Thesis Statement: Five Paragraph Essay

This slideshow was originally developed by misterbatroms. I simply removed the first few slides. All credit goes to him.

1. The Thesis StatementThe Thesis Statement

Every 5-paragraph essay has a Every 5-paragraph essay has a THESIS THESIS
STATEMENT.STATEMENT.

A thesis statement is one sentence that A thesis statement is one sentence that
clearly and concisely tells the reader what clearly and concisely tells the reader what
your paper will be about. (It is the main point your paper will be about. (It is the main point
or position you will defend in your paper). or position you will defend in your paper).

The thesis sentence should The thesis sentence should argue a argue a
point/positionpoint/position, not summarize information or , not summarize information or
facts. facts.
The thesis statement is usually found in the The thesis statement is usually found in the
first paragraphfirst paragraph

2. A A thesisthesis statement is an statement is an
assertion assertion (a claim or declaration)(a claim or declaration), ,
not a statement of not a statement of fact or an fact or an
observationobservation. .
Fact or observation:Fact or observation: People use many People use many
lawn chemicals. lawn chemicals.
Thesis:Thesis: People are poisoning the People are poisoning the
environment with chemicals merely to environment with chemicals merely to
keep their lawns clean. keep their lawns clean.

3. A A thesisthesis takes a stand rather than takes a stand rather than
announcingannouncing a subject. a subject.
AnnouncementAnnouncement: : The thesis of this paper is The thesis of this paper is
the difficulty of solving our environmental the difficulty of solving our environmental
problems.problems.
Thesis: Thesis: Solving our environmental problems Solving our environmental problems
is more difficult than many environmentalists is more difficult than many environmentalists
believe. believe.

4. A A thesisthesis is the main idea, not the is the main idea, not the
titletitle. It must be a complete . It must be a complete
sentence that explains in some sentence that explains in some
detail what you expect to write detail what you expect to write
about. about.
Title:Title: Social Security and Old Age. Social Security and Old Age.
Thesis:Thesis: Continuing changes in the Social Continuing changes in the Social
Security System makes it almost Security System makes it almost
impossible to plan intelligently for one's impossible to plan intelligently for one's
retirement. retirement.

5. A thesis statement is A thesis statement is narrownarrow, rather , rather
than than broadbroad. If the thesis statement . If the thesis statement
is sufficiently narrow, it can be fully is sufficiently narrow, it can be fully
supported.supported.
Broad:Broad: The Canadian steel industry has The Canadian steel industry has
many problems. many problems.
Narrow:Narrow: The primary problem if the Canadian The primary problem if the Canadian
steel industry is the lack of funds to renovate steel industry is the lack of funds to renovate
outdated plants and equipment. outdated plants and equipment.

6. A thesis statement is A thesis statement is specificspecific rather rather
than than vaguevague or general. or general.
Vague:Vague: Hemingway's war stories are very Hemingway's war stories are very
good.good.
Specific:Specific: Hemingway's stories helped create a Hemingway's stories helped create a
new prose style by employing extensive new prose style by employing extensive
dialogue, shorter sentences, and strong Anglo-dialogue, shorter sentences, and strong Anglo-
Saxon words. Saxon words.

7. A thesis statement has A thesis statement has one main pointone main point
rather than rather than several main pointsseveral main points. More . More
than one point may be too difficult for than one point may be too difficult for
the reader to understand and the writer the reader to understand and the writer
to support. to support.
More than one main point:More than one main point: Stephen Hawking's Stephen Hawking's
physical disability has not prevented him from becoming physical disability has not prevented him from becoming
a world-renowned physicist, and his book is the subject a world-renowned physicist, and his book is the subject
of a movie. of a movie.
One Main point:One Main point: Stephen Hawking's physical disability Stephen Hawking's physical disability
has not prevented him from becoming a world has not prevented him from becoming a world
renowned physicist. renowned physicist.

8. Revising Your Thesis StatementRevising Your Thesis Statement
You can revise your thesis statement whenever
you want to while you are writing your essay.
Writers often discover what their real purpose
and point is in the process of putting their
thoughts into words and then reading what
they've written.

9. The Thesis StatementThe Thesis Statement
A good argumentative thesis provides not only a
position on an issue, but also suggests the
structure of the paper.
The thesis should allow the reader to imagine
and anticipate the flow of the paper, in which
a sequence of points logically prove the
essay's main assertion.

10. Thesis Statement
It should have 3 (for a 5 paragraph essay) points specifically laid It should have 3 (for a 5 paragraph essay) points specifically laid
out in the order you want to discuss them:out in the order you want to discuss them:
Dogs are great pets because they help owners get exercise Dogs are great pets because they help owners get exercise
and are loyal and friendly.and are loyal and friendly.
If using this as a thesis, the paper should follow the format it lays If using this as a thesis, the paper should follow the format it lays
out. out.

Paragraph 1Paragraph 1 will be about dogs helping owners get exercise, will be about dogs helping owners get exercise,

Paragraph 2 Paragraph 2 about dogs being loyal, about dogs being loyal,

Paragraph 3Paragraph 3 about dogs being friendly. about dogs being friendly.
You should be able to transition smoothly between paragraphs, You should be able to transition smoothly between paragraphs,
so order your points in a manner that flows well logically.so order your points in a manner that flows well logically.
Each paragraph should begin with a topic sentence that relates Each paragraph should begin with a topic sentence that relates
directly back to your thesis.directly back to your thesis.