Thesis Statements
Topic Sentences
Making Stronger Claims
Three steps to creating
solid claims
1. Create a strong thesis statement
2. Brainstorm main ideas for each
paragraph
3.Write topic sentences
1. Thesis Statements
Should be specific
Should be arguable – make a claim (an
opinion that can be argued)
Should frame/guide your entire essay
Thesis Statements: Be Specific
Example thesis:
Desire makes David a strong character.
 Desire for what?
 What do you mean by “strong character”?
New thesis:
The desire to win the lottery motivates David to
confidently and slyly cheat others.
Thesis Statement - Arguable
 Make a claim (an opinion statement)
 Somebody should be able to disagree with
your opinion
Example Thesis
Harry Potter's desire to avenge his parents' deaths
causes him to continually seek out Lord Voldemort
in order to kill him.
Sample Thesis Statements:
Make them better
Power motivates Abigail’s actions.
The setting in The Pickup plays a
crucial role in the story.
2. Brainstorm Main Ideas
Harry Potter's desire to avenge his parents' deaths causes him to continually
seek out Lord Voldemort in order to kill him.
Idea 1: Discuss Harry's desire to kill Voldemort - where did it
come from?
Idea 2: Discuss examples of times that Harry sought out
Voldemort - how did he get himself in trouble all for the sake
of getting revenge?
Idea 3: Discuss the final meeting - Harry killing Voldemort
and his satisfaction
2. Brainstorm Main Ideas
Your Turn
Brainstorm ONE main ideas for your thesis
statement on The Crucible.
Thesis Statement &
3. Topic Sentences
Thesis statement should frame/guide your
entire essay
Every topic sentence must be connected
to the original argument in your thesis.
Never present a new idea in a topic
sentence
3. Topic Sentences
Thesis: Harry Potter's desire to avenge his parents' deaths causes him
to continually seek out Lord Voldemort in order to kill him.
Idea 1: Discuss Harry's desire to kill Voldemort - where did it
come from?
Topic sentence 1
Harry desires revenge because Lord Voldemort
denied him the chance of having a real family when
he killed Harry's parents.
3. Topic Sentences
Thesis: Harry Potter's desire to avenge his parents' deaths causes
him to continually seek out Lord Voldemort in order to kill him.
Topic sentence 1
Harry desires revenge because Lord Voldemort denied
him the chance of having a real family when he killed
Harry's parents.
 Does it connect to the thesis statement? How?
 Does it make a claim (an opinion that can be argued)?
Where?
3. Topic Sentences
Thesis: Harry Potter's desire to avenge his parents' deaths causes him
to continually seek out Lord Voldemort in order to kill him.
Idea 2: Discuss examples of times that Harry sought out
Voldemort - how did he get himself in trouble all for the sake of
getting revenge?
Topic Sentence 2
Throughout the series, Harry persistently seeks out Lord
Voldemort for revenge even when he could have died
himself.
3. Topic Sentences
Thesis: Harry Potter's desire to avenge his parents' deaths
causes him to continually seek out Lord Voldemort in order to
kill him.
Topic Sentence 2
Throughout the series, Harry persistently seeks out Lord
Voldemort for revenge even when he could have died himself.
 Does it connect to the thesis statement? How?
 Does it make a claim (an opinion that can be
argued)? Where?
3. Topic Sentences
Your Turn
Turn your main idea into a topic sentence.
Be sure to:
 Connect it to the thesis statement
 Make a claim (an opinion that can be
argued)