1. Starting your Argument
Introducing Introductions

2. Notes on Claim and Thesis
Part 1
Notes on Claim and Thesis

3. What is a Claim? (Big Claim)
Something declared to be true
Usually something that can be disputed
Example:
Ford is the overall best car for the average Utah family.

4. A Claim Should . . .
contain a topic (main idea of what you are writing about)
contain an opinion about the topic (what your attitude is toward the topic)
Warning: you have to make it not sound like just an opinion. Don’t use the words I, me, we, us.

5. Example Claims (Big Claims)
Rocky Mountain Junior High should have a longer lunch period.
Justin Beiber music should be banned from school dances.
Every student should have to complete ten hours of community service to graduate high school.
Rocky Mountain Junior High should have a shorter lunch period. Justin Beiber music should be played at all school dances. Community service shouldn’t be necessary to graduate high school.

6. Big Claim + Mini Claims = Thesis Statement
Rocky Mountain Junior High should have a longer lunch period.
Thesis
Rocky Mountain Junior High should have a longer lunch period because students at the end of the lunch line would have more time to eat, struggling students can get extra help from teachers, and teachers can use the time to plan and grade.
MAGIC THREE
Mini Claims/Reasons
Why should we believe you?
Students at the end of the lunch line would have more time to eat.
Struggling students can get extra help from teachers.
Teachers can use the time to plan and grade.

7. Thesis Statements DO NOT . . .
use the first person (I believe, In my opinion, in this essay I will tell you… etc.)
just state a fact - A thesis is something you plan to make an argument about.

8. Practice Writing Thesis Statements
Part 2
Practice Writing Thesis Statements

9. Writing Your Own Thesis
Consider what school would be like if boys and girls went to separate schools. What would be good about this arrangement? What would be bad?

10. Thesis Practice BIG CLAIM: What is your opinion?
“I love watching Jimmy Fallon” or “Parents should let their kids stay up late to watch The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon.”
MINI CLAIMS / REASONS: List three to support your claim.
Jimmy Fallon is funny
He interviews popular celebrities
He makes history and current events more interesting.”
THESIS: Add your reasons to your claim
“Parents should let their kids stay up late to watch The Tonight Show because Jimmy Fallon is funny, he interviews popular celebrities, and he makes history and current events more interesting.”

11. Should boys and girls attend separate schools?
Big Claim ___________________________________________________________
Mini Claims/Reasons
Thesis
___________________________________ because _____________________
(Big Claim) (Mini Claim 1)
________________________, _______________________________________,
(Mini Claim 2)
and ____________________________________________________________.
(Mini Claim 3)

12. Practice Writing an Introduction
Part 3
Practice Writing an Introduction

13. Write Your Own Introduction
Choose one of your thesis statements on your worksheet to turn into an introduction.

14. Write Your Own Introduction
Hook: an opening statement or question that attracts the reader's attention
Link: supporting sentence(s) which link "the hook" to the thesis
"Hook"
"Link"
Thesis

15. Example Introduction "Hook" "Link" Thesis
Today’s teenagers are a lot like the Energizer Bunny. The part of their day not spent in school is full of homework, extra-curricular activities and chores. They need some time to relax and laugh in the evenings. Parents should let their kids stay up late to watch The Tonight Show because Jimmy Fallon is funny, he interviews popular celebrities, and he makes history and current events more interesting.
"Hook"
"Link"
Thesis

16. Part 4
Outlining an Essay

17. Six Paragraph Essay
Now that you have an introduction with a thesis, you need to organize your ideas (two of the six traits). This is easy because your introduction has already done it for you.

18. Example Outline Paragraph 1: Introduction
Today’s teenagers are a lot like the Energizer Bunny. The part of their day not spent in school is full of homework, extra-curricular activities and chores. They need some time to relax and laugh in the evenings. Parents should let their kids stay up late to watch The Tonight Show because Jimmy Fallon is funny, he interviews popular celebrities, and he makes history and current events more interesting.
Paragraph 1: Introduction
Paragraph 2: Jimmy Fallon is funny.
Paragraph 3: He interviews popular celebrities.
Paragraph 4: He makes history and current events more interesting.
Paragraph 5 (Counterclaim): Parents
Paragraph 6: Conclusion