Download Thesis statements

Thesis statements
 Learning objective – By the end of class, you will be
able to effectively write an (argumentative) thesis
statement.
Thesis statements - review
 1. A good argumentative thesis is focused and not
too broad.
 2. A good argumentative thesis is centered on
a debatable topic.
 3. A good argumentative thesis picks a side.
 4. A good thesis makes claims that will be
supported later in the paper.
Thesis statements – Types of claims

Claims of fact or definition: These claims argue about what the definition of something is or whether something
is a settled fact. Example:
What some people refer to as global warming is actually nothing more than normal, long-term cycles of climate change.

Claims of cause and effect: These claims argue that one person, thing, or event caused another thing or event to
occur. Example:
The popularity of SUV's in America has caused pollution to increase.

Claims about value: These are claims made of what something is worth, whether we value it or not, how we
would rate or categorize something. Example:
Global warming is the most pressing challenge facing the world today.

Claims about solutions or policies: These are claims that argue for or against a certain solution or policy
approach to a problem. Example:
Instead of drilling for oil in Alaska we should be focusing on ways to reduce oil consumption, such as researching
renewable energy sources.
Thesis statements – We do
Directions:
1. Carefully read the writing prompt and the Bad Thesis Statement.
2. Then, rewrite a Good Thesis Statement. State the subject and tell the
author’s purpose for writing or the point to be proved. A good thesis
statement will directly respond to each part of the writing prompt.
Writing Prompt: Describe how television commercials influence children.
Bad: Television commercials have an influence on children.
Why?
Good:
Thesis statements – Television and
children
1. Studies show that too much television viewing can have
negative affects: children may have attention difficulties, they
may have more violent and aggressive play and behavior, and
they are more likely to be obese.
2. Television commercials have a negative influence on children
in the following ways: they increase viewership, they breed
materialism in children, and they contribute to the overall
problem of Americans needing instant gratification.
Thesis statements – you do
Directions:
1. Carefully read the writing prompt and the Bad Thesis Statement.
2. Then, rewrite a Good Thesis Statement. State the subject and tell the
author’s purpose for writing or the point to be proved. A good thesis
statement will directly respond to each part of the writing prompt.
Writing Prompt: Discuss the benefits of playing team sports.
Bad: Playing team sports has many benefits.
Why?
Good:
Thesis Statements –
Evaluation
 Is the thesis focused?
 Is the thesis debatable?
 Does it pick a side?
 Can it be supported?
 Identify the claim and the 3 reasons of the thesis.
Thesis statements: Evaluations and
Rewrites
 With your district partner(s):
 1. read the writing prompt and evaluate the bad
thesis statements; on a separate sheet of paper,
write WHY it is a bad thesis statement and…
 2. revise the bad thesis statements using the
elements of argumentative thesis statements
 Writing prompt: Discuss the benefits of playing
team sports.
 Bad: Playing team sports has many benefits.
 Why?
 Good:
 Writing prompt: Persuade the school board to
lengthen summer vacation.
 Bad: Many people think that summer vacation
should be extended.
 Why?
 Good:
 Writing prompt: Justify the government’s duty to
collect taxes.
 Bad: The government has a duty to collect taxes.
 Why?
 Good:
 Writing prompt: evaluate this statement – Everyone
should learn to play a musical instrument.
 Bad: Learning to play a musical instrument has both
good and bad points.
 Why?
 Good:
 Writing Prompt: Explain why young people
especially enjoy hobbies.
 Bad: One hobby many young people especially
enjoy is reading.
 Why?
 Good:
EXIT TICKET – Introduction paragraph
 Hook
 Thesis – Claim, Argument, Side of Topic Chosen
 Roadmap – Three reasons
Exit ticket
 Pass Arena Notes to front of classroom
 Each tribute needs to prepare a piece of paper with
a proper heading and title it “In-class Introduction
Paragraph”
Exit ticket prompt
 Select one thesis statement from the five you have
just created.
 Write an introduction paragraph, using margin
planner, in which you discuss the prompt/thesis you
selected. Be sure to support your thesis statement
with details and examples (3 reasons) .