Keys to creating a successful thesis statement
 A thesis statement is a one-
sentence summarization of the
argument or analysis that is to
follow in your paper.
 Think of the thesis as the answer to
the questions your paper explores.
 What his/her childhood like? What
background information can you find
out about your person.
 What obstacles did your person have to
go through?
 How did they overcome those
obstacles?
 What impact did he/she leave on this
generation or future generations?
 It is one sentence.
 It states the main idea or argument of your essay.
 It is typically placed at the end of the introduction




paragraph.
It lets your reader know what to expect.
It is the basis for your entire essay.
It is the most important part of your essay.
It is awesome (kinda).
The topic/subject.
2. Your opinion or research you’ve gathered on you
the topic.
1.
Quick Activity: Pick a subject that you feel you can
support or disprove and try to think of three things
you feel support your idea.
For example: John H. Walker Middle School is a great
college because of their experienced teachers,
skilled tutoring offices, and welcoming academic
environment.
Subject + Opinion = Thesis
{Based on your research}
PERSUASIVE
ESSAY
Introduction
Paragraph:
1. Hook
2. State situation
or controversy
3. Thesis
statement
(opinion + 3
reasons)
 The first sentence of your introductory
paragraph should contain an attention getter
[HOOK}, which is a sentence that attracts your
reader’s attention makes them want to read
further.
 The introduction paragraph of an essay
provides the reader with a general survey of
information of the subject being discussed.
 Once all necessary and relevant
background knowledge is stated, it is
typically then that a thesis statement can
be declared in the last sentence of the
introduction paragraph.
 A thesis statement will test your ideas
by condensing them into a sentence.
 A thesis statement will better organize
and develop your argument or the
purpose for your paper.
 A thesis statement will provide your
reader with a “guide” to your argument
or the purpose of your paper.
Source: http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/thesis_statement.shtml
Topic:
Conduct research on an individual that you
select.
Question: What was his/her childhood like? What
were the obstacles he/she had to overcome? What
impact did he/she leave on this generation?
Thesis:
Rosa Parks endured a fearful childhood
and several obstacles as an African American
woman living in the 1960’s she still found strength
to take a stand against society’s unfair treatment
and win the heart of all future generations.
 A strong thesis statement takes some sort of
stand based on your research. Remember
that your thesis needs to show your
conclusions about a subject.
 For example, if you are writing a research
paper about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. the
focus of your thesis should not be solely on
his “I have a Dream” speech. There is more to
him than that, and there are more
requirements to the assignment.
 Look at this sample thesis statement:
 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave a speech in the 1960s
that everyone in this generation remembers.
 This is a weak thesis statement. First, it fails to take a stand. Second, it
does not address all the requirements of the assignment:
childhood/background information, obstacles, and impact he/she left on
this society.
 Now look at this sample thesis statement:
 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spent most of his life
peacefully fighting against segregation in the south,
and even though several obstacles emerged that tried
to deter (distract)him from his goal, he remained focus
leaving behind a legacy that all generations will
remember.
 This is a strong thesis because it takes a stand and it focuses on specific
sub topics covered without being too specific.
 Your thesis statement should not be too detailed on your facts.
Strong or Weak?:
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, and lead
the 1955 Montgomery Boycott which left a legacy on our
generation.
 What is this thesis statement missing?
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, and wrote
a speech, “I Have a Dream,” that still impacts us today.
 Why is this a weak thesis statement?
 For this research project, your thesis should tell us
what you learned about each sub topic, but it
SHOULD NOT be too specific.
 DO:
 Use words from your sub-topics like: “obstacles,” “legacy,”
“impact” “childhood” etc.
 Important ideas that your person gave their generation
like: “hope” “courage” “peace” “hard work”
“determination” or “persistence,” “fearless” or “brave”
 DO NOT:
 Mention specifics because you will save that for your
body paragraphs.
 Now it is your turn to apply what you have learned
today about writing thesis statements to your
upcoming work on your research paper.
 If you have any questions or need any help developing
a thesis statement for your topic, please make
arrangements to meet with me AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE.
 List the three main points you want to make about your
character from each sub-topic.
 CHILDHOOD/BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
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(These can be phrases they don’t have to be complete sentences.)
 OBSTACLES HE/SHE HAD TO OVERCOME:
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 IMPACT HE/SHE HAD ON FUTURE
GENERATIONS:______________________________________
____________________________________________________
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Write it again to make it better:
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