How to create a thesis statement.

(it’s totally simple)

fancy picture

What is a thesis statement?

•It’s a sentence or two in the introductory paragraph of any essay.

What does it do?

•It outlines what’s coming in the essay.

For example...

•It’s a summary. It boils everything in your essay down to one sentence.

•It organizes the information in your essay.

•It’s a guide for your reader.

3 doors down.•All the thesis statement does is outline the

three body paragraphs in an essay. Whatever’s listed first becomes he first body paragraph.

•2nd is 2nd.

•3rd is 3rd.

So, you’re writing an essay.

(aren’t you special.)

Let’s make it simple.

•Break your essay into 5 sections.Introduction

Body

Body

Conclusion

Body

{Here’s what each part

does.

A little more simple.

•For a narrative essay, it might look like this.

Introduction

Body

Body

Conclusion

Body

{Here’s what each part

does.

Grabs the reader’s attention.Outlines the essay.

Reinforces the story. Asks the reader to recall the facts.

The story begins.

The story builds up.

The story ends.

The Simplest.

Outline

story

story

wrap-up

story

{Let’s simplify a

little more.

Tell me what you’re going to tell me.

Tell me what you told me.

Tell me.

Tell me.

Tell Me.

•But here’s what that really means.

So, how do we make the

thesis statement?

THESIS STATEMENT

TOPIC 2

TOPIC 3

wrap-up

TOPIC 1

Tell me what you’re going to tell me.

Tell me what you told me.

Tell me.

Tell me.

Tell Me.

•Take the information and break it into topics.

It might look like this.

THESIS STATEMENT

TOPIC 2

TOPIC 3

TOPIC 1

The Incredibles is a story about a family of superheroes who must learn

to work together in order to serve justice, overcome their own fears, and accept that no one should have to spend life feeling

alone.

Make a list on your paper.

THESIS STATEMENT

TOPIC 2

TOPIC 3

TOPIC 1

How do I do it?

•Reread your essay.

•Make a list of the three major topics.

•Do it now.

Tie them together.

•The simplest thesis statements exist as one sentence.

•The simplest thesis statements are basically a restructuring of the question you answered.

Therefore...•If you’re writing about your best day

ever, your thesis statement might look like this.

The best day I ever had involved a movie theater, a closed swimming pool in the dead of winter, and an Elmer’s

restaurant.

Therefore...•If you’re writing about one of your scars,

your thesis statement might look like this.

The scar on my forehead is the result of 500 points, one tetherball pole, and 16 stitches.

Your turn.

YAY!

•Turn your three topics into your thesis statement.

•Do it now.

But.

•You’re not done.

•You’ve still got to work on that introduction. Because this:

The scar on my forehead is the result of 500 points, one tetherball pole, and 16 stitches.

Isn’t anywhere near good enough.You’ve got to LEAD UP TO IT.

Explain your topic first.

Everyone has a scar somewhere. Most of them are on our arms and legs. Some people have few scars, and some

people have very few parts of their body that aren’t scarred. I have several scars, but only a few are very noticeable.The

scar on my forehead, for example, is the result of 500 points, one tetherball pole, and 16 stitches.

Because a thesis statement is your whole essayin one sentence. You don’t want to give it away

right away.

Back to the drawing board

Outline

story

story

wrap-up

story

{Let’s simplify a

little more.

Tell me what you told me.

Tell me.

Tell me.

Tell Me.

•How have I outlined my story?Everyone has a scar somewhere. Most of them are on our arms and legs. Some people have few scars, and some people have very few parts of their body that aren’t scarred. I have several scars, but only a few are very noticeable.The scar on my forehead, for example, is the result of 500 points, one tetherball pole, and 16 stitches.

Your Turn.

•You already made a list of your three major topics.

•LEAD UP TO your thesis statement.

Do it for justin.