1. THESIS BREAKDOWN: STEPS TO A STRONG SENIOR PROJECT THESIS

2. OUTLINE OF ONE-POINT THESIS  takes on a subject that has the ability to spark conversation  deals with a subject that can be adequately researched and explored  expresses one main idea  asserts your conclusions about a subject

3. THE STEPS  Brainstorm the topic  Narrow the topic  Take a position on the topic  Use specific language  Make an assertion based on clearly stated support

4. BRAINSTORM THE TOPIC  Concerned about the environment for my topic, my brainstorm may lead me to this topic:  Trees  Is this a specific, conversation-sparking subject to brainstorm?  Instead, we could go with:  Tree death

5. NARROW THE TOPIC  I need to narrow and specify my generalized brainstorm to:  Depletion of trees  How broad would my research pool be?  I could further narrow my topic to narrow my research pool with this:  Increased depletion of trees in the United States

6. TAKE A POSITION ON THE TOPIC  After creating and narrowing a topic, a position needs to be developed:  I believe the environment, like trees, needs help to live. I think it is important bc they provide oxygen, gave us paper, & they’re cool to look at.  What are a few things in that example that should not be used in a thesis for the Senior Project?  Instead, we could take a more crafty approach and say:  The environment needs drastic help if resources as vital as trees are not to be depleted in the United States.

7. USE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE  Nit-pick the words and change them to be detailed and stronger:  The environment needs drastic help if resources as vital as trees are not to be depleted in the United States.  Environmental protection of trees requires aggressive attention if resources as vital as trees are going to survive and thrive in the United States.

8. MAKE AN ASSERTION BASED ON CLEARLY STATED SUPPORT  I could still be more specific by making an assertion within a specific context… Environmental protection of trees requires aggressive attention, namely from public domains such as schools, if resources as vital as trees are going to survive and thrive in the United States.  I am focusing on a topic that is narrowed down to looking at the importance of environmental awareness in the U.S., specifically in schools, which I can back up with statistics and researched support.

9. TO REITERATE:  A well-developed thesis takes time and attention, but once created, it will move the research paper in a focused and coherent manner.  Just remember:  Brainstorm the topic  Narrow the topic  Take a position on the topic  Use specific language  Make an assertion based on clearly stated support

10. Any questions?

11. WORKS CITED “How to Write a Thesis Statement.” Indiana University. Writing Tutorial Services, 2014. Web. 10 Aug. 2014. <http://www. indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/thesis_statement.shtml>.

12. YOUR TURN  Get out a sheet of paper and your Senior Project outline.  Write your thesis from your outline on your paper.  Using each step in the PowerPoint, edit your thesis.  Use dictionaries and thesauri to enhance and strengthen your point!

13. YOUR TURN  Brainstorm the topic  Narrow the topic  Take a position on the topic  Use specific language  Make an assertion based on clearly stated support