Writing Thesis Statements

What is the purpose of a thesis statement?

• To be a pretty sentence

• To be a sentence in your introduction

• To introduce your paper to the reader

• To explain what your essay will be about

When writing your THESIS STATEMENT, you should...

• use lots of big words.

• be sure to state your position clearly.

• just restate the prompt.

• provide instructions for how to read your essay.

What should you avoid in your thesis statement?

• Facts

• Picking a side

• Using "I" or "me" or "my"

Where should a thesis statement appear?

• first paragraph

• anywhere in the essay

• last paragraph

• the first sentence of every paragraph

a sentence that states the purpose of an essay

• opinion

• statistics

• thesis statement

• counterargument

What is the central claim or main point of an essay?

• introduction

• thesis statement

• conclusion

• evidence

Technology is a productive tool because it helps connect people and expands people's scope of knowledge.

• This is a strong thesis statement.

• This is NOT a strong thesis statement.

What is the main idea of an essay called?

• opinion

• fact

• thesis statement

• introduction

A thesis should NEVER

• ask a question

• give two reasons

• state your opinion

• be short and to the point

A thesis should never...

• say, "This paper will be about"

• have reasons to support the claim