Identify what a thesis

statement is;
Lesson Distinguish weak from strong
Objecti
ves thesis statements; and
Develop a thesis statement for
a given text.
 THESIS
STATEMENT
 When you read a passage,

SML: how much do you have to

Share read to understand the topic
Mo or purpose?
Lang
 What is the purpose of
writing an essay?
  is written to state the main
purpose or argument of
your writing
Thesis  serves as the guide for the
Stateme essay (gives direction)
nt  requires proof to become
convincing
can be explicit or implicit
 Maria glared at her
mother, quickly
Explici spun on her heels,
t vs. and slammed the
Implic door so hard the
it neighbors
probably heard.
 The most significant
problems facing
Explici Africa are poverty,
t vs. political corruption,
and poor health care.
Implic There are several
it serious problems
facing Africa today
that require
attention.
 Thesis
Stateme
nt
vs.
Topic
Sentenc
e
 is usually the first
sentence of a
Topic
Sentenc paragraph that signals
e to the reader what the
paragraph’s main idea
will be
  Some of the most
impactful inventions of the
Thesis 19th century that changed
Stateme the way we live were the
nt vs. telephone, the bicycle, and
plastic.
Conclusi  Restatement: It is
on obvious that these three
19th-century inventions
dramatically changed our
lifestyles.
  Expository-explains a situation to
the reader; discusses facts of a topic
Kinds of  Example:
Thesis
Statemen  Attentive listening relies on asking
ts the right questions, building strong
relationships, and having an open
mind.
  Argumentative- convinces the reader to
believe in a specific point of view; makes

Kinds of claim about a topic and defends this claim

Thesis with evidence

Statemen  Example:
ts  Because junk food is bad for your health, the
size of sodas offered at fast food restaurants
should be regulated by the government.
  Analytical-states the topic of your
paper, what specifically you analyzed,

Kinds of and the conclusion(s) you reached as a

Thesis result of that analysis.

Statemen  Example:
ts  An analysis of alternatives to fossil fuel
energies indicates that a better option is
the use of solar and wind power.
Key Elements for
a Strong Thesis
Statement
 Weak: Barack Obama won the
2008 Presidential election.
1. It is Strong: Barack Obama won the
not a 2008 Presidential election
fact. It because his grassroots
campaign performed well in
is rural counties, his promise
arguab about creating new jobs
le. resonated, and rust-belt voters
wanted a change in party
leadership.
 Weak: This paper discusses
the advantages and
disadvantages of owning a
2.It is not pet.
an Strong: Owning a pet brings
announceme good than burden because
nt.
they can lower stress levels,
make one feel safe, and
teach their owners
responsibility.
 Weak: Too much alcohol
consumption
3. It is Strong: Excessive
not a alcohol consumption
fragme increases the risk of
nt. health problems as it may
cause liver damage,
stomach distress, and
even cancer.
 Weak: Social media
impacts public awareness
4. It in both positive and
negative ways.
takes
Strong: Because not
a every voice on social media
stand. is reliable, people should be
more critical consumers of
information.
 To make your thesis
5. It statement persuasive,
requir facts, surveys, reports,
es etc. should be used as
suppo proof or evidences to
rt. support your claim or
opinion on the topic.
CRAFTING A
THESIS
STATEMENT
 Topic
Three controlling idea
major
(belief/view/ feeling
parts of
about the topic)
a thesis
statem sub-topics (areas
ent you will focus on to
support your idea)
 Topic- whatever the
Three overall essay is about
major Claim- your argument; a
parts of stance on the issue you
brought up in the topic
a thesis
“So what?”- the reason
statem
why your readers should
ent care about the point you’re
making
 College students should be

Thesis encouraged to pursue a career

statem in science because of the large
ent
number of job options and the

higher salaries.
 Idea: ______________ (topic)
should/ should
not______________ (claim)
Thesis
because ____________________
Stateme
nt (so what).
Thesis Statement:
_______________________________
_________________________
 Topic: Bowling is a sport for
Crafting everyone.
Thesis Supports:
Stateme A. It is not limited to any age
nt from group.
given B.It can be played at any
informati time.
on C.It does not require any
expensive equipment.
Crafting Thesis Statement:
Thesis Bowling is a sport for everyone
Stateme
because it is not limited to any
nt from
given age group, it can be played at
informati any time, and it does not require
on
any expensive equipment.
 Topic: Young children
Crafting require a lot of care.
Thesis Supports:
Stateme A. You must provide for their
nt from physical needs.
given B.You must provide for their
informati emotional needs.
on C.You must help them grow
mentally.
Crafting Thesis Statement:
Thesis
Stateme
nt from
given
informati
on
Crafting Topic: Technology has
Thesis helped human beings in so
many ways.
Stateme
Supports:
nt from
given A. __________________________
informati B.__________________________
on C.__________________________
Crafting Thesis Statement:
Thesis
Stateme
nt from
given
informati
on
 The action or process of
classifying something
according to shared
Classificati qualities or characteristics
on Related terms:
Categorization,
grouping, sorting,
ranking
Vegetables
OUTLININ
G
  Think of an outline as a skeleton you
must assemble bone by bone, or as a
puzzle in which you must put all the
The pieces in their correct places in order to
Outline see the full picture.

 The more fully you can come to

understand the outline, the more fully
you will experience its usefulness.
  Outlining is an organizational skill that
will develop your ability to think in a clear
and logical manner.

The  An outline can help you synthesize the

Outline most important information in a paragraph

or essay.

 The information in the outline is a quick

check on whether the paragraph or essay is
unified, well supported, and well organized.
  meant to help establish a
structure for a paper
 a way to demonstrate the main
Outlini
argument (thesis), main points
ng
(topic sentences), and main
pieces of evidence to be
presented before actually
 Roman numerals (I,
II, III…)
Capital letters (A, B,
Symbols C…)
Used Arabic numbers (1, 2,
3…)
Lowercase letters (a,
b, c…)
 Types of I.Main Idea
Outline A. Supporting Detail
(based on
structure/ B. Supporting Detail
format) 1. Example
2. Example
Traditional 3. Example
/ Number-
Letter II.Main Idea
Sequence/ III.Main Idea
 1. Main Idea
Types of
1. 1. Supporting Detail
Outline
(based on 1. 2. Supporting Detail
structure/ 1. 2. 1. Example
format) 1. 2. 2. Example
1. 2. 3. Example
Modern/ 2. Main Idea
Decimal
3. Main Idea
 I. Different types of friends
Types of A. Best Friends
B. Social Friends
Outline C. Acquaintances
(based 1. people with whom you
on associate due to
entries) school, or
work
2. no contact outside of that
Topic venue
Outline II. Main Idea
III. Main Idea
 I. Choose desired colleges.
Types of A. Visit and evaluate college
Outline campuses.
(based B. Visit and evaluate college
on websites.
entries) 1. Look for interesting
classes.
2. Note important statistics.
Sentence
II. Main Idea
Outline
III. Main Idea
HANDS-ON
ACTIVITY
  Developing an outline before you write
your paper helps you make sure that
your essay is organized and that the
content is relevant.
 Pointers:
Outlini  Keep it simple (all points are short)
ng  Stay on track (check that each point
clearly supports your thesis statement)
 Back it up (include enough evidence to
support your ideas-facts, quotes from
experts, statistics, and logical
reasoning)
 What is your general
subject? Pets
The What question would you
Thesis like to answer? What
animal makes a good
Stateme pet?
nt Your answer, or your draft
thesis: Cats are
excellent pets.
 Once you have your draft
thesis statement, think of
a number of reasons why
The (how, what, etc.) this is
true (back it up!).
Thesis
Why are cats excellent
Stateme
pets?
nt They are independent.
They are loving.
They can reduce stress.
 Now let’s put it all
together; your complete
The thesis statement is:
Thesis Cats make excellent
Stateme pets because they are
nt independent, loving,
and relaxing.
 The outline is a simple
The structure of how you will
Structur organize your essay.
e of the In this simple essay
Outline structure, your thesis
(Introductio statement will become the
n) last sentence of your
introduction paragraph.
  Use each of your reasons as the
The topic sentence for a separate body
paragraph. Ask yourself how each
Structur point relates to your thesis.
e of the I. Topic Sentence: Cats are
independent pets. (Why does being
Outline independent make an excellent
(Body pet?
A. can go away for the weekend
Paragrap and the cat is fine by itself
hs) B. don’t have to leave food and
water for it
C. doesn’t need a bath
 The II. Topic Sentence: Cats
are loving. (How does
Structure being loving make cats
of the excellent pets?
Outline
A. keep you company
(Body
Paragrap B. make the owner feel
hs) special
 III. Topic Sentence: Cats can reduce
The stress. (How does this relate to your
thesis statement? How/ why/ when
Structure does reducing stress make cats
of the excellent pets?)
A. the purring is soothing
Outline
B. owner doesn’t have to worry
(Body about the pet
Paragrap C. “Cats have been found to
hs) reduce stress in both children and
adults” (National Pet Magazine, 1999,
p. 18).
 Some essays will need a
The concluding paragraph. One
Structur way to conclude an essay is
to restate your thesis
e of the statement in the first
Outline sentence of your conclusion.
(Conclusi Conclusion: With these
on) traits, cats indeed make
excellent pets.