True or False
True and False? A good thesis statement is a fact.
False. Good thesis statements need to be arguable opinions.
Which of the following is a good thesis statement?
A. Most Americans are healthy eaters.
B. Most Americans are not healthy eaters.
C. Americans do not have a healthy diet because the fast food industry is huge, junk food is cheaper than healthy food, and most foods are processed with sugar.
C.
It has an opinion and gives reasons to support it.
Write a thesis statement for the following prompt:
Does where someone grows up affect who they become?
Example:
Where someone grows up does affect who they become because of economic background, schooling, and access to public privileges.
Name one PRO and one CON for the following prompt:
Should students have to follow a dress code?
Example:
Pro - School uniforms allow students to be united and equal on campus.
Con - School uniforms do not allow students to show their individuality.
True or False? A good thesis statement only argues one point.
True. A thesis statement should only argue one point, but have several reasons to back it up.
Which of these is a thesis statement?
A. Knowing a foreign language.
B. Knowing a foreign language is a very useful skill because it can help one advance in a career, relate better to others, and open one's mind to the ideas of another culture.
C. Why should people know a foreign language?
B.
A thesis statement should be a complete sentence and not a question.
Write a thesis for the following prompt:
Should more people become vegetarian?
Example:
More people should become vegetarian because it encourages a healthy diet, would help end world hunger, and is a more sustainable form of sustenance.
Name one PRO and one CON for the following prompt:
Should elementary students have cell phones?
Example:
PRO - Students will be accessible at all times in case of an emergency.
CON - Younger students might not be able to handle online situations carefully.
True or False? You write the thesis statement in the last sentence in the conclusion paragraph.
False. It is the last sentence in the introduction paragraph.
Which of these is a thesis statement?
A. Michaelangelo's artwork is powerful because of its strong spiritual undertones.
B. Michaelangelo's artwork is famous and is admired by many.
C. Michaelangelo was a great artist in Rome during the 1500's.
A.
A thesis statement states an opinion on a topic. It doesn't just state the topic, itself. A thesis should not be a fact.
Write a thesis for the following prompt:
Are you and your parent different or similar?
Example:
My parents and I are different in the way we socialize, dress, and choose what to eat.
Name one PRO and one CON for the following prompt:
Should students be allowed to eat during class?
Examples:
PRO - Food has been proven to boost brain power.
CON - Food can make students sleepy after they eat.
True or False? Your thesis statement states the main idea of the essay in two sentences.
False. The thesis statement is usually only one complete sentence.
Which of these makes the best thesis statement?
A. The reasons why I came to the United States to study.
B. The reasons why I came to the United States to study were to educate myself and then to return to Tunisia to apply my education.
C. There were many reasons why I came to the United States to study.
A thesis statement needs an opinion and reasons to back it up. It should be a complete sentence.
Write a thesis for the following prompt:
Is social media good for teenagers?
Example:
Social media is good for teens because it gives them the ability to connect to their peers instantly, use their creativity, and maintain relationships.
Name one PRO and one CON for the following prompt:
Should P.E. be required in school?
Example:
PRO - It is healthy for students to do exercise every day.
CON - Public exercise can be a source of public anxiety for some students.
True or False? "Only the blue Gatorades taste good", the above statement is a bad thesis statement.
True. This statement is only an opinion.
Which of these makes the best thesis sentence?
A. Internet access should be accessible to all people.
B. All people deserve internet access because it is necessary for school, necessary for most jobs, and most businesses have transitioned online.
C. In this essay, I will explain why internet access is necessary for most aspects of adult life and should be accessible for all.
B.
A thesis should have an opinion and reasons to back it up. A thesis should not explain what the essay will be about with phrases like, "In this essay . . ."
Write a thesis for the following prompt:
Does TV tell the truth about real life?
Example:
TV does not tell the truth about real life because Hollywood tends to only cast very attractive actors, characters usually have more money than makes sense, and peoples lives always seem too perfect.
Name one PRO and one CON for the following prompt:
Are video games too violent for children?
PRO - Video games are rated, so violent video games do not have to be played by younger children if the parents are uncomfortable.
CON - Children do not always tell their parents when they are playing a violent video game.