1. A Sentence Worth More Than a Thousand Words
The Thesis Statement
A Sentence Worth More Than a Thousand Words

2. Thesis Statements
Is a complete sentence that contains the main idea AND your opinion.
The thesis will provide the road map for the entire essay.

3. A Thesis Statement is NOT
A question
A sentence fragment
A statement of fact
Something obvious

4. Location English readers want to know what they are reading about.
Thesis statements should be located in the last sentence of the first paragraph.

5. The Magic Thesis Formula
A thesis statement includes three main things.
First, the thesis must have a SUBJECT.
Second, the thesis must contain your ATTITUDE about the topic.
Third, your thesis will explain your REASONS for your attitude.

6. The Magic Thesis Formula
Thesis = Subject + Attitude + Reasons

7. A Good Thesis
Will contain three elements: subject, attitude, and reasons.
Will be located in the last sentence of the first paragraph
Will not state the obvious
Will not be a question
Will be a complete sentence
Will serve as the road map for the entire essay… EVERYTHING goes back to the thesis!

8. Practice: Can You Spot a Good Thesis?
Why I became a teacher.
Not a good thesis: not a complete sentence, missing reasons.
Looking back, there are three main reasons I became a teacher: my love of literature, my desire to help people, and my interest in how people learn.
Good thesis: contains subject, attitude, and reasons, is a sentence

9. Practice: Can You Spot a Good Thesis?
The sport of cross country running.
Not a good thesis: has subject but not reasons or attitude, is not a complete sentence.
Cross country running is a sport for everyone: you can meet new people and get in better shape.
Good thesis: has all three elements, is not a question, is a complete sentence.

10. Practice: Can You Spot a Good Thesis?
Cancun is a popular vacation spot in Mexico.
Not a good thesis: states the obvious
Cancun is a destination that you should consider visiting because of its beautiful scenery and impressive resorts. OR
Cancun is a popular Mexican destination, but because of high crime rates outside of the resorts, there are better locations for tourists, such as La Playa del Carmen.
Either is a good thesis: all three elements, arguable, complete sentence.

11. Practice: Can You Create a Good Thesis?
The problem of pollution in large cities.
This is not a thesis… How can you make it into one?

12. Practice: The Pollution Problem
First, ask yourself questions about the topic:
Why is pollution in large cities a problem?
Do I have a solution?
What is the cause of the problem?
Can the government do anything to help the problem of pollution?
How can we, as citizens, help the problem?
Should these solutions be made into laws?

13. Practice: The Pollution Problem
Next, take the information you know and begin to form an opinion about the topic:
Pollution is a major problem in large cities because it affects health as well as the beauty of a city.
Pollution can be eased by: taking public transportation, recycling, being less wasteful.
Pollution is a major problem, and people who litter or waste resources should be punished by laws.

14. Practice: The Pollution Problem
From your opinion, fill in the space after this:
In my paper, I will prove that…
People that do not take steps to prevent pollution by recycling or taking public transportation should be punished by law because their actions have a negative effect on the health and well being of others.
Once you’ve written a full sentence after “in my paper…” that sentence can be a thesis.

15. Practice: The Pollution Problem
People that do not take steps to prevent pollution TOPIC
by recycling or taking public transportation should be punished by law ATTITUDE
because their actions have a negative effect on the health and wellbeing of others. REASONS

16. If you don’t ask, you’ll never know.
Thesis Statement Q&A
If you don’t ask, you’ll never know.