Thesis Statements Essay Basics Thesis Statements Purpose To
Thesis Statements Essay Basics
Thesis Statements Purpose: To learn what makes a good thesis statement To improve my thesis statement based on what I learned today Academic Goals: I can practice active listening strategies I can speak my opinions and communicate with my class members Social Goals: I can support my peers with their learning
Rate yourself! On a scale of 1 -10, with 1 being not at all confident & 10 being totally confident, where do you rate yourself in your ability to write a thesis statement? Where did you learn about thesis statements and what did you learn?
What is a thesis statement? A thesis statement is the main argument of your essay, summed up in one sentence. It is an opinion backed up with evidence. It should be debatable.
Why have a thesis statement? A thesis statement tells your reader what the main idea of your essay will be. It is the purpose of your paper. It gives your paper focus. It usually appears near the end of your introduction paragraph.
Common Thesis Statement Template Topic + Verb + Opinion + Argument(s) = Thesis Cats + are + better than dogs + enjoyable, civilized, and low-maintenance = Cats are better house pets than dogs, as they are enjoyable, civilized, and low-maintenance.
Topic into a Thesis Topic: The characteristics of a successful politician in Ancient Rome Thesis: In order to be successful in the political life of Ancient Rome, a leader needed to have good orating skills, military valour, and unique charm.
Topic to a Thesis Often times a thesis is an answer to a question. Topic: Sisterly Relationships in Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility Question: How do sisterly relationships affect the development of the characters in Sense and Sensibility? Thesis: In Sense and Sensibility, Austen suggests that sisterly relationships strengthen, develop characters, and assist them in their search for happiness.
Topic into a Thesis Topic: Gothic devices in Ann Radcliffe’s The Italian Question: How does Radcliffe employ gothic devices to present her ideas of romanticism? Thesis: Ann Radcliffe uses gothic descriptions and techniques throughout The Italian in order to develop a larger theme of the romantic ideal of individualism.
You try! Topic: The affects of homework on high school students. Question: Is homework beneficial or detrimental to student learning? Thesis:
When do you create your thesis? You must have a thesis before you begin writing your essay It usually comes about after you have done your research and formed an opinion on your topic, so during the planning/outlining stage.
Things to avoid There are 9 common errors that some writers make:
1. A thesis cannot be a fragment; it must be expressed as a complete sentence. Poor: How life is in a racial ghetto. Better: Residents of a racial ghetto tend to have a higher death rate, a higher infant mortality rate, and a higher unemployment rate than do residents of the suburbs.
2. A thesis must not be worded as a question Do Canadians really need large refrigerators? If Canadians did their marketing daily, as do some Europeans, they could save energy and money because they could use smaller refrigerators.
3. A thesis must not be too broad. The literature of mythology contains many journeys. In Greek mythology, the motif of the journey represents the internal struggles and eventual perseverance of mortals.
4. A thesis should not contain unrelated elements. All novelists seek the truth, and some novelists are good psychologists. In their attempt to probe human nature, many novelists become excellent psychologists.
5. A thesis should not contain phrases like I think or in my opinion because they weaken the writer's argument. I think forest fires are the biggest danger facing our natural resources. Forest fires are enormously destructive because they ravage the land, create problems for flood control, and destroy useful lumber.
6. A thesis should not be expressed in vague language. Religion as part of the school curriculum should be avoided because it can cause trouble. Religion as a part of school curriculum should be avoided because it is a highly personal commitment.
7. A thesis must not be expressed in muddled or incoherent language. All students should not think that university is for everyone, because for many people they have a career that high school was all they needed. Students should realize that many people have good careers without having attended university.
8. A thesis should not be expressed in figurative language (symbolic in any way). Love is the rose in the garden of our existence. Love is the true basis of human happiness.
9. A thesis should not simply state a fact. Women have been repressed at different times and in different cultures. The repression of women writers in North America during the nineteenth century contributed to the idea that there were relatively few writers who should be included in anthologies.
Let’s Try it! With your elbow partner, please do the following: You have received 9 poorly worded theses. 1. Analyze and identify their weaknesses in terms of the previous slides. 2. Rewrite each to make it clear and effective.
Practice 1. In my opinion, famine control is a necessity in today’s world. 2. Just how far should film boards go with censorship of movies? 3. How missionaries are sent to primitive areas in order to introduce Western civilization.
Practice 4. The study of psychology is fascinating. 5. Education should train all young people for jobs, and natives are impatient with conditions today. 6. Slang is the speech of him who robs the literary garbage carts on their way to the dumps.
Practice 7. Our trip to Newfoundland was great. 8. Three factors may be singled out as being especially militating against the optimum adjustment that partners in the marriage relationship should experience, as money, culture, and education. 9. Cigarettes cause cancer.
Reflection Activity Remember our purpose: 1. to learn what is a good thesis statement 2. to create good thesis statements What makes a good thesis statement? Write a definition in your own words. On a scale of 1 -10, with 1 being not at all confident & 10 being totally confident, where do you NOW rate yourself in your ability to write a thesis statement? Has your assessment of yourself changed? Why?
Your Turn! 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Go back to your essay. Highlight your thesis statement. Analyse it. Have you made any of the 9 errors? Fix it. Be ready to share it with your table group!
Group Sharing 1. Share your thesis statement with your group. 2. As a group, select the one you think needs to be strengthened. 3. Someone now needs to write it on the blackboard. 4. Let’s repeat, and repeat until we are confident about them all.
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