Thesis Statement Bootcamp

A thesis statement should ... (check all that apply)

• Be the last sentence of your introductory paragraph

• Be the road map for your essay (tell the reader your main claim + three supports)

• Be a complete sentence

• Have parallel structure

MENTAL MODELS help us understand large amounts of information and attack complicated situations. The prompts for the writing SOL fall under three categories, which include ...

• You choose (you get to choose your main claim and supports) HINT: The travel essay was a 'you choose'

• Gimme (the prompt gives you the main claim for your thesis)

• Either/Or (one side OR the other) HINT: The honesty essay was a 'either/or'

• Mystery (write a compelling novel in the style of the great Sir Artur Conan Doyle)

How many sentences should a thesis statement be?

What is a possible thesis statement for the following prompt: Write about someone who has shared wisdom and experience with you. Explain why it is important to learn from the experience of others. Include specific details and examples in your response.

• It is not important to learn form the experience of others because they are stupid.

• It is not important to learn from the experience of others because they are not always smart, thoughtful, or curious.

• It is important to learn from the experience of others.

• It is important to learn from the experience of others because they have knowledge, exposure, and ideas different from my own.

Read the following prompt: Most schools offer a variety of activities, classes, and clubs. Identify one of these that students enjoy and explain why they enjoy it. Include specific details and examples in your response.

Would this be an acceptable thesis statement for this prompt?

Soccer, drama, and robotics are all clubs students enjoy.

• Yes

• No

What type of prompt is this? Community parks, state parks, and national parks provide a wide variety of interesting activities. Write about an enjoyable way to spend time outdoors. Using specific details and examples, explain why someone might find that activity enjoyable.

• You choose (you get to choose the main claim and supports)

• Gimme (the prompt gives you the main claim)

• Either/Or (one side or the other)

What is a possible support for your thesis statement if this is the prompt: What are the advantages of earning your own money to purchase something special? Explain the advantages using specific details and examples in your response.

• it was a gift

• you feel a sense of accomplishment

• it was handed down to you

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Read the following prompt: When people ask for advice, they sometimes talk to more than one person. Explain why seeking multiple opinions can help someone make a better choice. Use specific details and examples in your response.

Would the following thesis work for this prompt? Seeking multiple opinions can help someone make a worse choice because it is confusing, frustrating, and challenging.

• Yes

• No

Read the following prompt: Identify an enjoyable educational activity. It could be participating in a play, completing a science experiment, playing an instrument, or something else. Use specific details and examples to explain why the activity is enjoyable.

How many activities will you list in your thesis statement?

• three

• four

• two

• one

Read the following prompt: You have been asked to share a lesson with elementary school students. Using specific details and examples, explain the lesson and why it would be important.

In your thesis, should you name the lesson and include an explanation of the lesson and its importance?

• Yes

• No

• This is hard!