Ms. N. Williams 5th/6th Grade ELA Thesis Statements Ms. N. Williams 5th/6th Grade ELA

Objective I CAN learn to write thesis statements in order to introduce a claim.

What is A Thesis Statement? A thesis statement is the controlling idea or main proposal that a writer attempts to support in a piece of writing. It is one sentence. It is the proposal that you will need to support or prove with claims and evidence.

What ISN’T a Thesis Statement? A thesis statement is NOT: An indisputable fact (the earth is round) A personal opinion (rap music is horrible)

Thesis Statement Examples Alexander Hamilton was a great leader because he assured the financial securing of the United States. George Washington was called the Father of our country because without him, the colonists would have lost.

Brainstorming a Thesis Statement Know your topic Ask an interesting question Form an argument Revise the question into a thesis Know your topic: television violence and children Ask an interesting question: What are the effects of television violence on children? Form an argument: Television violence has a negative effect on children. Revise the question and argument into a thesis: Violence on television increases aggressive behavior in preschool children.

Things to Keep in Mind when Writing A Thesis Statement Use clear, strong language Your thesis should tell your audience what your entire essay will be about. Use specific language – NOT “sometimes,” “some people say,” “at least,” and “some of the time” Your thesis statement will never be a question, and it will always be a complete sentence. It will mention the problem and your position.