Thesis Statement Basics
What is a thesis statement?
A. A thesis statement is a clear summary of the main point or claim of an essay or research paper.
B. A sentence written to help support the central idea.
A. A thesis statement is a clear summary of the main point or claim of an essay or research paper.
Which of the following is a clear thesis statement?
A. There are many types of music.
B. Rock music, with its powerful rhythms and themes of rebellion, has significantly influenced youth culture.
B. Rock music, with its powerful rhythms and themes of rebellion, has significantly influenced youth culture.
Identify how many paragraphs this essay will have.
Dogs are better pets than cats because they help their owners, are loyal, and can easily be trained.
How many are you responsible for writing?
5
4
True or False: A good thesis statement should be a question rather than a statement
Identify whether the following statements is a thesis.
In this essay, I will explain the importance of recycling.
No, this is not a thesis statement. It simply states the intention to discuss the topic. It does not include the claim and reasons to back it up.
What would your conclusion sentence be for the following thesis statement?
Small town life offers closer relationships with neighbors, a slower pace of life, and a lower cost of living.
In conclusion, small town life offers closer relationships with neighbors, a slower pace of life, and a lower cost of living.
Fill in the blank. A thesis statement should be specific enough to guide the _____ of the essay.
Direction
format
road map
Identify the reasons in the following sentences.
Dogs are great pets because they provide companionship and have been shown to reduce stress.
provides companionship
reduces stress
Write the sentence for body paragraph 1 for the following thesis statement.
The Hunger Games is a riveting and educational book because it is full of action and suspense, has believable characters, and is related to subjects like civics.
First, the Hunger Games book is full of action and suspense.
What are the two main components of a strong thesis statement?
A specific claim and two reasons.
Identify the claim in this thesis statement
Fast food has become a staple in American diets because it is convenient and cheap, but it also contributes to health issues.
Fast food is a staple in American diets
Write the sentence for body paragraph 2 for the following thesis statement.
Schools should not serve soda at lunch because poor nutrition and high sugar content contributes to lack of motivation and lack of focus.
Second, poor nutrition and high sugar content contributes to a lack of focus.
How many sentences should a thesis statement be?
1
Identify the claim in this thesis statement.
Exercise is good for you because it helps improve physical health, mental well-being, and boosts overall quality of life.
Exercise is good for you.
Identify the sentence for body paragraph 3 with this thesis statement.
Westward expansion is a tragic moment in our nation’s history because Native Americans faced discrimination, buffalo were annihilated, and the American Indians were forced onto reservations.
Finally, American Indians were forced onto reservations.