Thesis or Topic

Pick out the thesis in the paragraph that follows: Van Gogh, Edgar Allen Poe, and Oscar Wilde were all great artists who died penniless. They are far from the only ones. In fact, to compile a list of all of the artists now considered classics who never made much money from their work would take ages. Given this, we should perhaps assume that the path to making great art requires you to be penniless. But this is a human flaw of romanticism triumphing over reasoning. Success in art requires the same as success in life - good business sense and luck. It's mere coincidence that many artists rarely have either.

• In fact, to compile a list of all of the artists now considered classics who never made much money from their work would take ages.

• But this is a human flaw of romanticism triumphing over reasoning.

• Success in art requires the same as success in life - good business sense and luck.

• Van Gogh, Edgar Allen Poe, and Oscar Wilde were all great artists who died penniless.

How does a thesis statement help the reader?

• It shows the reader the author's writing ability.

• It informs the reader what to expect in the essay.

• It lets the reader know how long the essay will be.

• It introduces a story to the reader.

Which of the following would NOT make a good thesis?

• Unicorns may be fictional creatures, but they still inspire many people.

• Unicorn myths and dragon myths share a common history and symbolism.

• Unicorns are vicious animals that must be destroyed.

• In internet idiom, a unicorn chaser is a light or funny video or image that helps soothe a displeasing experience.

Identify the thesis in the paragraph that follows:

• There are many who believe that healthcare is a basic human right.

• But when we talk about whether this country should have universal healthcare for its citizens, we are not discussing basic human rights.

• Life, food, shelter, and the right to pursue happiness (whatever that means) may be human rights, but little else.

• No, access to universal healthcare is instead the moral obligation of any society that dares to call itself 'civilized.'

You can make use of ideas that you generated during prewriting/brainstorming _____.

• to write your concluding paragraph

• to draft the because clause in your thesis statement

• to decide how to order your body paragraphs

• to interpret the writing prompt

What is a similarity between an overly detailed thesis statement and a vague thesis statement?

• There is no similarity, they are two completely different types of thesis statements.

• In both cases, you will need more than the required one sentence.

• In both cases, it will make constructing your arguments more difficult.

• In both cases, the thesis statement would make it more difficult for the reader to follow your arguments.

A should ... because format for thesis statements in persuasive essays _____.

• allows you to explore both sides of a given topic

• allows you to place your thesis statement later in your essay without causing confusion

• allows you to state your position clearly as well as your reasoning for that position

• allows you to reach a conclusion on your position

What is the purpose of a topic sentence?

• To tell the reader the general theme.

• To tell the reader the topic and the main idea.

• To confuse the reader about the topic of the sentence.

• To conclude an argument.

In a topic sentence, the controlling idea tells readers

• what you want to say about your topic

• what points you hope to make in your essay

• none of the answer choices

• what you want readers to believe or do

The topic sentence will have:

• a controlling idea

• both a topic and a controlling idea

• a topic

• a famous quote