1. A Thesis By Any Other Name
Is not a thesis…how to write a solid thesis statement

2. Warm Ups (Journal)
I never was, am always to be. No one ever saw me, not ever will. Yet I am confidence of all, to live and breathe on this terrestrial ball. What am I?
There is a dead man in the center of a field. He carried with him an unopened package. As he neared the center of the field, he knew he was going to die. How did he know?

3. The intro paragraph Begin with anything from a quote to a question
Explain any definitions OR background information
End with your thesis statement
Your thesis should be WHAT YOU ARE PROVING and should have at least 3 reasons (because…) in order to have a strong argument. The reasons should be arranged from strongest to weakest in your body paragraphs.
You will explain each reason with fact or text evidence in your body paragraphs.

4. DO NOT
Apologize.
Announce your intentions. Do not flatly announce what you are about to do in an essay.
In this paper I will . . . 
The purpose of this essay is to . . .
Use a dictionary or encyclopedia definition.
Dilly-dally. Get to it. Move confidently into your essay.
Many writers find it useful to write a warm-up paragraph (or two) and re-write later

5. DO Ways to start: END WITH YOUR THESIS AND REASONS!!!!!!!!!!
Historical Review (background information)
Anecdotal (SHORT SHORT SHORT)
Surprising statement
Celebs or famous person
Declarative
END WITH YOUR THESIS AND REASONS!!!!!!!!!!

6. TTQA Turn the Question Around Example:
Take the question and make it into a sentence
Example:
Describe the best candy ever.
The best candy ever is…
Is Tom Sawyer a Genius or a deviant?
Tom Sawyer is a…because
THE THESIS AND YOUR REASONS SHOULD BE THE LAST SENTENCE OF YOUR FIRST PARAGRAPH

7. If there isn’t a question
If the prompt isn’t a question, but a statement, that’s ok. It is still just as easy.
Example: Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
The ….that complete my application is….because
You just use the prompt as part of your sentence

8. The Game
In groups, you will be given examples to come up with a thesis for
Could be a question or non-question prompt
Your job is to come up with the best thesis statement
This will be judged by members of the class randomly selected
Team with the most points wins (candy is involved)

9. What do you consider to be the single most important societal problem
What do you consider to be the single most important societal problem? Why?

10. Pick a controversial problem on college campuses and suggest a solution.

11. What do you see as the greatest threat to the environment today?

12. Describe how you have demonstrated leadership ability both in and out of school.

13. Discuss a special attribute or accomplishment that sets you apart.

14. ho in your life has been your biggest influence and why?

15. How has your family background affected the way you see the world?

16. How has your education contributed to who you are today?

17. The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success
The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

18. Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea
 Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?

19. Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

20. Exit Ticket Check our your draft. Highlight your thesis and reasons
If it is not correct-correct it now on another piece of paper or post it (not mine)
If it is correct-yay, you are done
YOU WILL BE GRADED ON YOUR ABILITY TO FIND, EVALUATE, and EDIT your thesis