Constructing a Thesis Statement

What is a thesis statement?

• A sentence that clearly explains the claim that the author intends to argue

• A sentence that gets the reader's attention

• A sentence that is the first sentence of a paragraph, it provides the subject of the paragraph

• A sentence that provides a specific detail or example

An effective thesis contains:

• Topic

• Claim

• Major points

• All of these

Prompt: "Write an essay explaining whether it is important to laugh." Which of the following is the best thesis statement?

• It is important to laugh because laughing has social, health, and emotional benefits.

• It is important to laugh because you need to laugh every day, you need to laugh when you're sad, and you need to laugh when they are being mean.

• It is important to laugh because laughing helps people, like in the story, "The Tale-Tell Heart" where the man laughs to help him deal with his crime, or in the story "Lamb to the Slaughter," where the laughing helps the lady get away with murder.

• It is important to laugh because laughing helped me through a really tough time when I was a kid. I remember when my grandmother was sick, but she still had a good sense of humor. It was good to see her laugh!

Prompt: "Write an essay explaining why success often takes time." Choose the BEST thesis statement for this prompt.

• Success often takes time because a person needs to plan out their actions, work towards a short term goal, and then work towards a long term goal.

• Success often takes time because you have to work hard, you have to work efficiently, and you have to spend time doing it,

• Success often takes time. I remember a time in my life when I had to work really hard towards a goal. It took time, a lot of it. I was eventually successful and I wouldn't trade that experience in for anything.

• Success often takes time because taking time will ensure success.

Should the thesis be repeated or restated in the conclusion?

• repeated

• restated

Prompt: "Write an essay explaining how imagination helps or improves life." Choose the BEST thesis statement.

• Imagination is important because it gives people the opportunity to create art, it helps people express what is in their minds, and it assists with solving problems.

• You need imagination to live, to create, and to be happy.

• Sometimes I imagine a much better world. Imagination is important for me because it helps me figure out how to be the best version of myself. I remember a time that imagination helped me out of a tough situation.

• Imagination helps your life be worth living. You need to imagine so that your mind helps you out of tough times. Could you imagine a better place? Good, then that's the value of imagination!

True or False: Your thesis statement states the main argument of the essay in one sentence.

• True

• False

Which of the following makes the best thesis statement?

• Even though marriage is a strong and respected institution in Russia, more and more people are choosing to live together before marriage, despite the cultural pressures. 
• I am going to explain why many couples in Russia are choosing to live together rather than get married.
• Marriage in Russia

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.8

CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.6.8

CCSS.RI.7.8

CCSS.RI.8.8

Where should a thesis statement typically be in a paper?

• The end of the first paragraph

• The beginning of the last paragraph

• It is your first sentence

• Wherever you want

Why is the following an effective thesis statement: Going to college demands careful time management in the areas of class time, study time, and relaxation time.

• It has a clear argument, shows the author's attitude toward the topic, and gives the major points.

• It talks about college, so you know it's going to be smart.

• It explains the authors attitude toward the topic.

• It has an argument.