A Guide to Success Thesis Statement

Yes, this is a research project where you present facts, but you should still be trying to PROVE something It is the main idea of your entire project It is the product of your own critical thinking after you have done some research It is about the topic, not about YOU. Do not write in first person!

How do you write it? Look at the side you are arguing for Look at the kinds of information you found in your sources Decide what kind of statement you have enough evidence to prove

“I” statements Working Thesis "I want to know why Christians and Muslims fought so intensely with each other during the middle ages.” Even though Christians and Muslims were supposedly fighting for religious power, their disagreements were most strongly fueled by a desire for land and economic power. Working Thesis Example

"I" Statement Working Thesis I think the New Deal created jobs for people in the 1930s and was a good program.  One section of FDR’s New Deal, The Works Progress Administration, created jobs for unemployed Americans during the Depression, stimulating the economy and people’s confidence in their government, eventually leading to the United States’ stabilization. Working Thesis Example

One section of FDR’s New Deal, The Works Progress Administration, created jobs for unemployed Americans during the Depression, stimulating the economy and people’s confidence in their government, eventually leading to the United States’ stabilization. What do “created jobs” and “stimulated the economy” do in this thesis statement? Talk with your elbow partner and answer these questions. Write your answer down! Including reasons in thesis statement.

Even though Christians and Muslims were supposedly fighting for religious power, their disagreements were most strongly fueled by a desire for land and economic power. What does the “Even though” statement do? How does it make your argument stronger? Talk with your elbow partner and answer these questions. Write your answer down ! Overcoming Objections

Practice: Claims, counterarguments, reasons The rise in technology amongst teens has resulted in declining academic skills and poor attention. Colleges’ and universities’ implementation of speech codes violates first amendments rights and discourages academic discourse which defines higher education. Although technology brings many benefits to teens, its negative consequences, including declining academic skills and poor attention outweigh the benefits.

A Little About Your Reasons Wrong: “Free speech protects us all.” Why? Wrong: “Basically, it’s about being civil to each other.” Why? Wrong: “Two-thirds of students surveyed say they prefer speech codes.” Why?

Good reasons are… Written in academic language as complete thoughts Strong opinions that can be backed up with evidence from the text Relevant to the claim and the audience Specific and not overwhelming An opinion that is broad enough to cover all of the evidence provided to support it Written in the third person

Good reasons… Are NOT written in first or second person Do NOT use Broad, overarching language Are NOT vague Are NOT evidence or examples Are NOT personal preferences that are not important to the cause or the audience Do NOT use hypothetical situations (The “What If...”)