Writing a Thesis
Statement
Carwile Fall 2010
9th Grade Research: An Author’s Life
and Motivation for Writing
What a thesis is…
 A thesis statement is a
sentence that tells the reader
of an essay what the writing
will be about. It typically
answers a given prompt.
Where do we find a thesis
statement?
 A thesis statement appears
at the end of the
introductory paragraph: it
is the last sentence.
Where is the thesis
statement?
 The book of Ecclesiastes, chapter one, verse eighteen,
states that, “For with much wisdom comes much
sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief” (NIV).
This passage means that with wisdom and experience
come sadness and grief; the joy and innocence of
childhood is replaced with the troubles of growing up.
No greater lesson can be learned about this subject
than from William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. Golding
paints for the reader a picture of several young boys,
innocent of the world, who become “experienced”, or
savage, rather, as the plot of the novel unfolds.
Through careful analysis, the reader comes to
understand Golding’s lessons about one of the major
themes of the novel, the loss of innocence.
Here it is…
 The book of Ecclesiastes, chapter one, verse eighteen,
states that, “For with much wisdom comes much
sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief” (NIV).
This passage means that with wisdom and experience
come sadness and grief; the joy and innocence of
childhood is replaced with the troubles of growing up.
No greater lesson can be learned about this subject
than from William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. Golding
paints for the reader a picture of several young boys,
innocent of the world, who become “experienced”, or
savage, rather, as the plot of the novel unfolds.
Through careful analysis, the reader comes to
understand Golding’s lessons about one of the major
themes of the novel, the loss of innocence.
How would you write a thesis
for the following prompt?
 Pretend you’ve met someone who has no
idea what ice cream tastes like. How
would you describe it to him? What
characteristics of ice cream make it good
to eat?
WRONG!!!
 “In this paper, I will explain
that ice cream has a smooth
consistency, a sweet taste,
and a creamy, cool texture
that make it a delicious treat
to eat.”
RIGHT!!!
 “Ice
cream has a smooth
consistency, a sweet taste,
and a creamy, cool texture
that make it a delicious treat
to eat.”
Your turn…
Prompt: Explain how the
author’s life and the
time period in which he
wrote shaped his writing.
Thesis Example
 The ideas of poverty and wealth and of
the separation of social classes are
themes present in both Charles Dickens’
own life and in his works A Tale of Two
Cities and A Christmas Carol.