Writing a Thesis Statement

Writing a Thesis Statement

FIN

Open vs. Closed Thesis

Open Thesis: No reasons are listed.

– Ex: Americans deserve the right to carry firearms.

• Closed thesis: all three reasons are listed.

– Ex: Americans deserve the right to own firearms for self-defense, sport, and family legacy.

Remember:

If you list one reason, you MUST list

them all. If you wrote, “Americans must own

firearms to protect them from the Zombie Apocalypse.”

You would have to write an entire essay about how firearms will protect you from the Zombie Apocalypse and provide six examples of that. You could not write about anything else.

• You may use either an open or closed thesis in my class; I have no preference.

Some teachers do, so keep in mind their preference.

Adventure Time!

One More Time!!!

Write the thesis statement for the following persuasive prompt:

~Should the government be able to spy on American citizens?

• Remember:

_Subject_____ + __Opinion_ = thesis statement

Write the thesis statement for the following persuasive prompt:

~Should children under three be allowed to use electronic devices or play video games?

• Remember:

_Subject_____ + __Opinion_ = thesis statement

Write the thesis statement for the following persuasive prompt:

~Should food with high-fructose corn syrup be removed from school lunches?

• Remember:

_Subject_____ + __Opinion_ = thesis statement

The Single Most Important Sentence in Your Essay

A thesis statement is what your essay will prove.

• It answers the main question your essay prompt

asks.

• For example, if the essay prompt asks “Is the Zombie

Apocalypse Invetiable?” your thesis must answer this

question.

• Without a thesis, you do not have an essay.

• It’s the most important sentence in an essay

• For your reader’s convenience, always put your

thesis at the end of your introduction.

Know Your Facts!

• To write a thesis, you first need to know the difference between fact and opinion.

• Remember, a fact is something that can be

proven true or false.

1. ___Zombies are the living-dead

2. ___Zombies are superior to vampires.

3. ___The Walking Dead is an ultra-violent television show.

What is a thesis statement?

A thesis statement has two parts:

____________ +____________ = thesis statement

Subject= what the essay is supposed to be about.

Opinion: a statement that is not fact. It does not have to be your actual opinion.

A Thesis?

Don’t forget to edit!

• Do not use I, Me, My when expressing your opinion.

• For example, if your opinion of gun ownership is that it is dangerous and you want to say “I think

gun ownership is dangerous” you should change it by removing the “I think.”

• This would the make the sentence "Gun ownership

is dangerous.”

• Most persuasive thesis statements will include

“should” or “must.”