Analyzing Thesis Statement

Thesis Statements

Dr. Antonini

​The Research Process

The research process is the application of the Scientific Method of discovery.

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• ​Ask a question about a topic

• ​Read or conduct testing to find out the answer

• ​Make a claim based on evidence you gather

• ​Use the evidence to prove or disprove your claim

• ​Present your findings

Multiple Select

In hard sciences, we gather physical evidence like water samples or plant cells to perform tests and gather data. What kind of data would you gather in an English class?

• Quotes from a novel.

• Information, charts, or images from a news broadcast.

• Audio recordings of political speeches.

• Soil samples from coastal wetlands.

​What is a thesis?

A thesis statement, or thesis for short, is a sentence that makes a provable claim about a topic and provides a summary of the evidence that proves that claim to be true.

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​A thesis is only formed after the research question has been asked, the data has been collected, and you have analyzed that data to support your claim.

Elements of Thesis Statements

Ballerinas rely on their balance because their movements require precise angles, and they often need to stand on their toes.

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​Chat with your neighbor:

Which thesis elements can you identify in this statement?

Multiple Choice

What is the topic of this thesis?

Ballerinas rely on their balance because their movements require precise angles, and they often need to stand on their toes.

• ballerinas

• rely

• balance

• ballerinas rely on their balance

Ballerinas rely on their balance because their movements require precise angles, and they often need to stand on their toes.

Ballerinas rely on their balance because their movements require precise angles, and they often need to stand on their toes.

TOPIC = ballerinas

VERB = rely

DETAIL = their balance

REASON 1 = their movements require precise angles

REASON 2 = they often need to stand on their toes​

Ballerinas rely on their balance because their movements require precise angles, and they often need to stand on their toes.

​This thesis is about ballerinas. It is not about tofu or Oklahoma or dancers in general. It is also not about balance in general. By reading this thesis, the reader knows that ballerinas are the topic this author is researching in their analysis.

Multiple Select

What clues can we use to confirm that these reasons are actually supporting the topic and not the detail or any other unrelated information?

Ballerinas rely on their balance because their movements require precise angles, and they often need to stand on their toes.

• The reasons focus on the ballerinas' movements and the way they use their feet for that specific kind of dance.

• The reasons are widely accepted by the top researchers in the field of ballet.

• The reasons are full of specific information like body parts and angles.

• The reasons seem like they could be tested or measured, so the researcher can use evidence based on data.

Ballerinas rely on their balance because their movements require precise angles, and they often need to stand on their toes.

​​This thesis tells the reader which detail about ballerinas that they want to evaluate or analyze. The author is not going to be discussing costumes or song choices or ages of ballerinas; they will only be discussing issues related to their balance.

Multiple Choice

What other details about ballerinas could be researched in the paper that follows this thesis?

Ballerinas rely on their balance because their movements require precise angles, and they often need to stand on their toes.

• Any physical movement performed by dancers.

• Their height since short people do not usually become ballerinas.

• Their choice of costume; it is important that ballerinas have good fashion sense.

• None of these.

Ballerinas rely on their balance because their movements require precise angles, and they often need to stand on their toes.

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Ballerinas rely on their balance because they are good at it, and it is hard to do.

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Ask a classmate:

What makes some reasons better than others?

Poll

You ask your guardian if you can go over to Jorge's house to watch the superbowl. They say, "No, you have way too much homework."

Which reason seems like the strongest one to win them over?

• Jorge is a good guy, I swear. Trust me. He makes all A's!

• I'll come home at half-time! You won't even miss me.

• Since Jorge helped us out with the cooking for my birthday, I should repay the favor by helping him with this event.

• The superbowl is not meant to be watched alone. Everyone will be gathered together across the whole country.

Multiple Choice

Is this a valid thesis?

Many people own cats.

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

Is this a valid thesis?

Many people own cats because felines are carnivorous and have large litters of kittens.

• Yes

• No

​Not a thesis...

​The statement "Many people own cats" is not a thesis because it does not have any reasons supporting its claim.

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​The statement "Many people own cats because felines are carnivorous and have large litters of kittens" is not a thesis because the reasons do not explain why people own cats. Those reasons are concerned with the detail, not the topic.

Multiple Choice

Is this a valid thesis?

Many people own cats because they can make people feel less lonely, and petting them releases endorphins which create positive emotions.

• Yes

• No

​Thesis and Prompt

​A great thesis addresses the prompt, if one is provided.

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​Take the STAAR 2019 English I prompt for example. They provide a lot of background information before the main prompt, which is: Write an essay explaining the importance of making time for both work and play.

​Write an essay explaining the importance of making time for both work and play.

​The topic and detail about that topic are both provided for us. We are responsible for making a claim and providing the support (evidence) for that claim.

Multiple Choice

What is the topic that is provided in this prompt?

​Write an essay explaining the importance of making time for both work and play.

• making time for both work and play

• the importance of both work and play

• the value of spending time at both work and play

​Write an essay explaining the importance of making time for both work and play.

​The topic and detail about that topic are both provided for us. We are responsible for making a claim and providing the support (evidence) for that claim.

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Balancing time between work and play is important because...

​--------------------------------------------------- difficult

​----------------------------------------------- causes stress

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The reasons, support, or evidence that we gather need to focus on the time spent on work vs. play and why that time is important to manage.

Open Ended

Finish this thesis:

Balancing time between work and play is important because...