What is a thesis
statement?
The MOST IMPORTANT
SENTENCE in your paper!
What is a thesis statement?






The MOST IMPORTANT
SENTENCE in your paper
A road map for the rest of the
paper
Lets the reader know the main
idea of the paper
Answers the question: “What
am I trying to prove?”
Not a factual statement, but a
claim
that has to be proven
throughout the paper
Role of the thesis statement



The thesis statement should
guide your reader through
your argument.
The thesis statement is
generally located in the
introduction of the paper.
A thesis statement may also
be located within the body of
the paper or in the
conclusion, depending upon
the purpose or argument of
the paper.
Which thesis statement is the most
effective for an argument about the
need for V-chips in television sets?

Parents, often too busy to watch television shows with
their families, can monitor their children’s viewing
habits with the aid of the V-chip.

To help parents monitor their children’s viewing habits,
the V-chip should be a required feature for television
sets sold in the U.S.

This paper will describe a V-chip and examine the
uses of the V-chip in American-made television sets.
How do I Know if my Thesis is
Strong?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Do I answer the prompt?
Have I taken a position others would oppose?
Is it arguable?
Does my thesis pass the “SO WHAT” test?
Does my essay support my thesis specifically
and without wandering?
Does my thesis pass the “HOW or WHY” test?

In your Journal choose the best thesis statement
from the list below and explain why you feel it
answers questions 2, 3, and 5 from the previous
slide.
 The North and South fought the civil war for many
reasons, some of which were the same and some
different
 While both sides fought the civil war over the issue
of slavery, the North fought for moral reasons
while the south fought to preserve its own
institutions.
 While both Northerners and Southerners believed
they fought against tyranny and oppression,
Northerners focused nobly on the rights of others
and the oppression of slaves while Southerners
defended only their rights to own property and
self-government.

In your Journal choose the best thesis statement
from the list below and explain why you feel it
answers questions 2, 3, and 5 from the previous
slide.
 Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn is a great
American novel.
 In Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain develops a
contrast between life on the river and life on
the shore.
 Through its contrasting river and shore
scenes, Twain’s Huckleberry Finn suggests
that to find the true expression of American
democratic ideals, one must leave “civilized”
society and go back to nature.
THESIS STATEMENT REVIEW
Using the information you have learned in this
PowerPoint, create a thesis for a paper on the following
essay prompt:
[Bilingual Education] As part of a proposed educational initiative in
your state, local school districts are responsible for providing
required courses in both English language and Spanish language in
order to increase the success of their programs. Because your state
has a large population of Spanish speakers, the state education
department believes that teaching these students in their first
language will help them learn better and more quickly. Because of
the limited budget, however, the local school board is concerned that
they may not be able to provide the additional teachers or training
needed for this program. They fear that they will lose state funding
and accreditation even though 90% of the district's students pass
their achievement tests on the first try. What is your position on this
issue? Write an essay stating your view, and supporting it with three
convincing reasons. Remember to address the viewpoint of the
opposition.