Getting Started
A sentence that introduces the main idea of an essay.
THESIS STATEMENT?
Why is Superman cool?
Superman is cool because he can fly, he is strong, and he saves people.
Is this good evidence for the topic of Superman?
Yes
Superman is cool because he can fly, is strong, and saves people from danger.
What is the topic in this thesis?
Superman?
What is the first step in writing a thesis statement?
Form a question about your topic.
Why is the Secret Life of Pets a great movie?
The Secret Life of Peters is a great movie, just like Harry Potter, Harry Potter is able to do amazing things. I like Harry Potter a lot.
Is this good evidence? YES or NO?
No, this evidence goes off topic
Twenty-one pilots songs are great because they cheer me up, I can sing along to them, and many of them are hits.
What is the topic of this thesis statement?
The band, twenty one pilots.
Before writing a thesis statement, I should choose a _______ to write about.
What is a TOPIC?
Why do I like twenty-one pilots music?
Write a statement of evidence to support this topic
Student choice
I laughed the whole time, my friends loved it too, and it made more money at the box office than any other movie in 2016 - The Secret Life of Pets movie is the best film ever!.
What is the topic of this thesis statement?
The Secret Life of Pets movie.
How many parts should have a thesis statement have?
3 parts
Thesis statement: My birthday is the greatest day of my life because I can do fun things, I get to spend quality time with my family and receiving presents is awesome!
Write one piece of supporting evidence to support this topic
Student choice
Mrs. Zieroff is a great teacher because she helps me when I am struggling, tells me how I can improve, and makes me laugh.
What is the topic of this thesis statement?
What is Mrs. Zieroff.
Should a thesis statement have an opinion?
YES
Mrs. Zieroff is a great teacher because she is well trained, she often stays after school to support students and she is an extremely kind teacher.
Does this evidence support the thesis? YES or NO
I've often seen Mrs. Zieroff spend her own money in her classroom to benefit the students. This makes her an amazing teacher in my books!
No, it is unrelated to the thesis
The Cleveland Indians will win the World Series because they hit alot of home runs, their pitchers had the most strikeouts in the league this year, and their manager has already won two championships.
What is the topic of this thesis?
The Cleveland Indians, or the World Series.