Final Exam

What is a thesis?

• It offers a concise summary of the main point or claim of the essay.
• The evidence in an essay.
• An argument.
• The reasoning that connects a claim and evidence.

What is a claim?

• The facts or sources that support your written argument.
• The connection of the thesis and sources in your own words.
• The main argument in an essay or article.
• A fact.

What is evidence?

• The connection of the thesis and sources in your own words.
• The main argument in an essay or article.
• An opinion
• The facts or sources that support your written argument.

Write a thesis in response to following prompt: Where is one place in the world you would like to visit? Explain why you would want to visit this place, and what you would want to do or see once you arrive. Include specific details and examples in your response.

Write a thesis in response to the following prompt: Think about how daily life, from reading to playing games to communicating with others, has changed over the past hundred years because of technology. Using specific details and examples, explain how these advancements in technology have changed daily life.

Write a thesis in response to the following prompt: People often credit their successes to having good attitudes. Explain the benefits of having a good attitude, even during a difficult time. Provide examples from your own experience or from having witnessed this in others.

Consider this claim: College is worth the cost of tuition because graduates experience greater financial success. Which is the strongest evidence to support the claim?

• College graduates are more likely than those who don't have college degrees to report being in excellent health.
• The lifetime earnings of a college graduate are about half a million dollars more than those of someone with only a high school diploma.
• A prominent financial blogger writes, "My father dropped out of college in his senior year, and he always regretted it. I was determined to not make the same mistake.

Consider this claim: Educators should incorporate computer games into their classroom instruction. Which is the strongest evidence to support the claim?

• A ninth-grade student at Middlefield High stated that playing computer games in her math class was the highlight of her day.
• In recent years, a number of tech companies have prioritized the development of computer games that are both appropriate and fun for students in a classroom environment.
• A study published in an academic journal found that student engagement increased when a computer game about genetics was used in a high school classroom.

Consider this claim: Wikis, or websites that allow users to generate and alter content, are not reliable sources for academic research. Which is the strongest evidence to support the claim?

• Many wikis allow anyone, not just subject-matter experts, to post information on their sites.
• Greg Dudley, a political science professor, forbids his students from citing wikis as sources in any of their research papers.
• Wikis are not print sources; they are only offered online.

Consider this claim: Animals should be used for research because animal research saves human lives. Which is the strongest evidence to support the claim?

• Animals are used in research related to genetics, diagnosis, and development of new medicines and other products.
• Bacterial infections were once a major cause of death, but animal experiments led the development of penicillin, which radically changed our ability to treat these infections and prevent death.
• Animal rights groups that are supported by millions of Americans have stated that animal lives are no less valuable and meaningful than human lives.