What makes a good thesis?
How to Write a �Thesis Statement
An essay is like a trip.
Your essay takes the reader on a trip through your topic. You are a guide who explains the important facts and ideas to your readers.
Your thesis is the map you show to the reader before the trip starts.
It gives them the basic idea and tells them which places (paragraphs) you will be travelling through.� �
For example…
This bus will go in one direction and �make � 3 �stops
Is Austin a good place to live?
Position: Austin rocks! Thesis: Families and singles should move to Austin because of the outstanding University of Texas, beautiful Lady Bird Lake, and delicious Mexican food.
Position: Austin stinks!
Thesis: It is surprising that anyone ever chooses to live in Austin because of its terrible traffic, dying malls, and high summer temperatures.
What does a good thesis do?
Answers the question
Takes �a �position
Gives topics for paragraphs
What?
1) Answers the question in the prompt.
2) Takes a position.
3) States the topics for your body paragraphs.
Practice – Fill in the Chart
Thesis 3
Thesis 2
Thesis 1
Gives topics for supporting paragraphs
Takes position
Answers question
Practice 1: Use the 3 rules to decide which is Best�
Question: Who is the most valuable �player in the NBA?
�Answer: Thesis 2: Lebron James’s ability to score, pass, and rebound make him the league’s most valuable player.
1. Answer the question?
Yes, gives a MVP
2) Take a position.
Yes, James is the MVP
3) Mention the topics for your �supporting paragraphs.
Yes, score, pass and rebound
Practice 2: Which Thesis is Best?
How are deserts of the world the same and different?
Thesis 1: I am going to tell you about the deserts of the world.
Thesis 2: Deserts of the world, including ones in North and South America, Antarctica, Africa, Australia, and Asia are the same and different.
Thesis 3: Although the deserts of the world have many similarities, they are vastly different in terms of temperature, vegetation, and size.
Thesis 3: Although the deserts of the world have many similarities, they are vastly different in terms of temperature, vegetation, and size.�
Does the thesis:
Yes, talks about same/ different and deserts
2) Take a position.
Yes, says they are vastly different
3) Mention the topics for your supporting paragraphs.
Yes, similarities and then differences in terms of temperature, vegetation, size
Practice 3�Rate These
Why did the North and South fight the Civil War?
Thesis 1: The North and South fought the Civil War for many reasons, some of which were the same and some different.
Thesis 2: While both sides fought the Civil War over the issue of slavery, the North fought for moral reasons while the South fought to preserve its own institutions.
Thesis 3: While both Northerners and Southerners believed they fought against tyranny and oppression, Northerners focused on the oppression of slaves while Southerners defended their own right to self-government.
Strategy #2 – Fill in the Chart
North = oppression of slaves
South = right to self-government
Both fought against tyranny and oppression
Yes, North and South fought Civil War
Thesis 3
North = moral
South = preserve institutions
Both fought about slavery
Yes, North and South fought Civil War
Thesis 2
Same
Different
Same / different reasons
Yes, North and South fought Civil War
Thesis 1
Gives topics for supporting paragraphs
Takes position
Answers question
Practice 4
Question: Was the U.S. right to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima?
Thesis 1: The U.S. was right to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima for both military and moral reasons.
Thesis 2: The U.S. was not right in dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima for either military and moral reasons.
Thesis 3: The U.S. was right to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima for military reasons but not for moral reasons.
Strategy #3
Question: Was the U.S. right to drop �the atomic bomb on Hiroshima?
Thesis 3: The U.S. was right to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima for military reasons but not for moral reasons.
Does the thesis:
What makes a good thesis statement?
1) Answer the question!
2) Take a position!
What makes a good thesis statement?
1) Answer the question!
2) Take a position!
One More Thing!
Your thesis does not contain evidence.
Your job in a thesis is to talk about ideas.
You will prove your ideas in your body paragraphs.
How could I start my thesis?
To what extent do individuals have choice in their lives?
Individuals have . . . choice . . . . .
What role does faith play during times of trauma and tragedy?
During times of trauma and tragedy faith . . . .
How does silence perpetuate violence?
Silence perpetuates violence when . . .
Exit Slip
Choose one of the following and answer in at least 3 lines: