THESIS STATEMENTS
WME P. 25-29
THESIS STATEMENTS
• Show the writer’s unique approach (point of view)
to the topic of the essay
• Are often directly followed by essay map
• Essay maps state the ideas that support the writer’s position
• Often state three main ideas
Example:
Grandma Rose’s house was my treasure house; it was in
this house that I enjoyed unconditional love, played all the
childhood games, and learned a lot of survival skills.
THESIS STATEMENTS
• Telemarketing should be made illegal because it
intrudes in our family time, interrupts our normal
telephone conversations, and allows room for
fraudulent sales.
• The federal government should monitor internet
communications because pornography on the internet
has harmful effects on children; advertising agencies
may persuade viewers to buy defective products, and
people may be misled by false information posted
through the internet.
DEVELOPING A THESIS STATEMENT
1. Choose a topic.
2. Write the thesis statement by clearly expressing
your approach (point of view) to the topic.
3. Write your essay map by stating 3 main ideas.
DEVELOPING A THESIS STATEMENT
Topic: Success
View: Success means achieving personal
goals.
Map: It means to have a loving family, a good
education, and a stable job.
Thesis Statement: Success means achieving
personal goals including having a loving
family, a good education, and a stable job.
DEVELOPING A THESIS STATEMENT
Topic: My father
View: My father is the most responsible person in the
world.
Map: He provides all the necessities for the family, lends
a shoulder to his relatives, and makes sure that all his
kids do well in school.
Thesis statement: My father is the most responsible
person in the world since he provides all the necessities
for the family, lends a shoulder to his relatives, and
makes sure that all his kids do well in school.
WHAT TO AVOID
• Avoid using vague/broad terms.
• Words like “good,” “bad,” “great,” “terrific,” and
“cool” should be avoided because they suggest a
broad range of meanings:
• Vague: My high school graduation day was a great day.
• Clear: My high school graduation day was an exciting day,
highlighted by the inspirational speaker, the emotional
ceremony, and the unforgettable dance.
WHAT TO AVOID
• Avoid using statements that are too narrow.
• A narrow thesis statement (sometimes called dead
end) doesn’t have any room to grow:
• The speed limit near my home is 65 miles per hour.
• A hurricane hit southern Florida last summer.
• Remember, a thesis statement must be broad
enough to require support:
• The speed limit near by home should be lowered to 55 miles
per hour for several reasons.
• Federal officials made a number of mistakes in their
response to the recent Florida hurricane.
WHAT TO AVOID
• Avoid announcing the topic/the writer’s intention (“I
am going to…”)
• Announcing the topic is redundant and distracting
• Redundant: In this essay, I will describe the process of how to
get ready for a folkloric dance performance.
• Concise: It is easy to learn how to get ready for a folkloric
dance performance.
• Redundant: In this essay, I will talk about a personal
experience I had with the betrayal of a friend.
• Concise: Being betrayed by a friend was a painful
experience.
WHAT TO AVOID
• Stating more than one main idea:
• One of the most serious problems affecting young people
today is bullying, and it is time more kids learned the value
of helping others.
• Teachers have played an important role in my life, but they
were not as important as my parents.
• Try to be as clear as possible, and limit your thesis
statement to the single key idea you want readers
to know.
TOPIC SENTENCES
WME P. 29-32
TOPIC SENTENCES
• The main idea of a body paragraph
• One of the major points supporting the thesis
Example:
Thesis Statement: My visit to my motherland Philippines was a
great learning experience; I learned about my culture, my
parents, and myself.
Topic Sentence 1: Going back to my own country, the
Philippines, helped me learn about the customs and traditions
typical of my culture.
Topic Sentence 2: Learning about my roots helped me
understand my parents better.
Topic Sentence 3: Returning to my roots also helped me learn
about myself.
DEVELOPING A TOPIC SENTENCE
• Should be less general than the thesis statement,
but general enough to control the body paragraph
1. Review thesis statement & writer’s view on topic
2. Check essay map
3. Rewrite each of the major points from the map in
a complete sentence, which recaptures the
writer’s view and the supporting major point. Each
rewritten sentence becomes the topic sentence.
THESIS STATEMENT:
Recycling trash should be mandatory because it decreases pollution,
saves money, and reinforces citizens’ sense of responsibility.
Topic
Sentence 1
Recycling trash is a good way
to alleviate the problem of
pollution.
Topic
Sentence 2
We can also save money if
we recycle trash.
Topic
Sentence 3
Our citizens’ sense of
responsibility will be reinforced
by recycling trash.
REVIEW
• A thesis statement is the __________________________.
• An essay map states _____________________________.
• Things to avoid in thesis statements are:
•
•
•
•
• A topic sentences is the __________________________.