Thesis Statement Persuasive

What is the central claim of your essay? (the core, the central idea, the essence)

• Hook

• Thesis

• Background information

• Conclusion

Where should your thesis appear in your essay?

• First sentence of conclusion

• Last sentence of introduction

• First sentence of introduction

• Middle of body paragraph

A thesis statement MUST include the position related to the prompt (an arguable claim) and the reasoning. Which of the following demonstrates these essential elements?

• Dogs are better pets than cats.

• Dogs are better pets than cats because they're more affectionate and can guard your dwelling.

When writing a persuasive essay, do you need to provide evidence and examples that support your thesis?

• No.

• YES! YES! YES!

You have a thesis for your persuasive essay, but now you need to come up with support. The acronym HELPS reminds you of different types of evidence and examples. What does HELPS stand for, as related to a strategy to remember categories of potential evidence/examples for your thesis?

• Hercules, Eurydice, Lysander, Poseidon, Saturn

• Happy, excited, laughable, pathetic, sad

• Horse, elephant, lion, pot-bellied pig, salamander

• Historical/current events, entertainment & pop culture, literature & arts / personal experience, sports

What's the problem with the following thesis statement? "I think superman is more powerful than batman."

• It includes the words "I think" -- thesis statements should NOT include the words "I think," "I believe," "In my opinion," etc.

• There is no reasoning (rationale) included with the claim. A claim statement MUST have a claim + reason.

• The proper nouns "Superman" and "Batman" are not capitalized.

• ALL of the above!

What is the purpose of the body of your essay?

• Restate your thesis and provide a call to action.

• Provide evidence/example(s) that support your thesis.

• Provide a discussion on the merits of writing an essay.

Jake is writing a persuasive essay about why Virginia Tech is the best college. What is the BEST example of a strong PERSUASIVE THESIS STATEMENT?

• Although there are many options for higher education in the commonwealth, it's obvious that Virginia Tech is the best choice.

• In addition to Virginia Tech's science, agriculture, and engineering programs, the school's arts and humanities classes are great as well.

• Lastly, Virginia Tech features a very competitive veterinary medicine program.

• Virginia Tech students receive the best overall education because of the strong academic programs, the opportunities for research and internships, and the exciting atmosphere and student life.

Which two of the following should a thesis statement include?

• An opinion about the topic

• Stating a fact

• Addressing two topics at once

• One or two sentences

What is a thesis statement?

• general idea of what the essay is about

• summary of the main idea

• statement that explains the main idea of an essay

• suggestion that you should read the essay