Writing a Thesis

A thesis should be ______________.

• A statement that can be argued.

• A question that you answer in the essay.

• a statement that is a fact

• a question for which there is no right answer

Where should a thesis appear?

• as the first sentence in an essay

• as the second paragraph

• as the last sentence in the first paragraph

• as the last sentence of the essay

A strong thesis must ___________.

• use big words

• be something everyone would agree with

• be something a smart person could disagree with

• be hard to find in your essay

What immediately follows a thesis in an essay?

• paragraphs with evidence to show the thesis is wrong

• paragraphs with evidence to support the thesis

• paragraphs with additional thesis statements

• a concluding paragraph in which the thesis is restated

A thesis needs to be _________.

• obvious

• too large to support in one essay

• an argument

• vague and written in the first person

Which would be the strongest thesis?

• This essay is about junk food.

• Junk food should not be served in school cafeterias because it is bad for you and it creates unhealthy eating habits.

• Candy bars and fries are examples of junk food.

Which would be the strongest thesis?

• Voting is important.

• Voting is a tradition in the United States and around the world where people express their opinions.

• I think voting is the best.

• Voting is important because it allows you to make your voice heard and it shapes the future.

Why is this NOT a strong thesis?

Is cyberbulling worse than in-person bullying?

• It is a question and not a debatable point.

• it is so general that it's hard to defend.

• It states a fact.

• It is written in first person.