Framing A Thesis Statement An introductory lesson for beginning composition students

Group Goals Review previous terminology and key concepts Review previous terminology and key concepts Introduce new terminology Introduce new terminology Answer these questions: Answer these questions: What is a THESIS statement? What is a THESIS statement? Where does a THESIS statement live? Where does a THESIS statement live? How do I frame (build) a THESIS statement? How do I frame (build) a THESIS statement?

Individual Goals We will: We will: Continue to build writing fluency. Continue to build writing fluency. Practice framing (building) a THESIS statement. Practice framing (building) a THESIS statement. Ask questions. Ask questions. Make observations. Make observations. Take risks. Take risks. Have fun! Have fun!

Previous Terminology Essay An essay is a multi- paragraph piece of prose writing that expresses the writer’s opinion about a topic. Essay An essay is a multi- paragraph piece of prose writing that expresses the writer’s opinion about a topic. Prose Prose is normal spoken or written language. Prose Prose is normal spoken or written language.

Previous Terminology PROCESS writing describes the series of steps writers use to produce a piece of writing: PROCESS writing describes the series of steps writers use to produce a piece of writing: Prewrite Prewrite Write Write Edit Edit Revise and rewrite Revise and rewrite Publish Publish

New Terminology Thesis Thesis Thesis statement Thesis statement Topic Topic Opinion Opinion

Key Concepts Every essay has a thesis. Every essay has a thesis. A thesis introduces the major ideas in the essay. A thesis introduces the major ideas in the essay. Only ideas that have been introduced by the thesis can be included in the essay. Only ideas that have been introduced by the thesis can be included in the essay.

What Is A Thesis? A THESIS is like the monologue at the beginning of a talk show like Jay Leno’s, or David Letterman’s, or Conan O’Brian’s A THESIS is like the monologue at the beginning of a talk show like Jay Leno’s, or David Letterman’s, or Conan O’Brian’s How is a THESIS like a talk show host’s monologue? How is a THESIS like a talk show host’s monologue? I’m glad you asked! I’m glad you asked!

What Is A Thesis? After a few jokes to warm up the audience, the host’s monologue mentions all of the guests who will be on the show each night. After a few jokes to warm up the audience, the host’s monologue mentions all of the guests who will be on the show each night. I know that, but how is a talk show host’s monologue like a THESIS? I know that, but how is a talk show host’s monologue like a THESIS? Good question! Good question! Oh Boy! The Olson Twins and Dave.

What Is A Thesis? The monologue INTRODUCES all of the guests who will be on the show. The monologue INTRODUCES all of the guests who will be on the show. Only guests who are mentioned in the monologue appear on the show. Only guests who are mentioned in the monologue appear on the show. The monologue lets the audience know exactly what to expect (It lets me know if it’s safe to channel surf. If I don’t like the guests announced, I can switch to Iron Chef!) The monologue lets the audience know exactly what to expect (It lets me know if it’s safe to channel surf. If I don’t like the guests announced, I can switch to Iron Chef!) Conan and Ice-T or Iron Chef?

What does a Thesis do? Why is it in the essay? Like a talk show monologue introduces guests and lets me know what to expect, a THESIS introduces the major ideas (s) of an essay and lets me know what to expect. Like a talk show monologue introduces guests and lets me know what to expect, a THESIS introduces the major ideas (s) of an essay and lets me know what to expect. Only ideas that are mentioned in the THESIS will appear in the essay. Only ideas that are mentioned in the THESIS will appear in the essay. Each body paragraph focuses on one of the topics (big ideas) that was mentioned in the thesis statement in the introductory paragraph of the essay. Each body paragraph focuses on one of the topics (big ideas) that was mentioned in the thesis statement in the introductory paragraph of the essay. Thesis I’m the thesis. I’m here to introduce every topic in the essay.

Where Does A Thesis Live? A THESIS STATEMENT is a sentence that usually lives in the introductory paragraph of an essay. A THESIS STATEMENT is a sentence that usually lives in the introductory paragraph of an essay. A THESIS STATEMENT introduces all of the TOPICS that will be included in an essay. A THESIS STATEMENT introduces all of the TOPICS that will be included in an essay. In long essays, a thesis can appear later in an essay and it might be more than one sentence. In long essays, a thesis can appear later in an essay and it might be more than one sentence. For our next few essays, the thesis statement will be ONE sentence in the introductory paragraph. For our next few essays, the thesis statement will be ONE sentence in the introductory paragraph. Worthy Title Introductory Paragraph Body Paragraph Concluding Paragraph Thesis Basic Five-Paragraph Essay Structure

The Parts of a Thesis A basic THESIS STATEMENT has three parts: A basic THESIS STATEMENT has three parts: 1. What your essay explains: TOPIC 1. What your essay explains: TOPIC 2. Your OPINION about the TOPIC. 2. Your OPINION about the TOPIC. 3. REASONS for your opinion. 3. REASONS for your opinion. Topic Opinion Reasons Topic + Opinion + Reasons for Opinion

Quick and Easy Steps to Build A Thesis 1. State the topic. 1. State the topic. 2. State your opinion about the topic. 2. State your opinion about the topic. 3. State the reasons for your opinion. 3. State the reasons for your opinion. 4. Put them together. 4. Put them together. 5. Insert adjectives to add pizzazz. 5. Insert adjectives to add pizzazz.

Topics Here are some TOPICS: Here are some TOPICS: Driving on the Santa Ana Freeway Driving on the Santa Ana Freeway Inconsiderate Cell Phone Users Inconsiderate Cell Phone Users Professional athletes who use steroids Professional athletes who use steroids Boo! Hiss! It’s Regal Cinema’s “Inconsiderate Cell Phone Guy”

Follow the Steps to Build a Thesis 1. State the TOPIC. Here are some sample topics: Here are some sample topics: Driving on the Santa Ana freeway Driving on the Santa Ana freeway Inconsiderate Cell Phone Users Inconsiderate Cell Phone Users Professional athletes who use steroids Professional athletes who use steroids

Follow the Steps to Build a Thesis 2. State your OPINION about the topic. Here are some topics: Here are some topics: Driving on the Santa Ana freeway Driving on the Santa Ana freeway Inconsiderate Cell Phone Users Inconsiderate Cell Phone Users Professional athletes who use steroids Professional athletes who use steroids Here are some opinions: Here are some opinions: is a nightmare. is a nightmare. are ruining public places. are ruining public places. should be removed from their sports. should be removed from their sports.

Follow the Steps to Build a Thesis 3. State the REASONS for your opinion about the topic. Here are the topics and opinions: Here are the topics and opinions: Driving on the Santa Ana freeway is a nightmare Driving on the Santa Ana freeway is a nightmare Inconsiderate cell phone users are ruining public places Inconsiderate cell phone users are ruining public places Professional athletes who use steroids should be removed from their sports Professional athletes who use steroids should be removed from their sports Here are some reasons: Here are some reasons: because of the traffic, construction, and road conditions. because of the traffic, construction, and road conditions. because ring tones disrupt movies and plays, loud voices ruin the atmosphere in restaurants, parks, and museums, and distracted drivers cause traffic problems. because ring tones disrupt movies and plays, loud voices ruin the atmosphere in restaurants, parks, and museums, and distracted drivers cause traffic problems. because steroids are illegal, athletes who use them harm the purposes of sports, and make winning more important than competing. because steroids are illegal, athletes who use them harm the purposes of sports, and make winning more important than competing.

Follow the Steps to Build a Thesis 4. Put it all together. Topic + Opinions+Reasons Driving on the Santa Ana Freeway is a nightmare because of the traffic, construction, and potholes. Inconsiderate cell phone users are ruining public places because ring tones disrupt movies and plays, loud voices ruin the atmosphere in restaurants, parks, and museums, and distracted drivers cause traffic problems. Professional athletes who use steroids should be removed from their sports because steroids are illegal, athletes who use them harm the purposes of sports, and make winning more important than competing.

Follow the Steps to Build a Thesis 5. Add some adjectives for pizzazz! Driving on the Santa Ana Freeway is a nightmare because of the horrendous traffic, endless construction, and dangerous potholes. Driving on the Santa Ana Freeway is a nightmare because of the horrendous traffic, endless construction, and dangerous potholes. Inconsiderate cell phone users are ruining public places because musical ring tones disrupt movies and plays, loud voices ruin the tranquil atmosphere in restaurants, parks, and museums, and distracted drivers cause dangerous traffic problems. Inconsiderate cell phone users are ruining public places because musical ring tones disrupt movies and plays, loud voices ruin the tranquil atmosphere in restaurants, parks, and museums, and distracted drivers cause dangerous traffic problems. Professional athletes who use steroids should be removed from their sports because steroids are illegal, athletes who use them harm the healthy purposes of sports, and make winning more important than legitimate competition. Professional athletes who use steroids should be removed from their sports because steroids are illegal, athletes who use them harm the healthy purposes of sports, and make winning more important than legitimate competition.

Our Group Goals Q. What is a THESIS statement? Q. What is a THESIS statement? A. A THESIS statement is a sentence in the introductory paragraph of an essay that introduces all of the topics that are discussed in the essay. A. A THESIS statement is a sentence in the introductory paragraph of an essay that introduces all of the topics that are discussed in the essay.

Follow the Steps to Build a Thesis 5. Add some adjectives for pizzazz! Reminder An adjective is a descriptive word that modifies (changes, provides more information) the meaning of a noun. Reminder An adjective is a descriptive word that modifies (changes, provides more information) the meaning of a noun. Yellow banana Yellow banana Squeaky stairway Squeaky stairway Foreign language Foreign language

Our Group Goals Q. Where does a THESIS statement live? Q. Where does a THESIS statement live? A. A THESIS statement lives in the introductory paragraph on an essay. A. A THESIS statement lives in the introductory paragraph on an essay.

Our Group Goals Q. How do I build a THESIS statement? Q. How do I build a THESIS statement? A. State the topic, your opinion about the topic, and the reasons for your opinion. Insert adjectives to add pizzazz. A. State the topic, your opinion about the topic, and the reasons for your opinion. Insert adjectives to add pizzazz.

Practice, Practice, Practice Try creating a simple THESIS statement for two of the TOPICS on this list: Try creating a simple THESIS statement for two of the TOPICS on this list: Violence on television Violence on television Age limits on drinking Age limits on drinking Cost of higher education Cost of higher education Pop music Pop music Infomercials Infomercials Fast food restaurants Fast food restaurants Reality television shows Reality television shows

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