Thesis Statements
SPI 701.3.3
Identify the thesis of a writing passage
Objectives:
– Students will be able to choose a good thesis
statement for a given topic.
– Students will be able to write a well-developed
thesis statement with details to support it.
What is a thesis statement?
A thesis statement is the main idea of an
essay.
It is often a point you want to argue or
support in an essay.
SO
The thesis statement explains to a reader
the main idea of the essay, and the
writer’s opinion on that idea.
THESIS
STATEMENTS:
Give direction to the
author of a paper
●Give readers an idea
as to what the paper will
be about
●
A thesis statement is usually one
sentence.
It is often placed in the introductory
paragraph of an essay.
A thesis statement is a claim that
could be argued.
The essay will contain evidence and
opinions that support the argument.
WHAT IS A THESIS NOT?
A factual statement
●A topic sentence
●
Yep, you
guessed
it—on
the test.
TOPIC SENTENCE:
Big Spring is a small town in West Texas.
(This is factual, topic sentence; therefore, it is not a
thesis statement.)
Thesis statements avoid the
following:
the first person (I believe, In my opinion,
etc.)
unclear language (It seems, etc.)
attempting two topics at once (even if they
seem related). Pick one and stick with it.
just stating a fact - A thesis is something
you plan to make an argument about.
A thesis statement should
contain a topic (main idea of
what you are writing about)
contain an opinion about the
topic (what your attitude is
toward the topic)
CHARACTERISTICS OF A THESIS
STATEMENT
Addresses the prompt clearly
●Makes a claim, or
●Presents an argument
●Is arguable (an opinion)
●In first paragraph of essay
●
It’s time to spot a thesis!
On each of the following slides,
read the writing prompt and the two
sample statements.
Click on the one that is the best
choice for a thesis.
1. Early on in life, people develop an admiration for
heroes. In a well-developed essay, discuss a person
you admire and why you chose this person.
Option A
One person I admire is Babe Ruth, who played baseball from 1914
until 1935.
Option B
One person I admire is Babe Ruth, the greatest baseball player of all
time.
Incorrect
Option A
One person I admire is Babe Ruth, who played baseball from 1914
until 1935.
Although this does address the writing prompt, this is a factual
statement. A thesis statement should be something you can argue for
or against.
Correct! Great Job!
Option B
One person I admire is Babe Ruth, the greatest baseball player of all
time.
This statement addresses the prompt, and presents and opinion that
can be argued.
2. …Discuss the social, political and economic effects of
World War II on the United States.
Option A
World War II was a costly war that had a major impact on the
economy of the United States
Option B
World War II not only affected the economy of the United
States, but also altered the role of the American
government and the American people forever.
Incorrect
Option A
World War II was a costly war that had a major impact on the
economy of the United States
Although this is meets all the criteria for a thesis
statement, it only addresses part of the writing prompt.
Remember, the statement tells the reader what to
expect. With this as a thesis, one would only expect to
read about the economic effects.
Correct!!!!
Option B
World War II not only affected the economy of the United
States, but also altered the role of the American
government and the American people forever.
This is correct because it addresses the social, economic and
political effects as stated in the prompt. Notice that the words
people (social) and government (political) were used in this
statement. This makes the sentence more original and shows the
reader that you know what “social” and “political” refer to.
3. … Describe three physical features of Latin America
and their importance to the region.
Option A
The Andes Mountains, the Amazon River and Yucatan Peninsula are
the three most significant physical features in Latin America.
Option B
Three physical features found in Latin America are the Andes
Mountains, the Amazon River and the Yucatan Peninsula.
Correct! You are getting this!
Option A
The Andes Mountains, the Amazon River and Yucatan Peninsula are
the three most significant physical features in Latin America.
This statement gives an argument, it presents the three physical
features asked for in the prompt, and makes reference to the
importance (significance)
Almost! But not quite.
Option B
Three physical features found in Latin America are the Andes
Mountains, the Amazon River and the Yucatan Peninsula, which are
all vital to the region.
This is a topic sentence. The reason it is not a good thesis is because
it does not present an argument or address the whole prompt. It is a
factual statement. To make it a strong thesis, you must add to it.
5. In South Asia, globalization has played a big role in the
developing economies of the region. Discuss the positive and
negative effects of globalization in one South Asian country.
Option A
Globalization in India has offered solutions to poverty for some and
created more severe poverty for others.
Option B
In India, globalization has meant new jobs for India’s emerging middle
class.
You are ready to write!
Option A
Globalization in India has offered solutions to poverty for some and
created more severe poverty for others.
There is an opinion (it has offered solutions, it has created more
severe poverty). It addresses the positive (solutions) and negative
(poverty) effects.
Practice. You will get there.
Option B
In India, globalization has meant new jobs for India’s emerging middle
class.
Again, this would be a perfect thesis statement, if the prompt only
asked for the effects of globalization. The prompt, however, specifies
positive and negative effects. This is only positive.
More About Thesis Statements
A thesis statement should not be
too broad.
Too Broad
The world is a magnificent place to live.
Better
Good teachers make Mountain City
Elementary a fantastic school.
Which sentence is too broad to be
a good thesis statement?
A. One reason to live in Mountain
City is access to many wonderful
places to fish.
B. Mountain City is a great place to
live.
Too Broad
Mountain City is a great place to
live.
A thesis statement should not be
too wordy.
Wordy
Some problems with Mountain City Elementary
School is that it needs a larger playground, an
air conditioned gym, an auditorium, restrooms
connected to each classroom, running water in
the classrooms, and a number of other physical
changes to the building.
Better
Mountain City Elementary needs several changes
to its facility to make it a better school.
Which sentence is too wordy to be
a good thesis statement?
A. Abe Lincoln was one of the best
presidents the United States has ever
known.
B. Abe Lincoln was an excellent speaker,
the 16th President of the United States, a
liberator of slaves, and united the North
and South at the end of the American Civil
War.
Too Wordy
Abe Lincoln was an excellent speaker, the
16th President of the United States, a
liberator of slaves, and united the North
and South at the end of the American Civil
War.
A thesis statement should not be
too general.
Too general
Mountain City Elementary is a good school.
Better
Daily writing practice has led to improved
writing skills for the students at Mountain
City Elementary.
Which sentence is too general to
be a good thesis statement?
A. Music makes people happy.
B. Music therapy is useful in
relieving stress and other
conditions.
Too general
Music makes people happy.
A thesis statement should not be a
title.
A title
Cost of Living
Better
The cost of living in Mountain City is lower
than in most other cities in the United
States.
Which sentence would not be a
good thesis statement because it is
a title?
A. Good teaching has led to an
increase in TCAP scores at
Mountain City Elementary.
B. Rising TCAP Scores at
Mountain City Elementary
A Title
Rising TCAP Scores at Mountain
City Elementary
A thesis statement should
not just be a fact.
A fact
The average temperature for Mountain City
in winter is 34 degrees and in summer is
75 degrees.
Better
The climate in Mountain City is ideal for
outdoor sports.
Which sentence would not be a good
thesis statement because it is a fact?
A. The recycling of one aluminum
can saves enough energy to run
a TV for three hours.
B. Recycling is one of the most
important jobs a person can do to
protect our environment.
A Fact
The recycling of one aluminum can
saves enough energy to run a TV
for three hours.
More Practice
Directions:
1) Find the opinion words in the statement. If there
are no opinion words, it is not a thesis statement.
2) Tell if the statement is a good thesis statement.
Although most people believe
otherwise, bats are harmless and
highly beneficial.
Directions:
1) Find the opinion words in the statement. If there
are no opinion words, it is not a thesis statement.
2) Tell if the statement is a good thesis statement.
In this essay I will discuss the crime
rate in Mountain City.
Directions:
1) Find the opinion words in the statement. If there
are no opinion words, it is not a thesis statement.
2) Tell if the statement is a good thesis statement.
Mountain City and Boone differ in
many ways.
Directions:
1) Find the opinion words in the statement. If there
are no opinion words, it is not a thesis statement.
2) Tell if the statement is a good thesis statement.
This paper will consider the
advantages and disadvantages of
students having nightly
homework.
YOUR TURN!!
You will now apply what you learned by
writing your own thesis statements to a
few writing prompts.
●
When reading back your thesis
statements (to yourself), ask yourself a
few questions.
●
Did I
address all
parts of the
prompt?
Is it
grammatically
correct?
Will I
address
all this in
my essay?
Can I argue against
this statement?
Practice
●Handout “Thesis Statement Practice”
●Practice writing thesis statements
●Write 3 details that support your thesis.
●Write one reason to oppose your
opinion