Rhetorical Analysis Thesis Statements

Thesis Statements

How to write a solid thesis statement!

THESIS STATEMENTS ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, AS THEY EXPRESS THE CENTRAL ARGUMENT OF YOUR ESSAY.

Without a thesis, your essay is unfocused.

First thing's first:

• Thesis statements are ONE SENTENCE

• Thesis statements are always at the end of your intro paragraph

• Thesis statements should not include first person (just like the rest of your essay)

• Thesis statements belong in every essay! No matter the genre (literary analysis, research, argumentative, etc)

So, what is a thesis statement?!?!

• Focuses your essay ideas into one sentence

• Presents the topic of your essay and answers the questions asked. 

• Tells your reader what the essay is about and also helps guide your writing and keep your argument focused (kind of like a road map)

Steps to making a thesis:

• Condense your prompt down to a single question

• Circle/underline keywords and phrases in the question. Use these words to create your thesis stem.

• Answer the question asked by synthesizing reasons revealed by selected text evidence. 

  
  

Multiple Choice

Where does a thesis statement specifically occur in an essay?

• Beginning of an essay

• First sentence of body paragraphs

• Last sentence of intro paragraph

Multiple Choice

What is the function of a thesis statement?

• Presents the main argument of an essay

• Presents the main argument of a body paragraph

• Introduces the texts focused on in the essay

Multiple Choice

Why is this not an example of an effective thesis statement: I believe technology is a productive tool because it helps connect people and expands people's scope of knowledge.

• It does not present a specific stance.

• It is not one sentence.

• It uses first person.

Multiple Choice

If a writer uses this thesis statement, what will they talk about in their body paragraphs?: Technology is a productive tool because it helps connect people and expands people's scope of knowledge.

• First: Technology is a productive tool. Second: Technology is a productive tool.

• First: Technology helps connect people; Second: Technology expands people's scope of knowledge.

• First: Technology expands people's scope of knowledge; Second: Technology helps connect people.

Open Ended

Your prompt: How does Jose Olivarez develop a central message about inner conflict? How would you package your thesis statement?

Message: Inner conflicts can be overcome

First Paragraph: Conflict

Second Paragraph: Character development

Poll

To what extent do you understand thesis statements?

• I got this!

• I think I understand them!

• I need more practice to better understand them.