1 Thesis Statement first journal topic: write about an event in your life Homework: Type your paper that you wrote today, make sure it is over 150 words. Make a heading

2 What is a Thesis Statement? A thesis statement is the main idea of an essay. It is often a point you want to argue or support in an essay. So: The thesis statement explains to the reader the main idea of the essay, and the writer’s opinion on that idea.

3 What is a Thesis Statement? A thesis statement is only one sentence. It is always in the introduction of an essay. A thesis statement is an opinion (It can be argued). A good essay must have sentences to support your thesis!

4 What is a Thesis Statement? A thesis statement needs a topic and an opinion. Topic: what you want to talk about Opinion: what do you think about the topic

5 For your thesis DO NOT use: first person (I believe, In my opinion...) unclear language (It seems, etc.) 2 ideas facts - A thesis is something you plan to make an argument about.

6 Thesis: Don't be too general: Pets are good. Be specific: It is healthy to have a dog because you can exercise together and you will never be lonely.

7 Thesis Statements Examples: Thesis statements are important for academic writing, TOEFL, and IELTS writing.

8 Example Thesis Statements 1. Our cafeteria would be greatly improved if several changes were made. 2. Celebrities are often poor role models because of the way they dress, talk, and behave. 3. My first night as a security guard turned out to be one of the most frightening experiences of my life. 4. SUVs are inferior to cars because they are harder to control, more expensive, and dangerous to the environment. 5. The twentieth century produced three inventions that dramatically changed the lives of all Americans.

9 Example Thesis Statements p Stress in the fast-food workplace has led to serious physical, psychological, and emotional problems for employees. 7. Advertisers target young people in order to market cigarettes, alcohol, and adult movies. 8. Living in a city has certain advantages over living in the suburbs. 9. Before moving away from home, every person should have mastered certain key skills. 10. Independent “mom and pop” stores are superior to larger chain stores for a number of reasons.

10 Let's Make a Thesis: Topics: Beijing, My hometown, Education, Pets, A trip that you took (Example: Hainan is the most____ because ______) 1 topic + 1 opinion Hint: You want to teach me something or recommend something to me.

11 More Hints: Try to exaggerate ideas to make it more interesting. Ex: I like movies = I am a movie fanatic There are many people at the theater = the theater is too crowded I want to eat the snacks = it is impossible not to eat the snacks There is no parking space = it is impossible to find a parking space Don’t start the sentence with I or You every time. Try to use different ways. Ex: Start the sentence with a verb. Parking my car at the movie theater is impossible!

12 Short Assignment: Take out a piece of paper. Write down an interesting event in your life. It can be anything you like. You can choose something super happy, or even something sad or something that made you very very angry. Have fun with it! 1 paragraph = words (about half a sheet of paper) Try to make a thesis and underline it Hints: What made you so happy? When was the angriest time of your life? What was the biggest adventure that you had with your friends when you were small? What made you so sad? Try to think of something interesting. You can use this topic for your first journal.

13 This is a heading: Your Name My Name Class Name Date

14 Thesis Statement Important: thesis statement: must be an argument! Write it as if you were recommending something. It is your life experience but you must have learned something.

15 Example Paragraph

16 Form Introduction with thesis 1 supporting paragraph 2 supporting paragraph 3 supporting paragraph Conclusion

17 A Standard Essay Introduction Thesis: While I love movies as much as ever, the inconvenience of going out, the temptations of the theater, and the behavior of some patrons are reasons for me to wait and rent the video 1 supporting paragraph To begin with, I just don't enjoy the general hassle of the evening. 2 supporting paragraph Second, the theater offers tempting snacks that I really don't need. 3 supporting paragraph Many of the other patrons are even more of a problem than the concession stand. Conclusion I was tired of the problems involved in getting to the theater, resisting unhealthy snacks, and dealing with the patrons.

18 The Hazards of Moviegoing Introduction Hook: catch reader's interest Thesis Body Topic sentence 1 with evidence Topic sentence 2 with evidence Topic sentence 3 with evidence Conclusion Summary General closing remarks

19 The Hazards of Moviegoing Introduction Hook: catch reader's interestWhat is the hook? ThesisWhat is the thesis? Body Topic sentence 1 with evidenceWhat is the 1 st topic sentence? Topic sentence 2 with evidence What is the 2 nd topic sentence? Topic sentence 3 with evidence What is the 3 rd topic sentence? Conclusion SummaryWhat connects the conclusion to the thesis? General closing remarks

20 What is a good thesis statement? Basketball is good.-----NO Basketball can help people to overcome disadvantages and have a better life----Yes But, explain why in your topic sentences. Check p.50 for more information about the thesis

Check your thesis statement: topic + opinion Can the reader find your thesis statement? Can the reader easily find your topic and opinion in your thesis statement? Can the reader find your topic sentences? Can the reader find your opinion? Is your thesis statement just a fact? Or does it contain your opinion?

Bad thesis statements They don’t have an opinion *I had a good time in Australia. *I like dogs. *There are many computer games that you can play. *The author describes many images of the ocean in the novel.

Good thesis statements They have your opinion that can be argued *My encounters with the ghosts show the power of the mind. *My best friend and I have a relationship that has moved through different stages, and I think that is why we are so close. *Playing computer games can help you develop your mental skills. *Eating too many sweets can be a problem because you will have to go to the dentist, you will waste money, and you will get fat.

24 Remember, this is a heading: I prefer no spaces for the heading Your name Austin Casey Academic Writing (your section) Date (date you finished the essay or journal)

25 Remember: A thesis statement needs a topic and an opinion. Topic: what you want to talk about Opinion: what do you think about the topic

26 Homework: Type out a journal. Type it and print it and bring it to class next week. You can use the class writing 1 (your hometown) or class writing 2 (an event in your life). I will check it next week I want to make sure you are doing everything correctly. Remember: Use the heading I gave you. Double space, use Times New Roman, and 12 point font. Make a thesis statement (underline it) words (about half a page)