1. Developing a Thesis Statement
First, go over the front (Four Steps to a Perfect Thesis). This presentation picks up on the back of the note sheet.
McKinney
Fall 2017

2. My Learning Plan
Part I: Can I identify a thesis? Part II: Can I evaluate a thesis? Part III: Can I write a thesis?

3. Identify a Thesis Statement
is usually a single sentence somewhere in your first paragraph that directly answers the essay prompt.
directly answers the question
provides organizational categories used in the essay.
Thus, Topic + Opinion + Why
Students should fill in the blanks on their notes (bright yellow words = blanks)

4. Is this statement a thesis?
Essay Prompt: state your position on whether it is better to live in a large city or in a small town.
What would be the topic:_____________________
What would be the opinion: ___________________
What would be the why: ______________________
Ask students to evaluate the thesis using the three criteria from the previous slide. Reveal answer after students ‘vote’.

5. Is this statement a thesis?
Essay Prompt: state your position on whether it is better to live in a large city or in a small town.
While I may miss the beauty and peace of the country life, comforts like entertainment and employment opportunities afforded by metropolitan areas are difficult to ignore.
YES
Why? It directly answers the question and provides two organizational categories.
Ask students to evaluate the thesis using the three criteria from the previous slide. Reveal answer after students ‘vote’.

6. Is this statement a thesis?
Essay Prompt: state your position on whether it is better to live in a large city or in a small town. I like living in a small town, but then I like living in a big city too. NO Why? It does not directly answer the question and provides no organizational categories.
Ask students to evaluate the thesis using the three criteria from the previous slide. Reveal answer after students ‘vote’.

7. Is this statement a thesis?
Essay Prompt: state your position on whether it is better to live in a large city or in a small town.
I think it’s better to live in a big city because you have a better opportunity to have a good job. NO
Why? It partially answers the question and organizational categories are limited.
Ask students to evaluate the thesis using the three criteria from the previous slide. Reveal answer after students ‘vote’.

8. Is this statement a thesis?
Essay Prompt: state your position on whether it is better to live in a large city or in a small town.
It is better to live in a small town where you can actually know and love the people and places around you.
YES
Why? It directly answers the question and provides two organizational categories.
Ask students to evaluate the thesis using the three criteria from the previous slide. Reveal answer after students ‘vote’.

9. Evaluate a Thesis Statement
Use the top row of your rubric to evaluate the following thesis statements. Evaluate each as:
Advanced
Proficient
Emerging
Intervention Needed
Clear, complete, insightful
Clear and complete
Partially answers question
Minimally answers the question or no thesis
Students should copy the rubric details into their notes. Columns have been labeled for them.

10. Score this thesis!
Essay Prompt: Should vending machines be banned in high schools? Because vending machines contribute to student obesity and encourage schools to choose profit over student health, they should be banned from high schools.
Students score all of these slides. Reveal answer after score. You may choose to use a pinch card for scoring, I just have them show me using their hand 1-4.

11. Score this thesis!
Essay Prompt: Should vending machines be banned in high schools? Because vending machines contribute to student obesity and encourage schools to choose profit over student health, they should be banned from high schools. ADVANCED Why? Clear, complete and insightful (choose profit over student health)

12. Score this thesis!
Essay Prompt: Should vending machines be banned in high schools? Vending machines can be both good and bad; mostly vending machines destroy kids’ health.

13. Score this thesis!
Essay Prompt: Should vending machines be banned in high schools? Vending machines can be both good and bad; mostly vending machines destroy kids’ health. NEEDS INTERVENTION Why? Vague, no clear position; one organizing category and it is worded dramatically. (destroy kids’ health…. seriously?)

14. Score this thesis!
Essay Prompt: Should vending machines be banned in high schools? Because vending machines provide schools money for special programs and can provide students healthy lunches and snacks, they should continue to be available to high school students.

15. Score this thesis!
Essay Prompt: Should vending machines be banned in high schools? Because vending machines provide schools money for special programs and can provide students healthy lunches and snacks, they should continue to be available to high school students. PROFICIENT Why? Clear, and complete

16. Score this thesis!
Essay Prompt: Should vending machines be banned in high schools? Vending machines themselves are not bad, but they sell way too much junk food.

17. Score this thesis!
Essay Prompt: Should vending machines be banned in high schools? Vending machines themselves are not bad, but they sell way too much junk food. EMERGING Why? Does not directly take a position; partially answers question

18. Writing a Thesis Statement
Prompt: Should vending machines be banned in high schools?
Rewrite these as a class so that the students have a good example to work from. These should be written at the bottom of the note page.
Thesis Criteria
Directly answers the question
Includes organizational categories
Is clear and complete
Is insightful (Advanced)

19. Writing a Thesis Statement
Prompt: Should vending machines be banned in high schools?
Rewrite these as a class so that the students have a good example to work from. These should be written at the bottom of the note page.
Thesis Criteria
Directly answers the question
Includes organizational categories
Is clear and complete
Is insightful (Advanced)