thesis statement practice

(1)

Wr

iting Thesis Stat

ements

An Interactive

A

ctivity to

Develop

Effective Writing Skills

(2)

Learning Objective

Given the efinition an components of

a thesis statement! along "ith a sample

"riting prompt "ith pre#"ritten thesis

statements! st$ents "ill be able to

isting$ish the better of three

thesis

statements by correctly ientifying it%

(3)

Ask

yo$rself

the

follo"ing

&$estions

When yo$ rea a passage! ho"

m$ch

of it o yo$ have to rea to $nerstan

the topic or p$rpose'

What is the p$rpose of "riting an

essay'

( ( _e_e_s_s ! ! _r_r_e_e a a __ t

t _o_o_y_y

o o _$_$_r_r s s _e_e_l_l_f_f ) )

(4)

Thesis Statements*

Give irection to the

a$thor of a paper

Give reaers an iea

as to "hat the paper

"ill be abo$t

(

( o o _$_$_"_"_i_i

l

l l l s s e e _e_e

t

t h h i i s s _o_o_n_n_a_a

t

t e e _s_s_t_t_n_n_e_e

+

+ t t

"

" _e_e_e_e_k_k

)

(5)

Where am

I going?

ESSAY ESSAY

An essay "i

tho$t a

thesis statement

is like a car

"itho$t a river

(6)

What is a thesis statement'

A

thesis statement is a sentence

used in an

essay that serves as the guide for the essay

and directly answers the question or task

asked of you.

A

thesis statement exp

ress the

main idea of your

paper.

T

T _h_h_i_i

s

s _"_"

i

i l l l l _b_b_e_e

o o _n_n t t h h _e_e t t e e _s_s_t_t ! ! t

(7)

A

fact$al statem

ent

A

topic sentence

TO,I- SE.TE.-E*

/ig Sp

ring is

a sma

ll to"n

in West T

e

+as%

0This is fact$al! topic sentence1 therefore! it is not a

thesis statement%2

What is a thesis

NOT

_NOT

'

(ep! yo$ (ep! yo$ g$esse g$esse it3on it3on the test% the test%

(8)

-haracteristics of a Thesis

Statement

Aresses the pr

ompt clearly

4akes a claim! or

,resents an arg$ment

Is arg$able 0an opinion2

In first paragraph of essay

(o$ (o$ sho$l be sho$l be great at great at this) this)

(9)

It5s time to spot a thesis)

On each of the follo"ing slies!

rea

the "riting prompt an the t"o

sample statements%

-lick on the one that is the

best

choice for a

(10)

6% Early on in life! people evelop an amiration for

heroes%

heroes% In a In a "ell#evelope essay"ell#evelope essay! ! isc$ss a isc$ss a personperson

yo$ amire an "hy yo$ chose this person%

yo$ amire an "hy yo$ chose this person% Option Option Option Option A A A A Option Option Option Option B B B B

One person I admire is Babe Ruth, who

played baseball from 1914 until 1935.

One person I admire is Babe Ruth, the

gre

(11)

Incorrect

Option Option Option Option A A A A

One person I admire is Babe Ruth,

One person I admire is Babe Ruth, whowho

played baseball from 1914 until 1935.

played baseball from 1914 until 1935. Altho$gh t

Altho$gh this oes ahis oes aress the "ritiress the "riting prompt! thisng prompt! this is a fact$al statement%

is a fact$al statement% A A thesis stathesis statement sho$l betement sho$l be

something yo$ can arg$e for or

(12)

Correct! Great Job!

One person I admire is Babe Ruth,

One person I admire is Babe Ruth, thethe

gre

greatest baseball player of alatest baseball player of all time.l time.

Option Option Option Option B B B B

This statement aresses the prompt!

This statement aresses the prompt! an presentsan presents an opinion that can be arg$e%

(13)

7% 8Disc$ss the social! political an economic effects of

Worl War II on the 9nite States%

Worl War II on the 9nite States% Option Option Option Option A A A A Option Option Option Option B B B B

orld ar II was a !ostly war that had a

ma"or impa!t on the e!onomy of the #nited

$tates

orld ar II not only a%e!ted the e!onomy of the orld ar II not only a%e!ted the e!onomy of the #nited $tates, but also altered the role of the

#nited $tates, but also altered the role of the &meri!an go'ernment and the &meri!an people &meri!an go'ernment and the &meri!an people fore'er.

(14)

Incorrect

orld ar II was a

orld ar II was a !ostly!ostly war that had a war that had a

ma"or

ma"or impa!t on the e!onomyimpa!t on the e!onomy of the #nited of the #nited

$tates $tates Option Option Option Option A A A A

Altho$gh this is meets all the criteria for a thesis Altho$gh this is meets all the criteria for a thesis

statement! it only aresses part of the "riting prompt% statement! it only aresses part of the "riting prompt% :emember

:emember! the statement tells the ! the statement tells the reaer "hat toreaer "hat to e+pect%

e+pect% With this With this as a as a thesis! one thesis! one "o$l "o$l only e+peonly e+pect toct to rea abo$t the econom

(15)

Correct

Correct Again!!!

Again!!!!!

Correct

Again!!

!!

Option Option Option Option B B B B orld ar II not only

orld ar II not only a%e!teda%e!ted the the e!onomye!onomy of the of the #nited $tates, but also altered the role of the

#nited $tates, but also altered the role of the &meri!an

&meri!an go'ernmentgo'ernment and the &meri!an and the &meri!an peoplepeople

fore'er.

This is correct beca$se it aresses

This is correct beca$se it aresses the social! economic anthe social! economic an

political eff

political effects as state ects as state in the prompt% in the prompt% .otice that .otice that the "orsthe "ors

people 0social2 an government 0political2 "ere $se in this

statement%

statement% This makes This makes the sentence mthe sentence more original an ore original an sho"s thesho"s the

r

(16)

=% 8 Describe three physical feat$res of Latin America

an their importance to the region%

Option Option Option Option A A A A Option Option Option Option B B B B

(he &ndes )oun

(he &ndes )ountains, the &ma*on Ri'etains, the &ma*on Ri'er andr and

+

+u!atan u!atan eninsula areninsula are the thre the three mostee most

signi-!ant physi!al features in atin &meri!a.

(hree

(hree physi!al featurphysi!al features found in atin es found in atin &meri!a&meri!a

are the &ndes )ountains, the &ma*on Ri'er

and t

(17)

Correct! You are getting this!

(he &ndes )ou

(he &ndes )ountains, the &ma*on Rntains, the &ma*on Ri'er andi'er and

+

+u!atan u!atan eninsula areninsula are thee the three mostthree most

signi-!ant

signi-!ant physi!al features in atin &meri!a. physi!al features in atin &meri!a.

This statement gives an arg$ment! it presents the This statement gives an arg$ment! it presents the three physical feat$res aske for in the prompt! an three physical feat$res aske for in the prompt! an makes reference to the

(18)

Almost! But not quite.

Option Option Option Option B B B B (hr

(hree physi!al featuree physi!al features found in es found in atin &meri!aatin &meri!a

are the &ndes )ountains, the &ma*on Ri'er

and the +u!atan eninsula

and the +u!atan eninsula, whi!h are all 'ital, whi!h are all 'ital

to the region.

to the region. This is

This is a topic a topic sentence% sentence% The reason The reason it is it is not a not a googoo thesis is beca$se it oes not present an arg$ment or thesis is beca$se it oes not present an arg$ment or aress

aress the "holthe "hole prompt% e prompt% It is It is a fact$aa fact$al statement%l statement% To make it a strong t

(19)

>% Disc$ss the effect of climate an the vegetation on S$b#Saharan

Africa%

Africa% /e s$re to isc$ss the fac/e s$re to isc$ss the factors contrib$ting to climators contrib$ting to climate! an thete! an the

impact h$man activity has on

impact h$man activity has on the vegetation%the vegetation%

/'en though the !limate and 'egetation of $ub0 /'en though the !limate and 'egetation of $ub0 $aharan &fri!a 'aries as a result of latitude and $aharan &fri!a 'aries as a result of latitude and human a!ti'ity, they are still the

human a!ti'ity, they are still the two mosttwo most

important fa!tors in determining the uality of life. important fa!tors in determining the uality of life. 2uman a!ti'ity is altering the the 'egetation of

2uman a!ti'ity is altering the the 'egetation of $ub0$aharan &fri!a and !ausing deserti-!ation, $ub0$aharan &fri!a and !ausing deserti-!ation, whi!h will ha'e de'astating e%e!ts on the people whi!h will ha'e de'astating e%e!ts on the people of the region.

(20)

This one is tric!

2uman a!ti'ity is altering the the 'egetation of 2uman a!ti'ity is altering the the 'egetation of $ub0$aharan &fri!a and !ausing deserti-!ation, $ub0$aharan &fri!a and !ausing deserti-!ation, whi!h will ha'e de'astating e%e!ts on the people whi!h will ha'e de'astating e%e!ts on the people of the region.

of the region.

This one "o$l be perfect for

This one "o$l be perfect for a thesis! there is onlya thesis! there is only one thing

one thing "rong "ith "rong "ith it% it% It oes nIt oes not aress ot aress all of thall of thee "riting p

"riting prompt% rompt% It only It only aresses aresses the vethe vegetation! getation! b$tb$t not the climate or the factors for climate%

(21)

Correct! You are on a roll!

Option B Option B Option B

Option B

This statement gives an arg$ment! an aress all This statement gives an arg$ment! an aress all aspects of the "riting prompt 0topic! effect! factors2% aspects of the "riting prompt 0topic! effect! factors2% .otice ho" yo$ o not have to go into etail! j$st .otice ho" yo$ o not have to go into etail! j$st give the reaer a hint of "hat yo$ "ill "rite abo$t% give the reaer a hint of "hat yo$ "ill "rite abo$t%

/'en though the

/'en though the !limate!limate and and 'egetation'egetation of $ub0 of $ub0 $aharan &fri!a 'aries as

$aharan &fri!a 'aries as a result of latitude anda result of latitude and

human a!ti'ity

human a!ti'ity, they are still the two, they are still the two mostmost

important

(22)

?% In So$th Asia! globali@ation has playe a big

?% In So$th Asia! globali@ation has playe a big role in therole in the

eveloping econom

eveloping economies of ies of the region% the region% Disc$ss the Disc$ss the positive anpositive an

negative effects of globali@ation in

negative effects of globali@ation in one So$th Asian co$ntryone So$th Asian co$ntry%%

lobali*ation in India has

lobali*ation in India has o%ereo%ered solutions tod solutions to

po'erty for some and !reated more se'ere

po'erty for others.

In India, globali*ation has meant new "obs for

Indias emerging middle !lass.

(23)

Y

Yo

ou are rea" to #rite!

u are rea" to #rite!

Y

o

u are rea" to #rite!

There is an opinion 0it has offere sol$tions! it has There is an opinion 0it has offere sol$tions! it has create

create more sevmore severe povere poverty2% erty2% It aresIt aresses thses thee positive 0sol$tions2 an negative 0poverty2 effects% positive 0sol$tions2 an negative 0poverty2 effects%

lobali*ation in India has

lobali*ation in India has o%ered solutionso%ered solutions to to

po'erty for some and

po'erty for some and !reated more se'ere!reated more se'ere

po'erty

(24)

$racti

$ractice.

ce. Y

Yo

ou

u #ill

#ill get

get there.

there.

$racti

ce.

Y

o

u

#ill

get

there.

Option Option Option Option B B B B

In India, globali*ation has meant new "obs for

Indias emerging middle !lass.

Again! thi

Again! this "o$l be a s "o$l be a perfect thesiperfect thesis statement! ifs statement! if the prompt only aske for the effects of

the prompt only aske for the effects of globali@ation%

globali@ation% The The prompt! prompt! ho"ever! ho"ever! specifiesspecifies positive an

(25)

(o$r T$rn))

(o$ "ill no" apply "hat yo$ learne by

"riting yo$r o"n thesis statements to a

fe" "riting prompts%

When reaing back yo$r thesis

statements

0to yo$rself2

! ask yo$rself a

fe" &$estions%

(26)

Di I aress Di I aress all parts of the all parts of the

prompt' prompt' or or yes yes no no

(27)

Di I aress Di I aress all parts of the all parts of the

prompt' prompt'

or or

(28)

-an I arg$e -an I arg$e against this against this statement' statement' or or

(29)

Will I aress all Will I aress all

this in my this in my essay' essay' or or

(30)

Is it Is it grammatically grammatically correct' correct' or or

(31)

Is it clear an Is it clear an $nerstanable' $nerstanable' or or (o$ kno" "hat to o if yo$5ve

(o$ kno" "hat to o if yo$5ve

ans"ere

ans"ere .O .O to to any any of of thesethese

&$estions%

(32)

Assignment

:ea the top half of yo$r ;Thesis

Statement ,ractice< hano$t%

.ote the fo$r 0>2 re&$irements for each of

the topic &$estions provie%

Look

closely

at

at the e+ample complete for

the e+ample complete for

yo$%

:efer

back

to this e+ample "hen yo$

complete the remainer of the assignment%

(es! this is $e complete (es! this is $e complete at the en of class%

(33)

Celp is available8

#

After yo$5ve

complete the fi

rst &$estion

on yo$r assignment! yo$ may check to

see if yo$r ans"er is similar to

one that

the comp$ter generates for yo$%

#

Access the li

nk entitle ;T

hesisO$tline

/$iler< on

4rs% (arbar5s Wikispaces

page*

myarbar%"ikispaces%com:esearch%

(o

(o$ $ can can oo

it)

(34)

inal Tho$ghts*

(o$ "ill $se "hat yo$ learne toay to

"rite the thesis statement for yo$r

research project ne+t "eek%

The ability to "rite thesis

statements "ill

assist yo$ as yo$

assist yo$ as yo$ contin$e yo$r e$cation%

contin$e yo$r e$cation%

T-/)

(35)

4ake me

pro$)

Tick%

Tick% T

T

o

ck%

Give this

Give this assignm

assignment

ent yo$r

yo$r f$ll

f$ll

attention so yo$ on5t have home"ork% It is $e

at the en of class 

complete%

Once yo$ reach this sl

ie! close yo$r comp$ter

$ntil yo$ are reay to check yo$r thesis

statements against the thesis statement b$iler%

One more thing3all brains in the air)

See yo$

4onay)

(36)

Work -ite

:orig$e@! 4r% FThesis Ientifying Activity%F

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