Crafting Thesis Statements Plain and simple Purpose: What are you writing about? (The experience the author is discussing) What is it you intend to prove? (What is being focused on explored or exposed) Argument or Claim: Why is it important? The purpose and the argument will be represented in two phrases beginning with a sophisticated verb. Each phrase will be highlighted in a different color. RED = PURPOSE BLUE = ARGUMENT

PURPOSE and ARGUMENT The stem of this statement will come from the question or the prompt. Actual IB Prompt: “Fiction is essentially rhetorical art- that is to say the novelist or short-story writer persuades us to share a certain view of the world for the duration of the reading experience.” To what extent do you agree with this statement? Purpose (what?)- Criticizes the increasing use of technology Argument (Why)- Illuminates the harmful affects on society

Thesis statement Both phrases combined to create a coherent thesis statement. (you may use “in order to” or “to” when you connect the two phrases) Ray Bradbury criticizes the ever increasing use of technology within a society in order to illuminate the harmful affects heaped on its social structures and family relationships.

Introduction Process Use the thesis statement to build an introduction that should contain the following: A lead in sentence to begin the essay. Author and title (if pertinent) Indication of where the essay is going An idea that will stimulate the reader to read on The central meaning of the essay and a coherent argument or Thesis. ( example of introduction and thesis on next slide)

Introduction and Thesis Statement (Introduction)The television was injected into the lives of the American family in the 1950’s. The novel Fahrenheit 451, written in 1953 by Ray Bradbury, depicts a dystopian society filled with heartless acts and disconnected relationships that come as a result of technology overload. ( Thesis Statement) Ray Bradbury criticizes the ever increasing use of technology within a society in order to illuminate the harmful affects heaped on its social structures and family relationships. Please use this format for all of your introductions and thesis statements.