Thesis Statements



Thesis Statements

Directions: Look at the thesis statements below. If you think the thesis statement is good, write G next to the statement on the line. If you do not think the thesis statement is good, write a thesis statement that is more appropriate on the lines below. Be prepared to explain why you think certain thesis statements were acceptable or not acceptable.

I’m going to tell you why I think owning a gun should be

illegal in the United States.

New Thesis Statement?

How to make my favorite Chinese dish.

New Thesis Statement?

I’ve lived in Modesto, California for most of my life.

New Thesis Statement?

1. The current crisis in Israel has not only caused strife

between Israelis and Palestinians, but also between other nations in the middle east.

New Thesis Statement?

2. The cafeteria at this college is bad.

New Thesis Statement?

3. Employers look for employees who can take initiative,

manage their time, and make good decisions.

New Thesis Statement?

Directions: Think about the essay topic you have chosen. Write a thesis statement for your essay on the next page.

Essay Topic:

Use the following format for developing a good thesis statement

• A) Write your topic.

• B) Write your opinion about the topic.

• C) Write three or four reasons why you hold that opinion.

Thesis Statement:

√Thesis Statement Check List

 

Test your thesis statement by asking these questions:

1. Does my thesis sentence attempt to answer (or at least to explore) a challenging intellectual question?

2. Is the point I’m making one that would generate discussion and argument, or is it one that would leave people asking, “So what?”

3. Is my thesis too vague? Too general? Should I focus on some more specific aspect of my topic?

4. Does my thesis deal directly with the topic at hand?

5. Does my thesis indicate the direction of my argument? Does it suggest a structure for my paper?

6. If I am writing a research paper, does my introductory paragraph set the broader stage for my topic, and does the introduction “place” my thesis within the larger, ongoing scholarly discussion about my topic?

7. Is the language in my thesis statement vivid, clear, and specific? Is it direct and emphatic, setting up a specific cause and effect situation that will be developed throughout the paper?

 

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