Name:_________________________________________________________ period:___________
Thesis Statement Note-taking Guide
What are thesis statements?
 Thesis statements provide the purpose of the essay.
 Thesis statements are a one-sentence statement that provide the argument or claim that is defended and/or supported in an essay.
 The entire essay is constructed around the thesis statement
 Thesis statements should be structured in a prominent position in the introductory paragraph. It should be at the beginning or the end of the introductory paragraph so that it may stand out.
 All of the body paragraphs support, defend and argue the thesis statement.
 The thesis statement should be restated in the conclusion paragraph with supporting evidence.
 Thesis statements are used in every essay, for every subject and genre of writing.
Three Foundations of Thesis Statements
In the introductory paragraph the thesis statement will address:
 The Topic (what your paper will deal with)
 The Claim (what you think about the topic, pro or con, and your angle)
 Reasons that Support the Claim (three points that will support your claim)
There are two kinds of thesis statements: simple thesis statements and three-
part thesis statements.
 A simple thesis statement is a topic sentence that states the theme and claim of the entire essay.
 Example:
 School uniforms would benefit the academic and creative environment
of the school.
 A three-part thesis statement contains a list of the three support points applied in the body of the essay.
 Example:
 School uniforms would benefit the academic and creative environment of the school by concealing economic disparity among the student body, keeping students focused on academic rigor over cultural trends and by
cultivating creativity through skill development and intellect.
Thesis Statement structure:
Dependent clause + Independent clause that contains the argument
A Dependent clause + Independent clause is a strong and classic foundation for a solid thesis statement.
 Dependent clause: A group of words that contains a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought. A dependent clause cannot be a complete sentence.

Name:_________________________________________________________ period:___________
 Independent clause: A group of words that contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. An independent clause is a complete sentence. In a thesis statement the independent clause contains the claim, the argument.
Thesis Statement Structure
Examples of thesis statements with the dependent clause + independent clause
that contains the argument structure:
 Example 1 (simple thesis statement): (dependent clause) Although some students say they express their individuality through fashion, (independent
clause) school uniforms would benefit the academic and creative environment of the school.
 Example 2 (three-part thesis statement): (dependent clause) Although some students say they express their individuality through fashion,
(independent clause) school uniforms would benefit the academic and creative environment of the school by concealing economic disparity among the student body, keeping students focused on academic rigor over cultural trends and by cultivating creativity through skill development and intellect.
Dependent clause starters
Begin your dependent clause with one of the word or word phrases below. These starters will help you construct a thesis statement with a degree of comparison and complexity that will help establish your argument.

Name:_________________________________________________________ period:___________
Three support points
The three support points provide evidence that backs up your claim and organizes your argument. Your points should rely on evidence rather than your opinion. You will mention your three points in your introduction paragraph, in the same sequence that they will appear in the body paragraphs. Your support points should apply:
 Facts
 Statistics
 Textual Evidence
 Quotations from experts
 Examples
 Anecdotes
 Comparisons
 Research study results
 Logical reasoning (inductive and deductive)
 Anecdotal evidence
 Testimonials
 Public opinion
 Survey results
 Case studies
Sequencing
In literature, sequencing is the organization and order of events or ideas.
 It often refers to the chronological order of events of a narrative, as one event follows after another.
 It may also show how ideas relate through causality.
 Or, how logic develops (using deductive or inductive reasoning) from a premise.
Sequence of three points
The three points below are ideas in a logical sequential order because they flow out of each other through causality.
 1. conceal economic disparity among the student body
 2. keep students focused on academic rigor over cultural trends
 3. cultivate creativity through skill development and intellect.
Causality (also referred to as causation) commonly refers to the relationship between an event (the cause) and a second (later) event (the effect), where the second event is understood as a consequence of the first.
Prompt:
 Should children be required to attend standardized (public or private) education or should they be given a choice to opt out?
Example
Simple statement, followed by a three-part independent statement.

Name:_________________________________________________________ period:___________
 Simple statement: Completion of standard 12 th grade education should be mandatory for all students.
 Three-part independent statement: Students may not realize the longterm benefits of education, core education standards are taught during the senior year, and they will have more job competencies and opportunities if they complete twelfth grade.
Thesis statement:
Completion of standard 12 th grade education should be mandatory for all students.
Students may not realize the long-term benefits of education, core education standards are taught during the senior year, and they will have more job competencies and opportunities if they complete twelfth grade.
Example
Dependent + independent clause. Follow by three-part independent statement.
 Dependent + independent clause: Although thirty-percent of high school students drop out before graduation, completion of standard 12 th grade education should be mandatory for all students.
 Three-part independent statement: Students may not realize the longterm benefits of education, core education standards are taught during the senior year, and they will have more job competencies and opportunities if they complete twelfth grade.
Thesis statement:
Although thirty-percent of high school students drop out before graduation, completion of standard 12 th grade education should be mandatory for all students.
Students may not realize the long-term benefits of education, core education standards are taught during the senior year, and they will have more job competencies and opportunities if they complete twelfth grade.
Example
Dependent + independent clause + three-part clause
Dependent + independent clause: Although thirty-percent of high school students drop out before graduation, completion of standard 12 th grade education should be mandatory for all students…
Three-part independent clause: …because students may not realize the long-term benefits of education, core education standards are taught during the senior year, and they will have more job competencies and opportunities if they complete twelfth grade.
Thesis statement: Although thirty-percent of high school students drop out before graduation, completion of standard 12 th grade education should be mandatory for all students because students may not realize the long-term benefits of education, core education standards are taught during the senior year, and they will have more job competencies and opportunities if they complete twelfth grade.