What is a thesis statement

1
What is a thesis statement?

• The MOST IMPORTANT SENTENCE in your paper!

2
What is a thesis statement?

• The MOST IMPORTANT SENTENCE in your paper
• A road map for the rest of the paper
• Lets the reader know the main idea of the paper
• Answers the question What am I trying to
  prove?
• Not a factual statement, but a claim
• that has to be proven throughout the paper

3
Role of the thesis statement

• The thesis statement should guide your reader
  through your argument.
• The thesis statement is generally located in the
  introduction of the paper.
• A thesis statement may also be located within the
  body of the paper or in the conclusion, depending
  upon the purpose or argument of the paper.

4
Which thesis statement is the most effective for
an argument about the need for V-chips in
television sets?

• Parents, often too busy to watch television shows
  with their families, can monitor their childrens
  viewing habits with the aid of the V-chip.
• To help parents monitor their childrens viewing
  habits, the V-chip should be a required feature
  for television sets sold in the U.S.
• This paper will describe a V-chip and examine the
  uses of the V-chip in American-made television
  sets.

5
How do I Know if my Thesis is Strong?

• Do I answer the prompt question?
• Have I taken a position others would oppose?
• Does my thesis pass the SO WHAT test?
• Does my essay support my thesis specifically and
  without wandering?
• Does my thesis pass the HOW or WHY test?

6

• In your Journal choose the best thesis statement
  from the list below and explain why you feel it
  answers questions 2, 3, and 5 from the previous
  slide.
• The North and South fought the civil war for many
  reasons, some of which were the same and some
  different
• While both sides fought the civil war over the
  issue of slavery, the North fought for moral
  reasons while the south fought to preserve its
  own institutions.
• While both Northerners and Southerners believed
  they fought against tyranny and oppression,
  Northerners focused nobly on the rights of others
  and the oppression of slaves while Southerners
  defended only their rights to own property and
  self-government.

7

• In your Journal choose the best thesis statement
  from the list below and explain why you feel it
  answers questions 2, 3, and 5 from the previous
  slide.
• Mark Twains Huckleberry Finn is a great American
  novel.
• In Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain develops a
  contrast between life on the river and life on
  the shore.
• Through its contrasting river and shore scenes,
  Twains Huckleberry Finn suggests that to find
  the true expression of American democratic
  ideals, one must leave civilized society and go
  back to nature.

8
THESIS STATEMENT REVIEW

• Using the information you have learned in this
  PowerPoint, create thesis for a paper on the
  following essay prompt
• Bilingual Education As part of a proposed
  educational initiative in your state, local
  school districts are responsible for providing
  required courses in both English language and
  Spanish language in order to increase the success
  of their programs. Because your state has a large
  population of Spanish speakers, the state
  education department believes that teaching these
  students in their first language will help them
  learn better and more quickly. Because of the
  limited budget, however, the local school board
  is concerned that they may not be able to provide
  the additional teachers or training needed for
  this program. They fear that they will lose state
  funding and accreditation even though 90 of the
  district's students pass their achievement tests
  on the first try. What is your position on this
  issue? Write an essay stating your view, and
  supporting it with three convincing reasons.
  Remember to address the viewpoint of the
  opposition.