1. Thesis  One sentence statement  Focus of your argument  Must connect the “what” to “why/how” Example: The ability to communicate online without face to face contact has changed the way Americans interact personally, professionally, and globally.

2. Thesis Statements  Are clear, concise, and defined  Ask: What position am I taking? How can I prove my point?  Begin the structure of your argument  Organize your main claims  Consistently return to your thesis statement when writing your supporting paragraphs  Everything included should relate back to the thesis.  The job of a thesis is to guide your reader through the main ideas of your paper.

3. Thesis: Please Note Example: The ability to communicate online, without face to face contact, has positively changed the way Americans interact personally, professionally, and globally. The essay based on the thesis listed above will prove how communication has improved due to using the Internet. The main body paragraphs will focus on the personal, professional, and global changes that have resulted from Internet communication.

4. The ability to communicate online, without face to face contact, has positively changed the way Americans interact personally, professionally, and globally. (Remember, my argument is focusing on the positive changes– you have to have something to prove! Don’t try to show both sides of anything. )  Think of your thesis statement as an outline for your body paragraphs  Body Paragraph 1: personal communication  Body Paragraph 2: professional communication  Body Paragraph 3: global communication  Body Paragraph 4: This is where you will address the other side of the argument (a negative) about using internet communication and refute or show why your point of view about your topic is still the best one.

5. So what does addressing the other side mean? Example: On the other hand, not communicating face to face can have some draw backs. For example, a person’s tone may be difficult to interpret from an email or Facebook post. However, using careful word choice and knowing one’s audience can easily prevent this from being an issue. The benefits of online communication continue to outweigh the possibility of the negative. Then, go into your conclusion.