Thesis Statements - Quiz (11)

Select the best definition of a thesis statement?

• A statement that summarizes the main argument of an essay.
• A statement that provides background information on the topic.
• A statement that paraphrases three points of an essay.
• A statement that explains key terms used in the introduction.

Which punctuation is/are allowed in a thesis statement?

• Upper case (capital) letters and the period.
• Quotation marks – quoting a clever, funny quote.
• Asterisks (*) and ellipses (…)
• Question and exclamation marks

What is the purpose of the thesis statement?

• It summarizes the main position of the essay.
• The thesis statement supports the introduction.
• To provide supporting evidence for the essay.
• To list the main points of the essay

How many main idea(s) are included in a thesis statement?

• Only one, clear, central point is needed.
• None, all points are made in the body paragraphs.
• Two, never more than two are required.
• Three, we use the rule of three

What type of topic is a good thesis statement based upon?

• A topic that is both interesting and debatable.
• A topic that is not debatable, rather, it is a hard fact.
• Topics or ideas that are either exceedingly narrow or broad.
• Topics which are interesting to students and young authors

Which problem below is the most serious for the reader?

• The thesis does not have a clear position, argument, or point.
• 1)      The thesis statement is too specific or narrow in scope.
• 1)      The writer has included too many details or examples.
• The thesis statement is too general or broad in scope.

Why is it important to "write to the prompt" when creating a thesis statement?

• It greatly helps ensure (guarantee) that the essay is on-topic.
• It makes the essay more interesting.
• It is not, using the rule of three is most important.
• It can help make the thesis statement more fuzzy, unclear and vague

What is the largest issue found in narrowly written thesis statements?

• Topics are difficult to research and often only address part of the prompt.
• Students may find them difficult to read and understand.
• These types of thesis statements often lack strong evidence.
• These thesis statements never grab readers' attention and seem unimportant.

What are problems that are seen in overly-broad, general thesis statements?

• They cover too many different ideas and lack focus.
• They can be too short and lack important information.
• The information is often weak or unconnected to the thesis.
• They are difficult for teachers to read and understand.

What can happen if the claim of the thesis is unclear?

• It confuses readers and makes researching much more difficult.
• Makes the thesis statement furtive, more creative and interesting.
• It actually has the opposite outcome by making the argument stronger.
• The thesis statement becomes too long for students to manage effectively