Writing a Thesis
Be able to defend your arguments in a rational way.
Otherwise, all you have is an opinion.
Marilyn Vos Savant
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Thesis defined:

The thesis sentence tells the reader what the
entire essay is about, a map of your essay.
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Thesis facts:
 It
must be the last sentence of the
first paragraph.
 It is the most important sentence
of your entire essay.
 In one sentence you must include
your position and reasons.

(But most importantly, it is the first thing that the reader will look for in your
essay. If you have a good thesis, you will no doubt make a favorable
impression on the reader.)
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Let’s look at a thesis sentence:
 Smoking
should be
banned in public places
because smoke pollutes
the environment,
contaminates our lungs,
and smells terrible.
Note: Thesis is one sentence composed of two parts.
4
Unscramble the thesis:
and is too expensive.
 fast food should be banned
 promotes a sedentary lifestyle,
 because it contributes to heart disease and
obesity,
 (Learning the right order of the thesis
sentence is important. So try to
unscramble this sentence.)

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Corrected thesis:
 Fast
food should be banned
because it contributes to heart
disease and obesity, promotes a
sedentary lifestyle, and is too
expensive.
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Let’s look at a poor thesis
sentence:

I believe teenagers should get paid minimum wage
because they do the same amount of work, equal
labor rights, and they need the money.
(In this thesis sentence the reasons are not parallel
which means that they are not in the same
grammatical form. Do your best to improve and
then take a look at the improved version on the
next slide.)
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Improved version:
 Teenagers
should get paid
minimum wage because teenage
workers do the same amount of
work, enjoy equal labor rights, and
need the money.
8
Rewrite this sentence:

I myself say that all citizens at the age of 18
should serve one year in the military because they
will learn to work. Also, learn patriotism.
Furthermore, they will learn to get along with
people.

(Keep your thesis statement ONE SENTENCE! Do not break it up in to
separate sentences because you will use too many words. In this
particular thesis sentence, the second and third “ sentences” are not
sentences but fragments.
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Correction:
All
18 year old citizens
should serve one year in the
military because they will
learn to work, be patriotic,
and get along with people.
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Complete:
 Trash
burning fires should be
banned because
_________________________,
_________________________,
and_______________________
_________________________.
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Complete:
_____________________
___________________
because they are dangerous
and cause many
unnecessary deaths.
12
Assignment: Write a thesis
sentence to the following topic.
Do
you think that all high
school students should wear
uniforms to school on a daily
basis?
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