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THESIS STATEMENTS

THESIS STATEMENTS

• Show the writer’s unique approach (point of view) to the topic of the essay• Are often directly followed by essay map• Essay maps state the ideas that support the writer’s

position• Often state three main ideas

Example:Grandma Rose’s house was my treasure house; it was in this house that I enjoyed unconditional love, played all the childhood games, and learned a lot of survival skills.

THESIS STATEMENTS

• Telemarketing should be made illegal because it intrudes in our family time, interrupts our normal telephone conversations, and allows room for fraudulent sales.

• The federal government should monitor internet communications because pornography on the internet has harmful effects on children; advertising agencies may persuade viewers to buy defective products, and people may be misled by false information posted through the internet.

DEVELOPING A THESIS STATEMENT

1. Choose a topic.2. Write the thesis statement by clearly expressing

your approach (point of view) to the topic.3. Write your essay map by stating 3 main ideas.

DEVELOPING A THESIS STATEMENT

Topic: Success

View: Success means achieving personal goals.

Map: It means to have a loving family, a good education, and a stable job.

Thesis Statement: Success means achieving personal goals including having a loving family, a good education, and a stable job.

DEVELOPING A THESIS STATEMENT

Topic: My father

View: My father is the most responsible person in the world.

Map: He provides all the necessities for the family, lends a shoulder to his relatives, and makes sure that all his kids do well in school.

Thesis statement: My father is the most responsible person in the world since he provides all the necessities for the family, lends a shoulder to his relatives, and makes sure that all his kids do well in school.

WHAT TO AVOID

• Avoid using vague/broad terms.• Words like “good,” “bad,” “great,” “terrific,” and

“cool” should be avoided because they suggest a broad range of meanings:• Vague: My high school graduation day was a great day.• Clear: My high school graduation day was an exciting

day, highlighted by the inspirational speaker, the emotional ceremony, and the unforgettable dance.

WHAT TO AVOID

• Avoid using statements that are too narrow.• A narrow thesis statement (sometimes called

dead end) doesn’t have any room to grow:• The speed limit near my home is 65 miles per hour.• A hurricane hit southern Florida last summer.

• Remember, a thesis statement must be broad enough to require support:• The speed limit near by home should be lowered to 55

miles per hour for several reasons.• Federal officials made a number of mistakes in their

response to the recent Florida hurricane.

WHAT TO AVOID

• Avoid announcing the topic/the writer’s intention (“I am going to…”)• Announcing the topic is redundant and distracting• Redundant: In this essay, I will describe the process of

how to get ready for a folkloric dance performance.• Concise: It is easy to learn how to get ready for a

folkloric dance performance.

• Redundant: In this essay, I will talk about a personal experience I had with the betrayal of a friend.

• Concise: Being betrayed by a friend was a painful experience.

WHAT TO AVOID

• Stating more than one main idea:

• One of the most serious problems affecting young people today is bullying, and it is time more kids learned the value of helping others.

• Teachers have played an important role in my life, but they were not as important as my parents.

• Try to be as clear as possible, and limit your thesis statement to the single key idea you want readers to know.

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TOPIC SENTENCES

TOPIC SENTENCES

• The main idea of a body paragraph• One of the major points supporting the thesis

Example:Thesis Statement: My visit to my motherland Philippines was a great learning experience; I learned about my culture, my parents, and myself.

Topic Sentence 1: Going back to my own country, the Philippines, helped me learn about the customs and traditions typical of my culture.

Topic Sentence 2: Learning about my roots helped me understand my parents better.

Topic Sentence 3: Returning to my roots also helped me learn about myself.

DEVELOPING A TOPIC SENTENCE

• Should be less general than the thesis statement, but general enough to control the body paragraph

1. Review thesis statement & writer’s view on topic2. Check essay map3. Rewrite each of the major points from the map

in a complete sentence, which recaptures the writer’s view and the supporting major point. Each rewritten sentence becomes the topic sentence.

THESIS STATEMENT:Recycling trash should be mandatory because it decreases pollution, saves money, and reinforces citizens’ sense of

responsibility.

Topic Sentence

1

Recycling trash is a good way to alleviate the problem

of pollution.

Topic Sentence

2

We can also save money if we recycle trash.

Topic Sentence

3

Our citizens’ sense of responsibility will be

reinforced by recycling trash.

REVIEW

• A thesis statement is the __________________________.• An essay map states

_____________________________.• Things to avoid in thesis statements are:• • • •

• A topic sentences is the __________________________.