Thesis Statements
How to state your opinion wisely
in the introduction.
What is a thesis statement?
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1.
2.
3.
Located at the end of
the introductory
paragraph, the thesis
is the core statement
and the main idea of
the essay:
It directly answers the
writing prompt question.
It is an opinionated and
complex statement.
It includes sub-points:
the three elements
supporting the author’s
main idea.
How interesting is this thesis?
How big is the thesis statement?
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The thesis is essential
because it maps the
form and the substance
of the essay.
Without a thesis, an
essay drifts into a
series of meaningless
observations.
The thesis is to the
essay as the bones are
to the body—without
either one, all that’s left
is a pile of shapeless
blubber.
Does the thesis answer the prompt?
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Which thesis answers the
writing question?
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How do you react when you
don’t get your way?
__1. When they don’t get their
way, some get angry,
others get noisy, and still
others get physical.
__2. When I don’t get my way,
I tend to become quite
angry, start yelling aloud,
and then hit someone
really hard.
The thesis must answer the prompt!
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Ever seen this reaction?
One thesis directly
answers the question:
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Question: How do you
react when you don’t get
your way?
__1. When they don’t get their
way, some people get angry,
others get noisy, and still
others get quiet.
X_ 2. When I don’t get my
way, I tend to become
quite angry, start yelling
aloud, and then hit someone
really hard.
Does the thesis answer the prompt?
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What should college
students know about debt?
__1. College students should
know that they can reduce
their debt load by working
part-time, cutting credit
card use, and attending lessexpensive colleges.
__2. Working part-time, cutting
credit card use, and even
attending cheaper colleges
can help college students
avoid major debt.
How funny is this one?
The thesis does answer the prompt!
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What should college
students know about debt?
X_1. College students should
know that they can reduce
their debt load by working
part-time, cutting credit
card use, and attending lessexpensive colleges.
__2. Working part-time, cutting
credit card use, and even
attending cheaper colleges
can help college students
avoid major debt.
How funny is this one?
Which thesis answers the prompt?
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Do we see this student type?
What kind of college
student are you?
__1. In college, there are the
overachievers, the
strugglers, and the
slackers.
__2. Among the types of
college students, I am a
struggler because I must
balance work and a social
life with my school
demands.
__3. I would probably be an
overachiever if I weren’t
such a slacker.
This thesis answers the prompt!
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Do we see this student type?
What kind of college
student are you?
__1. In college, there are the
overachievers, the
strugglers, and the slackers.
X_2. Among the types of
college students, I am a
struggler because I must
balance work and a social
life with my school
demands.
__3. I would probably be an
overachiever if I weren’t
such a slacker.
Does the thesis answer the prompt?
•
Should the US raise the
driving age to eighteen?
__1. Even sixteen-year-olds are
old enough to drive, so let
them behind the wheel.
__2. Raising the driving age to
eighteen could help reduce
teen driving accidents.
__3. The US should raise the
driving age to eighteen to
allow teens time to mature,
to make our roads safer,
and to reduce teen driving
deaths.
How useful is this observation?
Does the thesis answer the prompt?
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Should the US raise the
driving age to eighteen?
__1. Even sixteen-year-olds are
old enough to drive, so let
them behind the wheel.
__2. Raising the driving age to
eighteen could help reduce
teen driving accidents.
X_3. The US should raise the
driving age to eighteen to
allow teens time to
mature, to make our roads
safer, and to reduce teen
driving deaths.
How useful is this advise?
What else is a thesis statement?
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The argumentative thesis takes
a side of an issue:
In an argument concerning the
nuclear power plant, the thesis
for a paper on this topic might
be:
– “Governments should ban
further construction of
nuclear power plants since
they are dangerous.”
Yet someone else might argue:
– “The U.S. should continue
building nuclear power plants
because we need the energy.”
What isn’t a thesis statement?
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A thesis states an
arguable opinion.
Ex. Despite the
opposition, the
president needs
to improve the
economy.
A non-arguable fact
can’t be a thesis.
Ex. Government
figures show
decreasing
economic activity.
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An announcement is
too personal to be a
good thesis.
Ex. In this essay, I
will prove that the
national economy
needs help.
A broad statement
is impossible to
argue as a thesis.
Ex. Currently, the
national economy
is weak.
Can you match statement types?
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What is each
item?
a. thesis
b. broad
statement
c. fact
d. announcement
Free Doritos Ad
__1. Two unemployed brothers
created the Superbowl Free
Doritos advertisement.
__2. Marco Martinez was wrong
to sell his daughter aged 14
for a hundred cases of beer.
__3. I believe that we should
accept the native custom of
selling daughters for cash.
__4. Congress should pass the
stimulus plan to provide jobs,
improve roads, and jumpstart
the economy.
Can you match statement types?
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What is
each item?
a. thesis
b. broad
statement
c. fact
d. announcement
Jail for bad beer deal?
BS 1. Marco Martinez was wrong
to sell his daughter aged 14
for a hundred cases of beer.
FT 2. Two unemployed brothers
created the Superbowl Free
Doritos advertisement.
AN 3. I believe that we should
accept the native custom of
selling daughters for cash.
TH 4. Congress should pass the
stimulus plan to provide jobs,
improve roads, and jumpstart
the economy.
Can you match statement types?
•
What is
each item?
a. thesis
b. broad
statement
c. fact
d. announcement
Star Trek Teleporting
__1. Researchers contend that
boys with unpopular names
often become criminals.
__2. January is a big month for
drinkers who want to quit.
__3. About 1 in 5 people with
alcohol dependence stop
drinking without any help.
__4. In this essay, I will prove
that teleportation is real, but
you still shouldn’t try it at
home.
Can you match statement types?
Is the title a thesis or
a broad statement?
TH 1. Researchers contend that
boys with unpopular names
often become criminals.
BS 2. January is a big month
for drinkers who want to
quit.
FT 3. About 1 in 5 people with
alcohol dependence stop
drinking without any help.
AN 4. In this essay, I will
prove that teleportation is
real, but you still shouldn’t
try it at home.
Can you match statement types?
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What is
each item?
a. thesis
b. broad
statement
c. fact
d. announcement
Toasting the enemy
__1. The US military should leave
Iraq to save our national
image, our hurting economy,
and even our soldier’s lives.
__2. The war in Iraq has turned
into a very bad mess.
__3. The money saved from one
year of the Iraq war could be
used to put all of America on
free solar electric power.
__4. The purpose of this essay is
to convince the reader that
the Iraq war has gone wrong.
You can match statement types!
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What is
each item?
a. thesis
b. broad
statement
c. fact
d. announcement
An innocent victim
TH 1. The US military should leave
Iraq to put an end to save our
national image, our hurting
economy, and even our
soldier’s lives.
BS 2. The war in Iraq has turned
into a very bad mess.
FT 3. The money saved from one
year of the Iraq war could be
used to put all of America on
free solar electric power.
AN 4. The purpose of this essay is
to convince the reader that
the Iraq war has gone wrong.
How does the thesis shape the essay?
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Thesis: College students should know that they can
reduce their debt load by
– working part-time,
– cutting credit card use,
– and attending less-expensive colleges.
Topic sentence 1: College students should know that
they can reduce their debt load by working parttime.
Topic sentence 2: College students should know that
they can reduce their debt load by cutting credit
card use.
Topic sentence 3: College students should know that
they can reduce their debt load by attending lessexpensive colleges.
What’s missing from the introduction?
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Is this starting at the bottom?
I believe that students
should know about debt
with college loans, credit
cards, and car loans. All
must be paid back. In my
opinion, too many
students attend college
not knowing about
finances. I think they
didn’t learn about
economic stability.
Therefore, it is hard for
them to remain financially
sound.
Add a thesis to the introduction!
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In my opinion, Too many
attend college not knowing
about finances. I think They
didn’t learn about economic
stability. Therefore, it is
hard for them to remain
financially sound. I believe
that Students should
reduce their debt loads by
working part-time,
shunning unnecessary
borrowing, and attending
less-pricey colleges.
Wouldn’t college be an idea?
Which thesis is on the topic?
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At which professional
level will you work?
__1. There are three levels of
professional work: low, mid,
and high.
__2. Most college graduates
begin working at the low
professional level as
nurses, technicians, or
salespersons.
__3. After graduation, I will
work in a mid-level
profession as a manager.
Just one sentence is correct:
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At which professional
level will you work?
__1. There are three levels of
professional work: low, mid,
and high.
__2. Most college graduates
begin working at the low
professional level as
nurses, technicians, or
salespersons.
X_ 3. After graduation, I will
work in a mid-level
profession as a manager.
How management cuts costs!
Which thesis is most on the topic?
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What do people reveal about
themselves by driving style?
__1. Road rage, weaving
through traffic, and
cutting others off show
aggressive driving styles.
__2. Through their driving
styles, people show
whether they are cautious,
moderate, or dangerous.
__3. While the elderly ride the
brakes, teens rule the
roads by putting the pedal
to the metal.
Just one sentence is correct:
•
What do people reveal about
themselves by driving style?
__1. Road rage, weaving
through traffic, and
cutting others off show
aggressive driving styles.
X_ 2. Through their driving
styles, people show
whether they are cautious,
moderate, or dangerous.
__3. While the elderly ride the
brakes, teens rule the
roads by putting the pedal
to the metal.
What is a thesis statement?
•
1.
2.
3.
The thesis is
the main idea
of the essay:
It directly
answers the
question.
It is an
opinionated
and complex
statement.
It includes
three subpoints
supporting the
main idea.