1. A Thesis Statement is…
An explanation of the purpose of your paper
An identification of the main point
An exploration of an idea/an argument

2. Thesis components: Argument/opinion
Your thesis statement must argue a stance that is based on your opinions

3. Thesis components: Focus
Your thesis statement must be focused specifically on one topic
More importantly, every portion of your paper will relate to this one statement

4. Thesis components: Guide
Your thesis needs to include a guide or map of where your paper is going to go

5. The Thesis Statement’s Importance
This one sentence is the most important part of your paper
Without a solid thesis, your paper is doomed to…
Be unfocused
Be confusing
Be weak in content
Make no real point or argument
Make Mr. Melvin cry

6. Exemplar Student Thesis Statements
In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, it is only through Scout’s youthful eyes that readers can begin to see the slow growth of the characters from racism to equality.

7. Activity
You are to create two thesis statements about your summer reading text that are modeled around the exemplar I’ve provided for you.

8. Closing Journal
What did you learn that you didn’t know before? What is one thing you want to work on with your writing?