AP Thesis Writing Workshop AP World

Bell ringer In your own words, please explain a thesis statement.

What is a thesis statement? Tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion. Is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper. Directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself. The subject, or topic, of an essay might be World War II or Moby Dick; a thesis must then offer a way to understand the war or the novel. Makes a claim that others might dispute. Is ideally a single sentence somewhere in your first paragraph that presents your argument to the reader. The rest of the paper, the body of the essay, gathers and organizes evidence that will persuade the reader of the logic of your interpretation.

How do I get a thesis? A thesis is the result of a lengthy thinking process. Formulating a thesis is not the first thing you do after reading an essay assignment. Before you develop an argument on any topic, you have to collect and organize evidence, look for possible relationships between known facts (such as surprising contrasts or similarities), and think about the significance of these relationships. Once you do this thinking, you will probably have a "working thesis," a basic or main idea, an argument that you think you can support with evidence but that may need adjustment along the way.

Step By Step Spend about 5 minutes reading the topic and the passage carefully in planning your essay. This organizational time is crucial to producing a high-scoring essay. Consider following these steps: Read the topic question carefully so that you know exactly what you're being asked to do. Read the passage carefully, noting what ideas, evidence, and rhetorical devices are relevant to the specific essay prompt.

Step By Step Get excited about your topic. The last thing you want to do is to bore your reader. Think about what would be interesting. Develop a strong opinion about your topic. When you are reading your selection, think about potential opinions that you could utilize that are interesting. Use exciting adjectives in your thesis to portray a strong point of view about something or someone.

Step By Step Focus your thesis on one main idea. Remember, your thesis is what keeps your essay organized and your reader on topic. Get extremely specific in your thesis. Your thesis must contain specific details about your argument so as to prepare the reader for what lies ahead.

How do I know if my thesis is strong? Do I answer all parts of the question? Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? Is my thesis specific enough? (avoid words like good or successful and instead focus on why something is good or successful) Does my thesis pass the “so what” test? Does my essay support my thesis specifically and without wandering? Does my thesis pass the “how” and “why” test?

Examples of strong thesis statements High school graduates should be required to take a year off to pursue community service projects before entering college in order to increase their maturity and global awareness. While both Northerners and Southerners believed they fought against tyranny and oppression, Northerners focused on the oppression of slaves while Southerners defended their own right to self-government.

Which thesis statement is better? Through its contrasting river and shore scenes, Twain's Huckleberry Finn suggests that to find the true expression of American democratic ideals, one must leave "civilized" society and go back to nature. In Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain develops a solid contrast between life on the river and life on the shore.

Which thesis statement is better? Although we have the right to say what we want, we should avoid hurting other people's feelings. If we can accept that emotional injuries can be just as painful as physical ones we should limit speech that may hurt people's feelings in ways similar to the way we limit speech that may lead directly to bodily harm.

FROM AN AP READER….. Remember when your Mom taught you, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression?” She was right. A thesis is the key element to a good (and therefore high scoring) essay. It should be right up front in a good essay. One cannot get more than half credit on any essay no matter how well written if it doesn’t have a clear, comprehensive and analytical thesis.

This year’s compare and contrast question: “Compare and contrast how the First World War and its outcomes affected TWO of the following regions in the period from the war through the 1930’s. East Asia Middle East South Asia

Let us see what a thesis is NOT Let us see what a thesis is NOT. This is an acceptable English thesis but …

The First World War had both similar and different effects on East Asia and the Middle East.

This is a restatement of the question This is a restatement of the question. It is not clear, analytical or comprehensive. A thesis should drive the essay. It is the type of engine one has in his car. Don’t worry about fuel economy here.

If the student would add the criteria for making this statement or indicate the categories for comparison then points can be given for thesis.

The First World War and the period following affected both the Middle East and South Asia politically, socially and economically.

This then gives the student focus This then gives the student focus. They can then hang significant historical facts to this thesis and have a solid essay. From here they must make direct comparisons and give specific evidence, but they must have a strong thesis (this example is the bare minimum) or their essay will die.

An Essay Should Look Like… Introduction Background Address of Question Thesis, Categories, Key Terms, and Roadmap Body Paragraphs Baby Thesis Evidence Argument Conclusion Restatement (with rewording) of Thesis “Although” Statement Main Argument to “Trump” Although Statement Explanation of Importance

Concluding Essay Writing Tips For now, keep to the following tips to ensure consistency and create a writing pattern: Try to form your thesis into just one sentence List your thesis as the last sentence in your introductory paragraph after you build up with an introduction Use topic sentences similar to that of the thesis in your body paragraphs Restate the thesis using different verbiage at the beginning of your concluding paragraph

Comparative Essay (Planning and Writing Time – 40 minutes) Directions: You are to answer the following question. You should spend 5 minutes organizing or outlining your essay. Write an essay that:  Has a relevant thesis and supports that thesis with appropriate historical evidence. Addresses all parts of the question. Makes direct relevant comparisons. Compare and contrast the political and economic structures of two of the following classical civilizations. Classical Rome Han China Classical India