Your Name: _______________________
Date: ____________________
3-Part Thesis Statement Worksheet and Outline
Topic:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Theme/Argument:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Blueprint of Reasons (how the author proves your theme):
a. ___________________________________________________________________________
b. ___________________________________________________________________________
c. __________________________________________________________________________
Thesis Statement: (this will be at the very end of your introductory paragraph)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Topic Sentences to begin each Body Paragraph come directly from your Blueprint of Reasons:
-Each body paragraph develops a single idea from your blueprint of reasons in your thesis statement
-The topic sentence is the FIRST sentence in the body paragraph, and it introduces the point of the paragraph.
-The body paragraphs should be in the same order as the ideas are listed in the thesis statement
Topic Sentence #1 (introduces body paragraph #1…use a transition)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Example/Reason #1 (letter a. from blueprint -- how your theme is proven)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Quote #1 (should illustrate your first example -- remember to introduce and explain it to connect back to
your thesis statement about the theme)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Topic Sentence #2 (introduces body paragraph #2…use a transition)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Example/Reason #2 (letter b. from blueprint -- how your theme is proven)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Quote #2 (should illustrate your second example -- remember to introduce and explain it to connect back
to your thesis statement about the theme)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Topic Sentence #3 (introduces body paragraph #3…use a transition)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Example/Reason #1 (letter c. from blueprint -- how your theme is proven)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Quote #3 (should illustrate your third example -- remember to introduce and explain it to connect back to
your thesis statement about the theme)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Examples of three-part thesis formula for theme prompt:
1.) The theme of “Thank You Ma’am,” by Langston Hughes, is ______(theme)________, as is shown
through reason 1
, reason 2
, and reason 3 .
2.) “Thank You Ma’am” proves that ______(theme)_____ by reason 1
.
, reason 2
, and reason 3
3.) The short story “Thank You, Ma’am” has a theme of ___(theme)____, which is shown to the reader
through reason 1
, reason 2
, and reason 3 .
Sample three-part thesis statement for “Thank You, Ma’am” prompt:
The positive effect of Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones feeding Roger, cleaning him up, and giving
him advice proves that treating undeserving people with kindness is better than treating them with
condemnation.