THESIS STATEMENTS
English IV
Rivera/Roule
Standards:
L8.4.c: Vocabulary Acquisition and Use – Consult general and specialized reference materials, both print and digital, to rind the pronunciation or a word or determine or clarify its precise meaning or its part of speech
W.11-12.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research
W11-12: Production and Distribution of Writing – Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
Quickwrite
What is a thesis statement?
Don’t Forget to get your checklist signed.
Pass forward your book/topic selection.
Thesis Statement Examples
We’re going to go over some examples of a good or bad thesis statement.
Good one side, bad the other.
HUNGER PERSISTS IN APPALACHIA.
1: Good or Bad?
HUNGER PERSISTS IN APPALACHIA.TOO VAGUE
1: Bad Thesis Statement
HUNGER PERSISTS IN APPALACHIA BECAUSE JOBS ARE SCARCE, AND FARMING IN THE INFERTILE SOIL OF
THE REGION IS RARELY PROFITABLE.
1: Better Version
Mr. Rivera’s Rule #1
Don’t be vague, Keep it on point.
THE CONCEPT OF GLOBAL WARMING SHOULD NOT
RECEIVE THE AMOUNT OF ATTENTION THAT IS
CURRENTLY FOCUSED ON THIS ISSUE .
2: Good or Bad?
THE CONCEPT OF GLOBAL WARMING SHOULD NOT
RECEIVE THE AMOUNT OF ATTENTION THAT IS
CURRENTLY FOCUSED ON THIS ISSUE.
OPINION
2: Bad Thesis Statement
THE CONCEPT OF GLOBAL WARMING SHOULD NOT
RECEIVE THE AMOUNT OF ATTENTION THAT IS
CURRENTLY FOCUSED ON THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THE EARTH
CONSTANTLY GOES THROUGH SPELLS OF WARMING AND
COOLING; THE INCREASING TEMPERATURE OF THE EARTH
IS BUT A PART OF THIS NATURAL CYCLE AND OUT OF
HUMAN CONTROL.
2: Better Version
Mr. Rivera’s Rule #2
Opinions are never a bad thing, unless it is in a thesis statement.
THIS PAPER WILL CONSIDER THE
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF
CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON FREE SPEECH.
3: Good or Bad?
THIS PAPER WILL CONSIDER THE
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF
CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON FREE SPEECH.
TAKES NO STANCE ON TOPIC
3: Bad Thesis Statement
Mr. Rivera’s Rule #3
Be firm and commit to a stance.
EVEN THOUGH THERE MAY BE CONSIDERABLE
ADVANTAGES TO RESTRICTING HATE SPEECH,
THE POSSIBILITY OF CHILLING OPEN DIALOGUE
ON CRUCIAL RACIAL ISSUES IS TOO GREAT AND TOO HIGH A PRICE TO PAY.
4: Good or Bad?
EVEN THOUGH THERE MAY BE CONSIDERABLE
ADVANTAGES TO RESTRICTING HATE
SPEECH, THE POSSIBILITY OF CHILLING OPEN
DIALOGUE ON CRUCIAL RACIAL ISSUES IS TOO
GREAT AND TOO HIGH A PRICE TO PAY.
4: Good Thesis Statement
THERE SHOULD BE NO
RESTRICTIONS ON THE 1ST
AMENDMENT.
5: Good of Bad?
THERE SHOULD BE NO RESTRICTIONS
ON THE 1ST AMENDMENT.
OVERLY BROAD THESIS STATEMENT
5: Bad Thesis Statement
Mr. Rivera’s Rule #4
Always keep your focus apparent when writing.
THERE SHOULD BE NO RESTRICTIONS ON THE 1ST
AMENDMENT IF THOSE RESTRICTIONS ARE INTENDED
MERELY TO PROTECT INDIVIDUALS FROM
UNSPECIFIED OR OTHERWISE UNQUANTIFIABLE OR
UNVERIFIABLE "EMOTIONAL DISTRESS."
6: Good or Bad?
6: Good Thesis Statement
THERE ARE ALWAYS
ALTERNATIVES TO USING RACIST
SPEECH.
7: Good or Bad?
THERE ARE ALWAYS ALTERNATIVES TO USING
RACIST SPEECH.INCONTESTABLE/MOST PEOPLE WON’T ARGUE
AGAINST THIS
7: Bad Thesis Statement
Mr. Rivera’s Rule #5
Writing isn’t a science project. Don’t try to prove the proven.
IF WE CAN ACCEPT THAT EMOTIONAL INJURIES CAN
BE JUST AS PAINFUL AS PHYSICAL ONES WE
SHOULD LIMIT SPEECH THAT MAY HURT PEOPLE'S
FEELINGS IN WAYS SIMILAR TO THE WAY WE LIMIT
SPEECH THAT MAY LEAD DIRECTLY TO BODILY HARM.
8: Good or Bad?
8:Good Thesis Statement
THERE ARE MANY REASONS
WE NEED TO LIMIT HATE
SPEECH.
9: Good or Bad?
THERE ARE MANY REASONS
WE NEED TO LIMIT HATE
SPEECH.LIST THESIS
9: Bad Thesis Statement
Mr. Rivera’s Rule #6
People love lists.
NONE OF THE ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF REGULATING
PORNOGRAPHY ARE PERSUASIVE BECAUSE THEY ALL BASE THEIR POINTS ON
THE UNVERIFIABLE AND QUESTIONABLE
ASSUMPTION THAT THE PRODUCERS OF PORNOGRAPHY
NECESSARILY HARBOR ILL WILL SPECIFICALLY TO
WOMEN.
10: Good or Bad?
10. Good Thesis Statement
AMERICANS TODAY ARE NOT
PREPARED TO GIVE UP ON THE
CONCEPT OF FREE SPEECH.
11. Good or Bad?
AMERICANS TODAY ARE NOT
PREPARED TO GIVE UP ON THE
CONCEPT OF FREE SPEECH.
OPINIONATED
11. Bad Thesis Statement
WHETHER OR NOT THE CULTURAL CONCEPT OF FREE SPEECH BEARS ANY RELATION TO THE REALITY OF
1ST AMENDMENT LEGISLATION AND JURISPRUDENCE, ITS
CONTINUING SOCIAL FUNCTION AS A PROMOTER OF TOLERANCE AND
INTELLECTUAL EXCHANGE TRUMPS THE CALL FOR POLITICIZATION
(ACCORDING TO FISH'S AGENDA) OF THE TERM.
12. Good or Bad?
12.Good Thesis Statement
THIS PAPER WILL ADDRESS THE
CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD CORPORATE MANAGER.
13. Good or Bad?
THIS PAPER WILL ADDRESS THE
CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD CORPORATE
MANAGER.NO SPECIFIC ISSUE
13. Bad Thesis Statement
THE VERY TRAIT THAT MAKES FOR AN
EFFECTIVE CORPORATE MANAGER—THE DRIVE TO
SUCCEED—CAN ALSO MAKE THE LEADER DOMINEERING AND
THEREFORE INEFFECTIVE .
14. Good or Bad?
14. Good Thesis Statement
THE FLIGHT FROM TEACHING TO RESEARCH
AND PUBLISHING IN HIGHER EDUCATION IS A
CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE IN THE ACADEMIC WORLD. I WILL SHOW DIFFERENT
VIEWS AND ASPECTS CONCERNING THIS
PROBLEM.
15. Good or Bad?
THE FLIGHT FROM TEACHING TO RESEARCH
AND PUBLISHING IN HIGHER EDUCATION IS A
CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE IN THE ACADEMIC WORLD. I WILL SHOW DIFFERENT
VIEWS AND ASPECTS CONCERNING THIS
PROBLEM.STATEMENT OF FACT
15. Bad Thesis Statement
Mr. Rivera’s Rule #6
Don’t state the obvious.
AN IMPORTANT PART OF ONE’S COLLEGE
EDUCATION IS LEARNING TO BETTER UNDERSTAND OTHERS’
POINTS OF VIEW.
16. Good or Bad?
AN IMPORTANT PART OF ONE’S COLLEGE EDUCATION IS LEARNING TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND OTHERS’ POINTS OF VIEW.
CONVENTIONAL WISDOM/COMMON
KNOWLEDGE
16. Bad Thesis Statement
ALTHOUGH AN IMPORTANT PART OF ONE’S COLLEGE
EDUCATION IS LEARNING TO BETTER UNDERSTAND OTHERS’
POINTS OF VIEW, A PERSISTENT DANGER IS THAT THE STUDENTS WILL SIMPLY
BE REQUIRED TO SUBSTITUTE THE TEACHER’S ANSWERS FOR
THE ONES THEY GREW UP UNCRITICALLY BELIEVING .
17. Good or Bad?
17. Good Thesis Statement
SIR THOMAS MORE’S UTOPIA TREATS INDIVIDUALISM AS A SERIOUS BUT REMEDIABLE
SOCIAL PROBLEM. HIS RADICAL TREATMENT OF WHAT WE MIGHT
NOW CALL “SOCIALIZATION” ATTEMPTS TO REDEFINE THE
MEANING AND ORIGIN OF INDIVIDUAL IDENTITY.
18. Good or Bad?
SIR THOMAS MORE’S UTOPIA TREATS
INDIVIDUALISM AS A SERIOUS BUT REMEDIABLE
SOCIAL PROBLEM. HIS RADICAL TREATMENT OF
WHAT WE MIGHT NOW CALL “SOCIALIZATION”
ATTEMPTS TO REDEFINE THE MEANING AND ORIGIN OF INDIVIDUAL IDENTITY.
PERSONAL IDEA/BELIEF
18. Bad Thesis Statement
SIR THOMAS MORE’S UTOPIA PROPOSES AN UNWORKABLE SET OF
SOLUTIONS TO SOCIETY’S PROBLEMS BECAUSE,
LIKE COMMUNIST RUSSIA, IT SUPPRESSES
INDIVIDUALISM.
19. Good or Bad?
19. Good Thesis Statement
OTHELLO IS A PLAY ABOUT
LOVE AND JEALOUSY.
20. Good or Bad?
OTHELLO IS A PLAY ABOUT LOVE
AND JEALOUSY.OVERLY BROAD
20. Bad Thesis Statement
ALTHOUGH OTHELLO APPEARS TO ATTACK JEALOUSY, IT ALSO
SUPPORTS THE SKEPTICISM OF THE JEALOUS
CHARACTERS OVER THE NAÏVETÉ OF THE LOVERS.
21. Good or Bad?
23. Good Thesis Statement
Should There Be Time…
Start Making Your Own Thesis Statements for your Papers
-- They are due next Friday.***Don’t forget to get your checklists signed***