AICE General Paper Thesis Statements: Discursive and Argumentati

A thesis statement should be

• One Sentence

• 2 Sentences

• 3 Sentences

• The first thing the reader sees in sentence 1

Answer explanation

It's called a thesis statement...not statementS...it should be right after your hook and bridge in paragraph one.

A thesis statement is defined as

• A question

• a concluding statement

• A summary of the main idea which makes the essay's intention clear to the reader

Your argumentative thesis

• should include the topic, your opinion on it, and the reasons for that opinion

• should be supported by reasons (and evidence) during the course of the essay

• should use the reasons to set up body paragraphs

• all of the previous answers are correct

If you see that your thesis statement is not working out, during the course of your writing, you can

• Just give up

• Change it

• rewrite the entire essay, even though you only have 1:15

To make sure you've met the prompt's requirements, your thesis should

• include the key (important) words in the prompt

• be interesting

• include a hook

• be omitted

An argumentative thesis (and essay) should

• explore both sides of an issue

• be neutral

• choose one side of the argument, provide reasons and support, adding a counterclaim

• include the word "argumentative"

A discursive thesis

• should explore only one side of an issue

• include a counterclaim

• should be loaded with emotion

• should present both (opposite) sides of an issue neutrally

The following thesis statement is: Some studies indicate that teacher comments written in red may have no effect on students’ emotions, however other studies suggest that seeing red ink on papers could cause some students unnecessary stress.^[1]

• Argumentative

• Discursive

The following thesis statement is: Homeless people should be given access to services such as regular food donations, public restrooms, and camping facilities because it would improve life for all inhabitants of the city.

• Discursive

• Argumentative

Which of these is the most important hint to remember when writing a discursive thesis statement?

• Use a contrast word like: however, yet, while, conversely, nevertheless, by contrast, even so, alternatively

• Stay neutral...don't include positive or negative leading statements

• Remember that you are not attempting to persuade the reader to choose one viewpoint or another

• ALL of these are important to remember