Thesis Statements

What is a thesis statement?

A thesis statement is the main idea of an essay. It is often a point you want to argue or support in an essay.

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The thesis statement explains to a reader the main idea of the essay, and the writers opinion on that idea.

A thesis statement is usually one sentence. It is often placed in the introductory paragraph of an essay. A thesis statement is a claim that can be argued. The basic three point thesis will have a topic, transition, followed by three elements.

Thesis statements avoid the following:

the first person (I believe, In my opinion, etc.) unclear language (It seems, etc.) attempting two topics at once (even if they seem related). Pick one and stick with it. just stating a fact - A thesis is something you plan to make an argument about.

Opinion Words/Phrases
Opinion: A thesis should contain a topic (what you are writing about), an opinion about the topic (what your attitude is toward the topic), and reasons why you hold that view (explanations answering why? or so what?). In other words, a thesis needs to be an arguable assertion that can be proven with facts and

opinions. To check to see if a thesis is arguable, locate the opinion words Locating the Opinion in a Thesis: When you look for the opinion in a thesis, ask yourself: What is the writers attitude towards the topic? For example, in the sentence Backpacking in the mountains last year was an exciting experience, the topic is backpacking and the controlling idea is that this trip was exciting. Another person on the same trip might have had a different attitude and may have found the trip boring or exhausting. Exciting reveals the writers attitude and also indicates what the essay with this thesis statement will be focused on: demonstrating why it was exciting. This thesis statement limits the writers focus and clearly tells the reader what the essay will be about.

Finding Opinion Words

Underline the opinion words below. If there are no opinion words, it is not a thesis:

1) Much maligned and the subject of unwarranted fears, most bats are harmless and highly beneficial. 2) Vigorous exercise is a good way to reduce the effects of stress on the body. 3) Buffalo and Toronto differ in four major ways. 4) Developing color film is more complicated than developing black and white. 5) In this essay I will discuss abortion. 6) Television is destroying the unity of the modern family. 7) In her essay, Erlich shows that there is a balance of community and isolation in her hometown.

A thesis statement should contain a topic (main idea of what you are writing about) contain an opinion about the topic (what your attitude is toward the topic)

A Basic Three Point Thesis should have:

Three distinct elements that support your topic. Lacking three elements: Abortion is wrong because it kills babies. Better: Abortion is morally wrong since it can lead to psychological scaring, possible medical complications and places infertile couples at a disadvantage in starting their own family.

Which statement does not have three elements of listen to music in class A. Allowing students to support?
is beneficial since many students concentrate better with music, students spend less time chatting or texting, and lastly, students are receptive to new concepts when tension is low.

B. Allowing music in the classroom forces students to work because they aren't forced to listen to their teacher's music.

Doesn't have three B. Allowing music in elements: the classroom forces students to work because they aren't forced to listen to their teacher's music.

A thesis statement should not be too broad.

Too Broad The world is a magnificent place to live. Better Good teachers make Downey High School a fantastic school.

Which sentence is too broad to be a good thesis statement?

A. One reason to live in Downey is

the access to many wonderful places to eat. B. Downey is a great place to live.

Too Broad

Downey is a great place to live.

A thesis statement should not be too wordy.

Wordy Some problems with Downey High School is that it needs a larger eating area, an air conditioned gym, an auditorium, restrooms connected to each classroom, running water in the classrooms, and a number of other physical changes to the building.

Better Downey High School needs several changes to its facility to make it a better school.

Which sentence is too wordy to be a good thesis statement?

A. Abe Lincoln was one of the best presidents the United States has ever known. B. Abe Lincoln was an excellent speaker, the 16th President of the United States, a liberator of slaves, and united the North and South at the end of the American Civil War.

Too Wordy
Abe Lincoln was an excellent speaker, the 16th President of the United States, a liberator of slaves, and united the North and South at the end of the American Civil War.

A thesis statement should not be too general.

Too general Downey High is a good school. Better Daily writing practice has led to improved writing skills for the students at Downey High School.

Which sentence is too general to be a good thesis statement?

A. Music makes people happy. B. Music therapy is useful in relieving stress and other conditions.

Too general

Music makes people happy.

A thesis statement should not be a title.

A title Cost of Living Better The cost of living in Downey is lower than in most other cities in the United States.

Which sentence would not be a good thesis statement because it is a title?

A. Good teaching has led to an increase in CST scores at Downey High School. B. Rising CST Scores at Downey High School.

A Title

Rising CST Scores at Downey High School.

A thesis statement should not be a a fact.

A fact The average temperature for Downey in winter is 68 and in summer is 78 degrees. Better The climate in Downey is ideal for outdoor sports.

Which sentence would not be a good thesis statement because it is a fact?

A. The recycling of one aluminum can save energy to run a TV for three hours. B. Recycling is one of the most important jobs a person can do to protect our environment.

A Fact

The recycling of one aluminum can save enough energy to run a TV for three hours.

More Practice

Directions: 1) Find the opinion words in the statement. If there are no opinion words, it is not a thesis statement. 2) Tell if the statement is a good thesis statement.

Although most people believe otherwise, bats are harmless and highly beneficial.

Directions: 1) Find the opinion words in the statement. If there are no opinion words, it is not a thesis statement. 2) Tell if the statement is a good thesis statement.

In this essay I will discuss the crime rate in Mountain City.

Directions: 1) Find the opinion words in the statement. If there are no opinion words, it is not a thesis statement. 2) Tell if the statement is a good thesis statement.

Energetic exercise is a good way to help relieve stress.

Directions: 1) Find the opinion words in the statement. If there are no opinion words, it is not a thesis statement. 2) Tell if the statement is a good thesis statement.

Downey and Paramount differ in many ways.

Directions: 1) Find the opinion words in the statement. If there are no opinion words, it is not a thesis statement. 2) Tell if the statement is a good thesis statement.

This paper will consider the advantages and disadvantages of students having nightly homework.

Directions: 1) Find the opinion words in the statement. If there are no opinion words, it is not a thesis statement. 2) Tell if the statement is a good thesis statement.

Hate speech should be eliminated for many reasons.

Take out a piece of notebook paper and number from 1 to 10. In each of the following slides tell whether the sentence is a good or bad thesis statement.

Good, bad, wordy

1. Many people do not like to watch

violent horror movies. 2. Todays movies do not have the emotional impact of the classic horror movies of the 1940s.

Good, bad, wordy

1. Many people find rap music offensive

because of its lack of positive effect on the youth, misogyny towards women and the violent culture it nurtures.

2. Rap music is the best music ever.

Good, bad, wordy

5. White water rafting can challenge a person

both in body and spirit since it is physically challenging, mentally harrowing and does not provide a 'quick' escape if danger arises. 6. I enjoy white water rafting because it is exhilarating and makes me feel accomplished.

Good, bad, wordy

7. Eleventh grade students are

busy. 8. The life of an eleventh grader is challenging due to extracurricular activities, academic demands and maintaining social relations.

Good, bad, wordy

9. Students should help others who are less

fortunate such as building shelters for the homeless, distributing clothes to the homeless and volunteering at soup kitchens. 10. Community service projects include building shelter for the homeless, servicing meals to the hungry, providing transportation for the sick, distributing clothes, and a large number of other helpful activities.

WHATS A SIMPLE WAY TO BUILD A THESIS?

You can also use this simple formula and it will lead you to a thesis:

WHAT IS YOUR TOPIC? ___________________________________________________________

Transition word/phrase (due to,because, by, such as, in order to)

_____________________________________________________________
Three elements: First element ___________________________________________________ Second element _________________________________________________ Third element ___________________________________________________

Practice time with the 2. Such as formula

3. Cancer treatments, discovery of new DNA, and improving medicinal drugs Your thesis would read: Experimentation on animals has proven beneficial due to the increased knowledge in scientific research such as, cancer treatments, discovery of new

increased knowledge in scientific research