Thesis Statements

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Thesis Statements

• Turning Essential Questions
• into Thesis Statements

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Thesis Statements

• Youve learned what Essential Questions are,
  brainstormed several possible questions, and
  decided on the one question you want to explore
  for your research.
• BUT, your teacher wants your paper to be based
  on a thesis statement.
• Now what do you do?

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Thesis Statements

• No problem!
• Take your Essential Question and decide what
  answer/attitude/angle/argument you want to take
  with it.
• Thats your thesis statement.
• (If you change your mind as you research more,
  you can change your thesis statement.)

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Thesis Statements

• Example
• Essential Question
• Should all steroids be banned from sports?
• Thesis Statement
• Steroids, even those legally available, are
  addictive and should be banned from sports.

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Thesis StatementThe five tests

• Does the thesis inspire the reader to ask, How?
  or Why?
• Would a reasonable reader NOT respond with Duh!
  or So what? or Gee, no kidding! or Who
  Cares?
• Does the thesis avoid general phrasing and/or
  sweeping words such as all or none or every?

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Thesis StatementsFive Tests continued

• Does the thesis lead the reader toward the
  subtopics needed to prove the thesis?
• Can the thesis be adequately developed in the
  required length of the paper or project?

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Thesis Statements

• Proficient vs. Advanced thesis statements.
• A proficient thesis statement inspires the reader
  to ask How or Why?
• An Advanced thesis inspires the reader to do the
  above and also to exclaim Wow!. It engages the
  reader in challenging or provocative research and
  displays a level of thought that breaks new
  ground.
• Valenza, J. What is a thesis? Springfield
  Township High School Library.

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Thesis Statements

• An advanced thesis
• Takes some sort of stand.
• Justifies discussion.
• Expresses one main idea.
• Is specific.
• Remembers the Wow! Factor.

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Which is an Advanced Thesis?

• Men are chauvinists.
• Our American family structure encourages men to
  repress their true feelings, leaving them open to
  physical, psychological and relationship
  difficulties.

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Which is an Advanced Thesis?

• Young children should not watch television
  violence.
• Violence on television increases aggressive
  behavior in preschool children.

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Thesis Statements

• Now you try it!
• Begin with the Essential Question you have chosen
  for your research.
• Create one Proficient Thesis Statement
• Create one Advanced Thesis Statement.