Literature Thesis Statements
Is the sentence below a thesis statement?
William Shakespeare wrote the play Romeo and Juliet.
No. It is a fact.
Is this a fact or an opinion?
The best dinner is a cheeseburger and french fries.
Opinion
Why isn't this a thesis statement?
Oxygen and Hydrogen make water.
Because it is a fact. There is no claim.
Is the following a good claim for a thesis statement?
Out of all US wars, the Civil War most profoundly impacted American culture.
Yes. American culture is broad, but it is acceptable.
Are the sentences below an attention grabber / hook or a thesis statement?
I wonder, is math so difficult for everyone? Or am I the only one who struggles? This is something I have always wondered.
Attention grabber / hook
Is the sentence below an attention grabber / hook or thesis statement?
Each day I come home from school and I have to read To Kill a Mockingbird. When will we be finished with this book?
This could be considered an attention grabber / hook; it is not a thesis statement. There is no claim or WHY and it is a question, not a statement.
The sentence below was your classmate's thesis statement. What would you tell him/her is wrong with the thesis?
McDonalds, Burger King, and Wendy's are fast food restaurants.
It is a fact and doesn't contain a claim or a WHY.
Is this a good thesis statement? Why or why not?
In this essay I will explain why the environment should be a politician's number one agenda item.
No.
1)The student says "In this essay I will explain..."
2)There is no WHY
3)But there IS a claim
How would you correct this thesis statement?
In this essay I will explain why the Vietnam War has created the deepest political divide between Republicans and Democrats that this country has ever seen.
Delete "In this essay I will explain."
Is the following sentence a fact or a claim?
I have found that four is the only number in the English language that is spelled with the same number of letters as the number itself.
Fact
How can you improve this thesis statement?
I believe all students should read learn about civil rights through fiction because learning through storytelling is engaging for students and improves comprehension.
Take out the "I believe."
Would the below thesis earn an A? Why or why not?
I think Whole Foods supermarket is the best choice for healthy food because there is a variety of organic produce, their food comes from sustainable sources, and their are healthier processed food options.
It would not earn an A because the student used "I think."
Which thesis statement is better?
A. Every hour, 1.5 million tons of garbage is dumped into the ocean. There are many organizations that are trying to help, and I would also like to help.
B. Every US citizen needs to volunteer to help save the oceans from becoming a garbage dump. If we all volunteer, we will solve the ocean fundraising problem, solve the labor shortage of ocean workers and better understand the consequences of our actions.
B
Which is a good claim?
A. There are many beautiful landforms in the US.
B. The Grand Canyon is the most beautiful landform in the US.
B.
Is the below sentence a strong thesis statement? Why or why not?
In this paper, I will be writing about why cosine, sine, and tangent are the most used functions in trigonometry.
No because the person is announcing ("In this paper, I will be writing about...") and there is not claim. This is a fact
Which thesis is stronger? Why?
a. Because To Kill a Mockingbird is a popular secondary education book, paints an accurate picture of the south in the 1930's, and contains well developed characters, I think most students should read it.
b. Because To Kill a Mockingbird is a popular secondary education book, paints an accurate picture of the south in the 1930's, and contains well developed characters, most schools should make it required reading.
B. Because it doesn't include "I think."
Is the below sentence a thesis statement or an attention grabber / hook?
Imagine walking into the a restaurant where everything comes from a farm less than 100 miles away.
Attention grabber / hook
Is the below sentence a thesis statement?
Deforestation has been going on for decades.
No. It is a fact.
Is this a fact or a claim?
The continued guilty verdicts in the Scottsboro Trials were an egregious injustice.
Fact
Write a thesis statement for the following essay question:
Is math the most important subject to learn in school?
Escribe una declaración de tesis para la siguiente pregunta de ensayo:
¿Es la matemática la materia más importante para aprender en la escuela?
Student should have a claim and a because (Math ____ the most important subject in school because ________)
Is this thesis statement strong or weak?
John Smith’s strength and determination to overcome hardships caused by hostile Native Americans, uncommitted English settlers, and harsh weather conditions allowed him to ensure Jamestown’s success.
Strong
Is this thesis statement strong or weak?
Individual food preference can provide clues about one’s cultural background, lifestyle choices, and socio-economic status.
Strong
Write a thesis statement for the following essay question:
What is the best way to stop global warming?
Student will need a claim and WHY (______ is the best way to stop global warming because ___________).
Make up a thesis statement for the following essay question:
Who is the greatest civil rights leader of all time?
There needs to be a claim and a WHY (______ is the greatest civil rights leader of all time because ______________)
How can you revise the thesis statement below to make it even stronger?
Confidence is the most important characteristic to be a successful math student.
You need to come up with the WHY/because 2-3 reasons