Thesis Statements

This PowerPoint covers all the guidelines of how to write a thesis statement (and more!) for my class

1. Adapted from Choices, Ed 4. Mangelsdorf. 2007

2. The Thesis Statement
Does writing a thesis
statement make you
feel like this?

3. Don’t let it stress you…
First, get over the idea that once the thesis statement
is written that you FOREVER are committed to it.
You did not sign a marriage contract!!!
The best thesis statements are revised along the way.
That means, whatever you have written right now
should and probably will change by the end.
Being “anti-commitment” to your thesis should help
reduce some of the stress.

4. An effective thesis statement:
Includes the topic of your essay
Ex. legalizing marijuana
Shows, argues, or explains a particular point/points
about the topic
Ex. Marijuana should be legalized in California for people with
terminal illnesses
Ex. Marijuana should not be legalized in California because of its
effects on children and the community
Gives the reader a sense of what the essay will be
about
These essays will probably argue that marijuana should or should
not be legal in California based on several reasons
Adapted from Choices, Ed 4. Mangelsdorf. 2007

5. An effective thesis statement:
Appears at the end of the introduction
And for my class, it is mandatory!
Each instructor is different regarding the
location of the thesis. It is always best to ask
if your instructor has a preference. I do. It
should be the last sentence of your intro.
Is usually only 1 sentence (but you can use
the semi-colon trick!)
Is supported by everything in the essay
Adapted from Choices, Ed 4. Mangelsdorf. 2007

6. Introduction Paragraph
Your thesis appears as the last sentence of your intro,
right?
So let’s cover the basics on an intro paragraph while we
are here.
Your introduction paragraph should follow in this format:
Introduce the topic (marijuana)
Establish the issues involved with this topic (legalization)
Build the academic conversation with they says (who is in
favor? Against?)
State the thesis (your I Say on the matter)
Adapted from Choices, Ed 4. Mangelsdorf. 2007

7. Trick: Respond directly to the
prompt=a preliminary thesis!
Often times it is difficult to construct a
thesis for an essay you haven’t written,
especially when the prompt is asking you
to come up with your own argument.
A quick and easy way of solving this
problem: respond directly to the prompt
in “question and answer” form.

8. A prompt from your teacher states:
“Write an essay in which you compare or contrast
feminism during the 1920s to feminism in the 1960s.”
Make it a question:
How does feminism during the 1920s compare or contrast
to feminism in the 1960s?
Make it an answer:
“ The feminist movement during the 1920s stemmed from
the need for women’s rights whereas the movement
during the 1960s expanded this idea of gender equality
in law and in culture; though the two had different
goals, they were both fighting for the same idea: to be
regarded as equal to men.”

9. Remember this one?
Most private schools require students to
wear uniforms. Should public school
students wear uniforms too? Argue for or
against school uniforms for public school
students. Use specific reasons and examples
to support your position.
Adapted from Choices, Ed 4. Mangelsdorf. 2007

10. Should public school students wear
uniforms too?
Your Stance + Reasons Why = Thesis
Public school students should wear uniforms because it
will reduce distraction, make students feel united, and
prevent bullying and gang violence.
Public school students should not wear uniforms
because uniforms stifle creativity and they do not
reduce gang violence.
Adapted from Choices, Ed 4. Mangelsdorf. 2007

11. How about this one?
Some people go right on to college after high school;
others take a year or more off to work or travel.
Which do you think is the better choice? State
your position and support it with specific reasons and
examples.
Adapted from Choices, Ed 4. Mangelsdorf. 2007

12. Which do you think is the better choice?
Your Stance + Reasons Why = Thesis
The best choice is to go right on to college after high
school because it will keep a person’s study skills in tact
and will offer better employment opportunities in the
long run.
The best choice is to take a year or more off to work or
travel because it allows for a person to explore his/her
career options, develop his/her maturity, and expose
him/her to valuable life lessons that cannot be acquired
in school.
Adapted from Choices, Ed 4. Mangelsdorf. 2007

13. Your Turn
Revisit your most current essay prompt. It could be
for this class or any other class.
Read the prompt.
Is there a question in it?
Okay. Go ahead and answer it straight up!
If there isn’t a question, can you rewrite the prompt
in question form and then answer it?
Adapted from Choices, Ed 4. Mangelsdorf. 2007

14. Example 1 of rewriting a prompt to
make it a question
Prompt: Discuss a significant incident in your life that made
you change your actions.
Question: What changes did you make after you were
affected by a significant incident?
Answer: After my daughter was arrested for shoplifting, I
made several changes in how I raise my children.
Now we know that this author is going to talk about the
effects, or, changes she made as a result of her daughter’s
crime.
Adapted from Choices, Ed 4. Mangelsdorf. 2007

15. Example 2 of rewriting a prompt to
make it a question
Prompt: Argue for a change that you would like to see happen
in your community and provide reasons why.
Question: What change would you like to see happen in your
community and what are your reasons?
Answer: Increasing the number of female police officers in our
community will help the police department handle domestic
violence and child abuse cases more effectively.
Now we can assume that the reader will cover two reasons
why having female officers would be more helpful (not good).

16. What point do I want to make about my topic? (the topic
is vegetarianism)
Vegetarianism is a better lifestyle
How can I show, explain, or argue my point?
I can show statistics and facts, use counterargument, and appeal to
emotion
How can I break down my point so that I can develop one
idea about it in each section of my essay?
The reasons are that it’s better for one’s body, better for animals,
and better for the environment.
Final product: Vegetarianism is a healthier choice if a person is
considering a new lifestyle, for research has shown that being a
vegetarian is better for one’s physical health, for animals, and for the
environment.
Adapted from Choices, Ed 4. Mangelsdorf. 2007
Wrap up! Ask yourself:

17. Kinds of Thesis Statements
There are different kinds of thesis statements just as
there are different kinds of essays.
For instance, a persuasive essay is very different than
an informative one.
Therefore, a thesis for a persuasive essay will be
different than for an informative one.
Adapted from Choices, Ed 4. Mangelsdorf. 2007

18. Source: http://owl.english.purdue.edu
Kinds of Thesis Statements: Persuasive*
A persuasive essay makes a claim based on opinion,
evaluation, or interpretation about a topic and proves
this claim with specific evidence.
Persuasive thesis example: High school graduates
should be required to take a year off to pursue
community service projects before entering college in
order to increase their maturity and global
awareness.
The Primary Purpose of this thesis is Persuasive.
*If you have been asked to argue a point or choose a
side on an issue, this is likely the type of thesis you
will use.

19. Source: http://owl.english.purdue.edu
Kinds of Thesis Statements: Analytical*
An analytical paper breaks the topic down into
parts, examines each part, and determines how each
part relates to the whole topic.
Analytical thesis example: An analysis of the
college admission process reveals one challenge
facing counselors: accepting students with high test
scores or students with strong extracurricular
backgrounds.
The Primary Purpose of this thesis is typically
Informative but may have Persuasive elements.
*If you have been asked to analyze a topic, issue, or
reading, this is the type of thesis you should use.

20. Source: http://owl.english.purdue.edu
Kinds of Thesis Statements: Expository*
An expository (explanatory) paper explains
something to the audience.
Expository thesis example: The life of the typical
college student is characterized by time spent
studying, attending class, and socializing with peers.
The Primary Purpose of this thesis is Expressive or
Informative.
*If you have been asked to narrate a story or explain a
process, this is likely the type of thesis you will use.

21. What Else Do You Need to Know to Be
Successful When Writing Thesis
Statements?
College students should focus on writing implicit
thesis statements rather than explicit ones.
An implicit thesis statement implies the paper’s main
idea. (No “I” statement)
An explicit thesis statement announces the paper’s
main idea. (Has “I” statement)

22. Implicit or Explicit?
Working while attending college classes remains
necessary for many students, but unfortunately many
problems result from the difficulties of balancing
work and school.
I will now discuss examples of how going to college
and working full time puts pressure on students and
results in many dropping out of school.

23. Answer?
Implicit—Good!
Explicit—Bad!!
Adapted from Choices, Ed 4. Mangelsdorf. 2007

24. Implicit or Explicit?
I will examine the pros and cons of hybrid cars that
use both gasoline and electricity.
Hybrid cars that use both gasoline and electricity
would decrease our country’s dependence on foreign
oil.

25. Answer?
Explicit—Bad!!!
Implicit—Good!
Adapted from Choices, Ed 4. Mangelsdorf. 2007

26. Let’s Practice!
Rewrite these explicit thesis statements into
implicit thesis statements.
1.In the following paragraphs, I will share with you the
traffic problems experienced by drivers in Northwest
Florida.
2. In this paper, I will be writing about how the rising
cost of energy is causing me serious problems.

27. Here are possible revisions:
1.Motorists in Northwest Florida are plagued by
congested roads, aggressive drivers, and road
construction.
2. The rising price of energy has added costs to daily
commutes, has curtailed frivolous trips, and has
increased grocery bills.

28. Review: Effective Thesis Statement
States the topic of your essay
Argues a point or points about your topic
Shows what the essay will be about
Is stated as the last sentence of the introduction
Is one complete sentence
Is implicit not explicit
Is supported by the entire essay
Adapted from Choices, Ed 4. Mangelsdorf. 2007