Junior English Thesis Statements

Thesis Statements A thesis is the main idea or argument of your paper It tells the reader what to expect when reading your paper It is ONE sentence long, and should be the LAST sentence of your introductory paragraph You cannot write about anything that does not support your thesis statement

Thesis Statements Your thesis should include 3 parts: Your Topic Your stand on the topic For or Against? The reasons that support your argument Be narrow and specific

Purpose and Importance An excellent paper begins with an excellent thesis statement. If it is vague, poorly worded, or grammatically incorrect, the reader will expect the essay to be the same. If it is bold, clear, and creative, the reader will want to read on.

Definition and Criteria A thesis statement is a general sentence that governs the content of the entire essay. An effective thesis should have two things: 1) A Narrow Topic 2) A Narrow Attitude or Point of View

TOPIC General Narrow Education Discipline in public high schools

ATTITUDE General Narrow Discipline should be Public high schools must take a stricter stand against disruption of the educational process by requiring respectful behavior, enforcing a clear dress code, and prosecuting any student who engages in violent conduct.

TOPIC General Narrow Sports Soaring salaries of professional athletes

ATTITUDE General Narrow Athletes should be Any professional athlete caught treated like everyone else using illegal drugs should be prosecuted as a felon and citizens be suspended from all participation until the matter has been settled by the courts.

Thesis Statements: Many sentences can look like thesis statements, but not actually be thesis statements. Be sure that your thesis statement has a Narrow Topic and a Narrow Attitude.

Don’t Make- A Highly Opinionated Statement With typical fascist zeal, the Kipper regime has once again deprived citizens of their God-given and constitutional right to do whatever they want whenever they want.

Don’t Make- An Announcement This essay will discuss the dress code.

Don’t Make- A Factual Statement The Kipper administration supports the current dress code.

Don’t Make- A Broad Statement The Kipper administration is wrong to support the dress code.

Do Make– A Clear and Narrow Statement The Kipper Administration’s decision to push for the current dress code is both unconstitutional and an insult to the students’ maturity.

How to Begin Start with a “Working Thesis” Three prongs is fine Make it sound very “mechanical” This will help you stay focused as you write

The Developing Thesis Your topic may change as you write, you will need to revise your thesis to reflect exactly what is discussed in your paper Remember to change your thesis when you have finished writing. The final product should… Give an overview of your paper Sound intelligent and professional. (i.e. word choice and sentence structure) Be sophisticated—Not three-pronged

Thesis Statement Samples (WORKING) Al Capone exploited people’s desire for liquor, used violence to secure his power, and eliminated enemies ruthlessly. (REVISED) Al Capone revolutionized organized crime in America by becoming the greatest symbol of the collapse of law and order in the United States.

Sample (WORKING) Benjamin Franklin educated himself, invented many useful devices, and provided many ideas that motivated the Revolution. (REVISED) Benjamin Franklin may be the most important figure in American history for both playing a pivotal part in the United States gaining independence from Britain and his revolutionary inventions that changed the world.

Sample (WORKING) Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus, was willing to go to jail, and defended rights as an American. (REVISED)Although she began as a regular passenger riding a bus, Rosa Parks forever changed the African American battle for civil rights with one simple refusal.

Sample Thesis Statement In a single act of defiance, Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat thus propelling the nation into a movement that would forever change civil rights in America.

Sample Thesis Statement (WORKING) Louis Armstrong overcame poverty, fought against discrimination and developed a new style of playing trumpet in a jazz band. (REVISED) Louis Armstrong battled poverty and overcame many obstacles to become a soloist leader in the jazz movement, which greatly influenced what music is today.

Sample Thesis Statement (WORKING) Martin Luther King, Jr. preached about equality, was willing to go to jail and suffer violence in order to show that Blacks were equal to Whites. (REVISED) Martin Luther King Junior revolutionized civil rights in America by promoting non-violent protests and racial equality for all individuals.

Final Thoughts Avoid 1st person “I think… I believe… We need to… In my opinion…” Avoid vague language “It seems…These things are bad…” Avoid poor support Quotes must PROVE your thesis i.e. if you are for something, such as drug testing, then your quotes must support drug testing.