his/her essay.
Cancun is a popular vacation spot in Mexico.
Cancun is one of the best vacation spots in
Mexico because of its comfortable climate,
proximity to some well-known archeological sites,
and beautiful resorts.
This thesis statement is much better because
it expresses how the writer feels about Cancun.
This thesis statement requires the writer to
explain how and why going to Cancun is a good
choice for visitors.
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Key Features
Subtopics

• You make your thesis statement more
• specific by including subtopics or supporting
• ideas. By doing this, you give your reader a
• clear idea of what will follow in the body
• paragraphs of your essay.

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Key Features
Subtopics
The large influx of people to California has
had major effects on the state.
No subtopics are named in this thesis
statement.
The large influx of people to California has
had major effects on the ability of the state to
provide housing, electricity, and jobs for all
residents.
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Practice Exercises

• Now, you are ready to practice what youve
  learned. Using ONE of the two following prompts,
  create a thesis statement. When you have
  finished, and someone near you has also finished,
  turn to them and share your thesis statement.
  Have both you and your partner included all the
  items on the checklist?
• Thesis Statement Checklist

• It has a main topic that includes
• Subtopics
• It states an opinion or attitude
• It is in the correct format
• ___________ because _____,_____, and ________.

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Practice Prompts

• Work on creating a thesis statement for ONE of
  the following prompts independently. It must be
  in the four point thesis format.
• Research indicates that our society has become
  more violent. Crime is on the rise in both urban
  and rural areas. Many adults are convinced that
  popular movies and video games encourage young
  people to become violent. Do you agree or
  disagree with the opinion that modern movies
  and/or video games have contributed to the rise
  of violent crime in the United States? Persuade
  the reader to support your point of view,
  supporting your position with specific reasons
  and examples.
•  
• Due to potential problems, many school systems
  have adopted a policy that bans cell phones on
  school grounds. However, some parents have
  provided these items out of concern for safety.
  Do you agree or disagree that cell phones should
  be banned on school grounds? Write an essay in
  which you convince the reader of your opinion,
  supporting your position with specific reasons
  and examples.

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• Turn to a partner
• First make sure your partners thesis statement
  has all four checklist items
• It has
• the main topic
• subtopics
• states an opinion or attitude
• Is in the correct format
• ___________ because _____,_____, and ________.

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ON YOUR OWN

• Look at your position on Hamlet as a man of
  action or inaction and your reasons for why you
  think so.
• It must be in the three point thesis format