THESIS STATEMENTS

How to turn a bad essay into a stellar essay…

What is a thesis statement?

A thesis statement is a roadmap for your essay. It tells your reader what your topic is, what your focus is, and what your supporting details are.

How do I make a thesis statement?

STEP 1: Create a thesis Chart Step 2: Decide on the main idea of

your essay Step 3: Write your main idea

STEP 1: Write a Thesis Statement

TOPIC FOCUS SUPPORTING DETAILS

Let’s Practice STEP 1…

PROMPT: Describe Mr. Blume’s personality.

TOPIC FOCUS SUPPORTING DETAILS

Mr. Blume Personality -cruel-selfish-conceited

Let’s Practice STEP 2…

TOPIC FOCUS SUPPORTING DETAILS

Mr. Blume Personality -cruel-selfish-conceited

Now that we have made a thesis chart, we need to decide on a main idea…

What is the main idea of this essay?

DO NOT WRITE THIS SLIDE DOWN… Which statement covers each supporting detail from the thesis chart?

Mr. Blume is a round character. Mr. Blume is selfish. Mr. Blume has a personality. Mr. Blume has a complex

personality. Room 323 is an English class and

Mr. Blume is the teacher.

Explanations of Examples…

Mr. Blume is a round character.

This is a good thesis statement because a round character has many traits and Mr. Blume is cruel, selfish and conceited.

Explanations of Examples…

Mr. Blume is selfish.

This is not a good thesis statement because it does not cover the other supporting details that we mentioned in the thesis chart.

Explanations of Examples…

Mr. Blume has a personality.

This is not a good thesis statement because it is not specific enough. We need to hint at what Mr. Blume’s personality is so that we are actually making an argument.

Explanations of Examples…

Mr. Blume has a complex personality.

This is a great thesis statement because it shows the main idea of our essay; Mr. Blume has many personality traits.

Explanations of Examples…

Room 323 is an English class and Mr. Blume is the teacher.

This is not a good example of a thesis statement because it does not say the focus of the essay.

Now it’s your turn…

Draw another thesis chart.

Now it’s your turn…

Write a topic and a focus for the following idea.

Jem and Scout’s relationship

Now it’s your turn…

NOW…

Write three supporting details that support your topic and your focus.

Now it’s your turn…

Now…

Now write a thesis statement using the topic, focus, and supporting details you just created.

Now it’s your turn…

It could read something like this:Throughout the novel Jem and Scout

proved to have a multifarious relationship.

OrBecause of Scout’s stubbornness, Jem’s

mood changes, and their age difference Scout and Jem proved to have a complex relationship.

I will accept a thesis statement with or without the supporting details.