Informational Writing Adapted from: Thesis-Statement-(High-School- Students)

Writing a Killer Thesis Statement What is a thesis statement? Adapted from: Thesis-Statement-(High-School- Students)

 Is a great way to organize your thoughts before writing.  Is a road map for the paper; it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper.  Makes a claim that others might dispute.  Is usually a single sentence somewhere in your first paragraph that presents what you will write about Adapted from: Thesis-Statement-(High-School- Students)

 A thesis statement needs to accomplish:  a “considered point of view” not an opinion  Promotes conversation rather than stops conversation Adapted from: Thesis-Statement-(High-School- Students)

 States a valid point  Expresses strong opinion  Supported with facts  Isn’t necessarily true but it can be debated Adapted from: Thesis-Statement-(High-School- Students)

 Write your thesis statement in the form of an organized and clear complex sentence:  Complex sentences allow you to communicate rich thoughts. They give you room to unpack elaborate in the body of your essay.  Consider the following pair of sentences:  I hate San Francisco weather in the summertime.  While San Francisco’s weather in the summer can be variable and unpredictable, once one has mastered “the art of layering,” it can be quite pleasant. Adapted from: Thesis-Statement-(High-School- Students)

 Analyze; don’t moralize  Avoid using words like “should” or “must”.  Using these words dictate what people should or shouldn’t do and are off-putting.  Instead, offer a different perspective; something to consider. Adapted from: Thesis-Statement-(High-School- Students)

 Avoid generalizations  When you make universal statements your thesis statement is easy to attack and readers become disinterested.  Stay away from using terms like “everyone,” “no one,” “all,” etc.  Use instead “many” or “some” Adapted from: Thesis-Statement-(High-School- Students)

 Take out a sheet of paper.  Head your paper with a subject of “ FREE WRITE”  Now, define your point of view:  Free Write everything you know or want to know about the topic you have chosen. List pros and cons of the two opposing positions before you make a final decision. This will provide you with clarification and a line of writing for the body of your essay.  What do you think your thesis statement will be? Write this at the bottom of your paper.  Turn in your paper. Adapted from: Thesis-Statement-(High-School- Students)