Writing a Thesis Statement

Learning Goal We are learning to write an effective thesis statement.

Success Criteria I will be successful when I… Follow the template on my essay outline Make sure my thesis statement answers the questions, What is the social issue/problem? Why is it important? What is being done to mask or unmask the situation the issue. Include my thesis statement in my introduction paragraph Restate my thesis statement in my conclusion paragraph

What is a thesis statement? A summary sentence (or two) that states the main point of your essay. It must be included somewhere in the introduction paragraph, usually near the end

Why should your essay contain a Thesis Statement? To put your main ideas into one summary sentence To better organize and develop the opinion/argument of your essay To provide your reader with a “guide” to your essay

How to Generate a Thesis Statement The thesis statement will answer the question(s) that will give the main ideas of your essay. What is an important social issue? Why is it important? What is being done to mask or unmasked this issue? The answer to these questions is the thesis statement for the essay.

Examples Genetically altered foods are a social problem that causes negative health for humans, impacts the health care system and has injurious impact on the environment and is being masked in society.

How to Tell a Strong Thesis Sentence from a Weak One A strong thesis takes some sort of stand. (gives your opinion) A strong thesis expresses the main idea and is specific.

Writing Your Thesis Statement To write your these statement, follow the statement outline found on your essay assignment sheet. You may modify your thesis statement a little from the outline.

Examples Violence in video games is a problematic social issue that leads to aggressive behaviour in the player, lessens a person’s ability to have sympathy towards others and could ultimately lead to more crime and violence in the country. While steps are being taken to bring awareness to this issue, enough is not being done. OR Violence in video games is a social issue that leads to aggressive behaviour in the player, lessens a person’s ability to have sympathy towards others and could ultimately lead to more crime and violence in the country. Thankfully, steps are being taken to unmask the harmful consequences of these games in society.

More Examples Deforestation is a social problem that causes flooding and habitat loss of humans/animals, contributes to the extinction of wildlife and could potentially destroy all forests. It is an important issue being masked in society. OR Deforestation is a social problem that causes flooding and habitat loss of humans/animals, contributes to the extinction of wildlife and potentially could destroy all forests. Steps are being taken to unmask this important issue in society.

Let’s Practice Write a thesis statement for the following essay topics. Why is a good education crucial for being successful in life?

Sample #1 A good education is necessary for success in life since it provides an individual with a wealth of knowledge, it gives a person access to more jobs opportunities and it ultimately will help them make more money.

Sample #2 A good education is not necessary for success in life because it requires too much time which takes away from your potential to earn money, it is expensive and many of the world’s richest people do not have anything past a high school diploma.