Thesis statement worksheet
A thesis statement does three things:
1. Answers the research question
2. Makes a debatable claim, which your paper will support
3. Predicts the structure your paper will follow
Things to think about:
 Can it be argued? Would anyone disagree with your thesis?
 Limit your thesis. You can’t defend or support a broad general thesis.
 State your thesis fairly. Don’t over generalize.
Part 1: Some of the following thesis statements are strong and others need improvement.
Evaluate them and tell whether they are strong or weak. If they are weak tell why they are
weak, and make them stronger.
1. Reading literature to your children helps them appreciate the versatility of the
English language.
2. My family is an extended family.
3. Collecting baseball cards can be a fun and profitable hobby.
4. The President’s health care bill is a waste of tax dollars.
5. Travelling across America by train gives a person a better appreciation for the
diversity of the country.
6. Child abuse stems from alcoholism in the family.
7. American culture differs from Chinese culture.
8. Although some people disapprove of welfare reform, others do not.
9. Arizona is hot in the summer.
10. World hunger has many causes and effects.
Part II: Take the following statements of fact and commonly held opinions and change them into
interesting and workable thesis statements. Read each of the sentences and write another
sentence that states an opinion about that subject which would make a good persuasive
essay thesis.
1. Regular exercise is healthy.
2. Teen celebrities lead interesting lives.
3. Smoking is bad for you.
Part III: Compose as many good thesis statements as you can by linking a topic with an
appropriate claim. You will need to add words to indicate the structure your paper will
follow. Write them on a separate sheet of paper.
1. taking driver’s education
2. eating disorders
3. censorship in music
4. women in combat
5. sexual harassment
6. the stock market crash
7. sports stars
8. writing an essay
9. the welfare system
10. the Endangered Species Act
a. requires in-depth research and hard work
b. teaches responsibility
c. is harmful to society
d. is important to teenagers
e. teaches people to learn from past mistakes
f. is exciting and educational
g. is a worthwhile idea
h. has changed people’s attitudes
i. must be eliminated from society
j. serve as role models
k. helps the environment
l. benefits for those involved
Part IV: Use each of the following topics to form a thesis statement:
1.
2.
3.
4.
school uniforms
raising the driving age to 18
standardized tests (like AIMS)
year round school