1. Thesis Statements Because of X, we need to do Y.

2. Argumentative paper A problem-analysis paper makes a claim about a topic and justifies this claim with a specific solution. The claim could be an opinion, a policy proposal, an evaluation, a cause-and-effect statement, or an interpretation. The goal of the argumentative paper is to convince the audience that the claim is true based on the evidence provided.

3. Be specific! Your thesis statement should be specific—it should cover only what you will discuss in your paper and should be supported with specific evidence.

4. Where does it go? The thesis statement appears at the end of the first paragraph of a research paper. Single-sex classroom settings throughout Charlotte- Mecklenburg Schools would be beneficial because of the division of multiple learning styles, the decrease in social pressure, and the variation in male and female physiology. (Solution is good because of X, Y, Z)

5. This is a problem because… Due to the confederate flag being a racist symbol, a clear violation of church vs. state, and it’s clear support of slavery, it should be banned from all public places. Because it’s X, Y, Z, here’s a solution.

6. Be consistent! Your topic may change as you write, so you may need to revise your thesis statement to reflect exactly what you have discussed in the paper.

7. Example: “Because there are fewer and fewer volunteers every year, high school graduates should be required to take a year off to pursue community service projects before entering college.” The paper that follows should: present an argument and give evidence to support the claim that students should pursue community projects before entering college

8. Don’t go off topic… If you’re talking about “steroids in high school students” in your thesis, I expect you are focusing on JUST high school students. If you start talking about college students, you aren’t staying consistent. Either:  A: Change you thesis to reflect your research  B: Change your research to reflect you thesis. Which is easier?

9. Write your thesis.. On a sheet of paper, write your thesis statement. Remember: Because of X, we need to do Y. Put your name at the top. Next. Pass your papers to the next person.  Look at the thesis – do you see any issues? Is it too long/short? Does it include a clear problem and a clear solution?  If Yes, sign you name. If not – give a suggestion on how to change it.

10. If your paper doesn’t fit the “Problem- Analysis” model… Simply leave out the “solution” part. Basically X is a problem because of A, B, and C.