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Ask yourself the following questions What is the purpose of writing an essay? What are some important elements you need to consider when writing an essay? 2 2 2 2

Thesis Statements: Give direction to the author of a paper Give readers an idea as to what the paper will be about 3 3 3 3

An essay without a thesis statement is like a car without a driver Where am I going? An essay without a thesis statement is like a car without a driver ESSAY 4 4 4 4

What is a thesis statement? A guide for the essay. A STATEMENT that is a sentence in length. Answers the prompt and expresses the main idea of your paper. 5 5 5 5

What a thesis is NOT * A factual statement * A topic sentence * A question 6 6 6 6

Characteristics of a Thesis Statement Addresses the prompt clearly Makes a claim, or presents an argument Is arguable (an opinion) At the end of the introductory (first) paragraph of essay 7 7 7 7

Because we are quite new to writing thesis statements, I’ve devised a “formula” to help you construct a thesis statement. Please keep in mind, this is NOT the ONLY way to write a thesis statement, however, because you are NEW to this, I would like you to use this format until you are comfortable with it. 8 8 8 8

Opposition (Although…) + Position/Stance + Claim/Thesis (because…) = Full thesis statement Let’s break it down… 9 9 9 9

PROMPT: “Do video games cause violence?” 10 10 10

they do not cause violence CLAIM/THESIS: OPPOSITION: Although most video games contain some type of violence, POSITION/STANCE: they do not cause violence CLAIM/THESIS: because most people are able to distinguish the difference between real and imaginary. 11 11

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER: Although most video games contain some type of violence,they do not cause violence because most people are able to distinguish the difference between real and imaginary. 12 12

PROMPT: “Should schools be segregated by gender?” 13 13

schools should not be segregated by gender CLAIM/THESIS: OPPOSITION: Although girls and boys mature at different rates, POSITION/STANCE: schools should not be segregated by gender CLAIM/THESIS: because males and females need to learn how to work together in the “real world”. 14 14

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER: Although girls and boys mature at different rates, schools should not be segregated by gender because males and females need to learn how to work together in the “real world”. 15 15

PROMPT: “Do cats make better pets than dogs?” 16 16

OPPOSITION: Although cats are more independent, POSITION/STANCE: they do not make better pets than dogs CLAIM/THESIS: because dogs are more affectionate and become a part of the family in comparison to cats. 17 17

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER: Although cats are more independent, they do not make better pets than dogs because dogs are more affectionate and become a part of the family in comparison to cats. 18 18

PROMPT: “Should children under the age of 13 own cell phones?” Now it's YOUR turn!!! PROMPT: “Should children under the age of 13 own cell phones?” 19 19

OPPOSITION (Although…): POSITION/STANCE: CLAIM/THESIS (because…): PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER: 20 20

PROMPT: “Are children and teenagers over-scheduled nowadays?” Now it's YOUR turn!!! PROMPT: “Are children and teenagers over-scheduled nowadays?” 21 21

OPPOSITION (Although…): POSITION/STANCE: CLAIM/THESIS (because…): PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER: 22 22