Thesis Statements

1. Thesis Statements Definition of a Thesis Statement How to Construct a Strong Thesis Statement How to Tell a Strong Thesis Statement from a Weak One

2. What is a Thesis Statement? What is a thesis statement? Most important sentence in your paper The single sentence that __________, _________, and / or ________ the topic of your essay and your approach to the topic Lets readers know your ____________ Answers: What am I trying to _________ through the research / points in my paper?

3. Four Characteristics of Strong Thesis Statements • 1. A strong thesis statement ______________________________. • A thesis must show your conclusions about a topic. • 2. A strong thesis statement ________________________________. • Your thesis should indicate the point of the discussion. • (Quoted Source: Writing Tutorial Services, Indiana University- current and following slide)

4. Four Characteristics of Strong Thesis Statements • 3. A strong thesis statement _________________________________. • Readers need to be able to see that your paper has one main point. If your thesis statement expresses more than one idea, then you might confuse your readers about the subject of your paper. • 4. A strong thesis statement _________. • A thesis statement should show exactly what your paper will be about, and will help you keep your paper to a manageable topic.

5. Thesis Statements Should: • Be ______________ • What does this mean?? • Thesis statements should not contain pre-established _______________. Why? • Thesis statements should present information and your _____________________to the information. • Even though you don’t say, “_____________” or “________________,” your thesis is your ________________________ based on the _________________and __________________ you’ve made as you’ve _____________for your paper.

6. Thesis Statements Should: • Take your essay’s purpose and audience into account • Contain action verbs, strong adjectives, and specific, illustrative vocabulary • Avoid- “________,” “______,” “________,” etc. • Avoid- “___________” or other vague, generalized statements

7. Ideas for Stronger Verbs… • Instead of “is / are” use _________________ • Or _________________ __________________ • Instead of “have” use ___________________ • Or ________________ ___________________ • Instead of “show” use___________________ • Or ________________ ___________________

8. Constructing a Strong Thesis Statement How do you write a good thesis statement? Magic Formula: ________________+ ___________________ + ________________________ = Strong Thesis Statement

9. Formula Example for Literature Specific Topic + Active Verb + Point You are Proving (your approach) = Strong Thesis Statement Even though it was written more than two thousand years ago, Homer’s epic TheOdyssey + presents + a hero that today’s audiences can respect.= Strong Thesis Statement

10. Let’s Observe and Reflect… • Literature Example: Even though it was written more than two thousand years ago, Homer’s epic The Odyssey + presents + a hero that today’s audiences can respect.= Strong Thesis Statement • What do you notice about this thesis statement? • How does it differ from past thesis construction ideas you may have learned? • Is anything missing?

11. Formula Example for Science Specific Topic + Active Verb + Point You are Proving (your approach) = Strong Thesis Statement Nuclear power +provides + the cleanest source of energy to meet the demands of the twenty-first century. =Strong Thesis Statement

12. Two Different Approaches • There are two ways to construct a strong thesis statement (and include your supporting details). • Using the same magic formula, you can construct: • A ________ Pronged Thesis aka. “the fork” • A _______ Part Thesis aka. “the knife and the fork”

13. A Three Pronged Thesis This is the common ______ approach to writing thesis statements. Your thesis includes your ___________, your ____________________, and the _________________________you will use to prove and discuss your topic in the body of your essay. You may have more or less than 3 points depending on the size of your essay.

14. A Three Pronged Thesis Example for Literature: 1 2 3 Literary contemporaries William Shakespeare and Ben Jonson exhibitsimilar styles of language, character development, and plot execution. = Strong Thesis! Topic + active verb + 3 prongs / main points / the approach that you use to prove your topic = strong thesis

15. A Three Pronged Thesis Example for Science: Because it emits no greenhouse gasses, causes no atmospheric pollution, and harms no water or aquatic life, Nuclear power +provides + the cleanest source of energy to meet the demands of the twenty-first century. =Strong Thesis Statement • 3 prongs / main points +Topic+active verb +the approach that you use to prove your topic = strong thesis 1 2 3

16. Grammar Connection: A Note about Parallel Structure • The 3 points in your thesis must be written in parallel structure. • “Parallel structure means using the ______________________________ to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance. • This can happen at the word, phrase, or clause level. The usual way to join parallel structures is with the use of coordinating conjunctions such as ‘and’ or ‘or.’”

17. Examples: Parallel Words and Phrases • “With the -ing form (gerund) of words: • Parallel: Mary likes hiking, swimming, and bicycling. • With infinitive phrases: • Parallel: Mary likes to hike, to swim, and to ridea bicycle.ORMary likes to hike, swim, and ride a bicycle.”

18. Keep Your Sentence Structure Parallel- “Don’t Mix Word Forms” • “Example 1-Not Parallel: • Mary likes hiking, swimming, and to ride a bicycle. • Parallel Fix: • Mary likes hiking, swimming, and riding a bicycle. • Example 2-Not Parallel: • The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurately, and in a detailed manner. • Parallel Fix: • The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurately, and thoroughly.”

19. A Two Part Thesis • As you grow as a writer, you should expand into the two part thesis approach. • Here, you state your thesis and approach to topic in one sentence. • This is actually the true definition of a thesis statement… one sentence with topic and approach. • Following your “thesis sentence” you must then write a “____________________” statement. • You will put forth the main points of your paper (3 aspects / topics) in the “ __________________” statement.

20. A Two Part Thesis Example for Social Studies • THESIS- When compared, the United States and the Philippines exhibitsimilar governing characteristics. • DETAILS STATEMENT- Theirfederal branches, formal legal systems, and rules of cultural decorumcorrespond. • Examine how the same formula is used. The thesis is clear, so are the 3 points that will help prove the thesis.

21. A Two Part Thesis Example for Science • THESIS- Nuclear power providesthe cleanest source of energy to meet the demands of the twenty-first century. • DETAILS STATEMENT- Itemitsno greenhouse gasses, causesno atmospheric pollution, andharmsno water or aquatic life. • Examine how the same formula is used. The thesis is clear, so are the 3 points that will help prove the thesis.

22. A Two Part Thesis Example for Literature • THESIS- Literary contemporaries William Shakespeare and Ben Jonson possesssimilar writing styles. • DETAILS STATEMENT- They exhibitcomparable word usage, character development, andplot execution.

23. Thesis Statement Construction in Terms of Grammar The __________ of your paper should be the __________ of your sentence. Your ______________ (approach to topic) should come in the predicate part of your sentence. Your __________ __________ _________or make the assertion about the subject (topic).

24. Let’s Practice #1- Literature Example • Here is a weak thesis example: • Authors, James Hurst and Ray Bradbury, use symbolism in many ways. • What’s wrong? • What’s missing? • How can we make this thesis better? • You can create either a two part or a three pronged approach.

25. Practice Answers #1…Literature Example • The thesis is ______________. “In many ways” tells the reader nothing. • The Fix- ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

26. Let’s Practice #2…Science Example • Here is a weak thesis example: • My paper is about earthquakes. In this paper I will explain that earthquakes are caused by the movement of the Earth. • What’s wrong? • What’s missing? • How can we make this thesis better? • You can create either a two part or a three pronged approach.

27. Practice Answers #2…Science Example • Problem- _____________________________. • Remember, ____________________________ ________________________. A strong thesis will stand on its own. • The “statement of details” or “forecast” statement is a ________________________.

28. Practice Answers #2…Science Example • Possible Fixes: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ • What did we change? Why?

29. Work Cited • Four Characteristics of Strong Thesis Statements (Quotations) • Writing Tutorial Services, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN • Parallel Structure Quotations and Examples • The Purdue OWL Family of Sites. The Writing Lab and OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. 26 Aug. 2005. Web. 18 Aug. 2009.

30. Independent Thesis Practice • Directions: Please identify the errors and correct the following thesis statements using the information provided and the notes you took in class. • You are allowed to add your own information. • Make sure to be specific. • Write your answers directly on this handout in the spaces provided.

31. Remember to look out for: • Vague, weak verbs- use action verbs • Vague, weak, or generalized language • Missing points (3 aspects the paper will cover) • Incorrect format- Use of “I” or “This essay is about…” • Lack of parallel structure / Inconsistent ordering within the 3-prong list • (keep your nouns, adjectives, etc. in similar form) • Facts- remember a thesis needs to be provable, not an already proven fact • (facts go in the body of your essay) • Disorganized approaches to the topic • remember to stay focused and organized

32. #1: Correct this thesis statement using the 3 Pronged approach. • Shakespeare influenced his culture in many ways. (*Create your own 3 points) • What’s Wrong? _______________________ • Your Revised Thesis: ______________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

33. #2: Correct this thesis statement using the 3 Pronged approach. • I think that public safety education represents the best way to save lives during an earthquake. • What’s Wrong? _______________________ • Your Revised Thesis: ______________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

34. #3: Correct this thesis statement using the 3 Pronged approach. • In high school, teachers assign homework. • What’s Wrong? _______________________ • Your Revised Thesis: ______________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

35. #4: Correct this thesis statement using the 3 Pronged approach. • Irony is shown in the following three stories, “The Most Dangerous Game,” “The Interlopers,” and “The Necklace” through character development. • What’s Wrong? _______________________ • Your Revised Thesis: ______________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

36. #5. Correct this thesis statement using the two part thesis approach. • Chocolate cake are easy to bake in three steps. First you add eggs to the batter. • What’s Wrong? _______________________ • Your Revised Thesis: ______________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

37. #6. Correct this thesis statement using the two part thesis approach. • This essay is about China’s economy. China has many important natural resources. • What’s Wrong? _______________________ • Your Revised Thesis: ______________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

38. #7. Correct this thesis statement using the two part thesis approach. • Wind energy is an alternative to fossil fuels. • What’s Wrong? _______________________ • Your Revised Thesis: ______________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________