1. HOW TO WRITE POWERFUL THESIS STATEMENTS Copyright 2012 Dianne Mason1

2. Do Now Complete the following sentence frame: I find it __________________ to write thesis statements because __________________. 2

3. A thesis statement allows both the writer and the reader to find their way through a labyrinth of ideas by following a thread of thought. Essentially, Copyright 2012 Dianne Mason3 The thesis statement is that sentence or two at the end of your introduction that contains the focus of your essay and tells your reader what the essay is going to be about.

4. That central message, the thesis statement, is the string that guides the reader from the introductory paragraph, through the supporting ones, to the conclusion. The reader should see a relationship between all parts of the essay and the thesis statement. Copyright 2012 Dianne Mason4

5. A thesis statement is not a subject. “The two most famous generals of the Civil War” is not a thesis statement. Copyright 2012 Dianne Mason5

6. A thesis statement is not a question. “Was Robert E. Lee a better general than Ulysses S. Grant?” is not a thesis statement. Copyright 2012 Dianne Mason6

7. A thesis statement is not a statement of fact. A fact is something true or indisputable; something that exists or happens. Copyright 2012 Dianne Mason7

8. Facts Many Americans are overweight. Nowadays, many movies and video games are violent. Some people doubt that global warming is real. Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant are two famous Civil War generals. Copyright 2012 Dianne Mason8

9. A thesis statement is not a statement of intent. A statement of intent announces what the reader intends to say (the goal) and is not a claim. Copyright 2012 Dianne Mason9

10. Statements of Intent ◦I am going to explain the importance of a father in a daughter’s life. ◦My essay will discuss whether performance enhancing drugs should be allowed in professional sports. ◦The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast Generals Grant and Lee. Copyright 2012 Dianne Mason10

11. What is a thesis statement? A claim: an assertion of the truth of something A one or two sentence summary of a paper’s main point An unproved statement which is assumed to be true and from which a conclusion can be drawn Copyright 2012 Dianne Mason11

12. A Thesis Statement Is Adequately Focused. It is not too broad. It is not too narrow. 12

13. Examples of thesis statements that are too broad. Video games today have many advantages over the first generation ones. There is too much money in politics. The lifestyle of women today is very different from that of women during the American Revolution. Copyright 2012 Dianne Mason13

14. An effective thesis may provide a blueprint for the essay One way to show the reader your plan is to create a thesis with a topic part and a comment part. It tells the reader where you will begin with your essay and where you will end. Copyright 2012 Dianne Mason14

15. A thesis statement must be well-supported. No matter how well-constructed and thoughtful your thesis statement is, it is only effective when supported by evidence. You must have adequate information, examples, details and reasons to convince your reader that you know what you’re talking about. Copyright 2012 Dianne Mason15

16. Always Remember: 6 Traits of an effective thesis 1. It states a claim. 2. It is focused. 3. It contains one main point. 4. It may provide a blueprint for the essay. 5. It contains precise wording. 6. It must be well-supported. Copyright 2012 Dianne Mason16

17. Effective Literary Thesis Statements The thesis may focus on an analysis of one of the elements of fiction, drama, poetry or nonfiction as expressed in the work: character, plot, structure, idea, theme, symbol, style, imagery, tone, etc. Example: In “A Worn Path,” Eudora Welty creates a fictional character in Phoenix Jackson whose determination, faith, and cunning illustrate the indomitable human spirit. Note that the work, author, and character to be analyzed are identified in this thesis statement. The thesis relies on a strong verb (creates). It also identifies the element of fiction that the writer will explore (character) and the characteristics the writer will analyze and discuss (determination, faith, cunning). 17

18. Other Examples of Strong Literary Thesis Statements The character of the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet serves as a foil to young Juliet, delights us with her warmth and earthy wit, and helps realize the tragic catastrophe. The works of ecstatic love poets Rumi, Hafiz, and Kabir use symbols such as a lover’s longing and the Tavern of Ruin to illustrate the human soul’s desire to connect with God. 18

19. Now it is your turn… Take 3 minutes and contemplate some ideas that you can plug into the thesis statement sentence frames shared with you in the Google Classroom. Also, be sure to have some scenes in mind to back up your points. Honors students are expected to think outside the “depressed” framework. Copyright 2012 Dianne Mason19