1. Thesis Statement Practice!!! This will be mostly review…
Please copy into the Class Notes section of your notebook.

2. Remember the following equation…
Topic + Opinion = Thesis!!!

3. Things to Avoid in a Thesis…
“In my opinion…”
“I feel…”
“I believe…”
Do not merely state a fact. A thesis is an assertion of opinion that leads to discussion or requires elaboration.
Do not select a subject that is self-evident or dead- ended.
Do not express your thesis in the form of a question. A question is not a statement. If you use a question to start the thinking process, your thesis will be the answer you wish the reader to consider.

4. A Few Examples
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer was written by Mark Twain in 1876.
WEAK
Some people think that The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is Mark Twain’s best novel.
WEAK
STRONG
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is Mark Twain’s best novel.
Although some scholars argue that Huckleberry Finn is Twain’s crowning achievement, the Adventures of Tom Sawyer is Mark Twain’s best novel because of its use of satire, imagery, and symbolism.
STRONGER

5. Strong or Weak? Crime must be stopped.
The court needs to implement stronger sentences.
Charles Dickens is a good author.
History is an important subject.
Charles Dickens uses the setting of his novels to emphasize the theme of class division.
Socialism is the best form of government for Kenya because it will promote equal opportunity for workers.
If the government takes over the copper industry in Kenya, it will become more efficient through regulation and standardization.
Sigmund Freud is one of the greatest psychologists in medical history.
Because Banana Herb Tea Supplement promotes rapid weight loss that results in the loss of muscle and lean body mass, it poses a potential danger to customers.
Movies are becoming more and more daring in their subject matter.

6. What follows are a number of TOPICS
What follows are a number of TOPICS. Combine your OPINIONS with each topic, thus making a complete THESIS STATEMENT.
TOPIC: School uniforms
TOPIC: Your parents and trust
TOPIC: Drinking and driving
TOPIC: Smoking marijuana
TOPIC: Animal testing
TOPIC: Changing high schools
TOPIC: Endangered species protection
TOPIC: Life on other planets
TOPIC: High school cafeteria food
TOPIC: Dance clubs
TOPIC: Nutritious foods
TOPIC: Darwin’s theory of evolution
TOPIC: Going to college