The Thesis Statement
What Is a Thesis?
topic
A thesis is a statement with a subject and an opinion (also called commentary). The
thesis makes a claim that can be debated or argued.
→ Example: Australia is the best country of all for a vacation.
In this sentence, Australia is the subject. The rest of the sentence tells us the writer’s
opinion (commentary) about the subject.
REVIEW:
Fill in the blanks.
A thesis is a statement with a _____________ and an ________________.
An opinion is also called ______________________.
PRACTICE:
Decide whether each of the following statements is a thesis statement.
F2F → If it is a thesis statement, put a star by it. If it is a statement of fact, put a line through it.
Remote → If it is a thesis statement, highlight it. If it is a statement of fact, put a line through it.
1.
Sixth grade English is the best class I’ve ever taken.
2.
It is impossible for a crocodile to stick its tongue out.
3.
True Texans drink Dr. Pepper instead of Coca-Cola.
4.
The Xbox is a superior gaming system compared to the PS4.
5.
Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaurs had very short arms.
6.
The T-rex was the cutest dinosaur because of its very short arms.
7.
Playing video games can have positive effects.
8.
Playing video games reduces a child’s ability to focus.
9.
Girls have more taste buds than boys do.
10.
In the winter, I prefer to drink hot chocolate instead of coffee.
MORE REVIEW:
Fill in the blanks.
A thesis is a statement with a _____________ and an ________________.
An opinion is also called ______________________.
PRACTICE:
For each of the following thesis statements, put a box around the subject and underline the
opinion (commentary).
**Use a text box to draw a square around the subject, and then make the border weight 1px. Use line drawer to
underline the opinion.**
1.
Fishing is fun to do when I’m with my dad.
2.
English is the most important class you will ever take.
3.
Athletics can teach us more about discipline than academic classes.
4.
Going to a new school is an exciting experience.
5.
Tacos are superior to burritos.
6.
Rap music is easier to dance to than country music.
7.
Dogs are better pets than cats because they help their owners, can be
trained, and are loyal.
8.
The Hunger Games series is inferior to the Harry Potter series.
9.
Schools should serve soda at lunch because the extra sugar will help
students stay awake in afternoon classes.
10.
Warm weather and time to play with friends makes summer the best season
of the year.