1. Thesis Statement The summary sentence that supports your opinions and ideas

2. What a Thesis Statement Does  It describes your topic, what your essay will be about.  It introduces a specific claim you are making about your topic.  It describes three ways in which you will support and develop your claim.  Formula for a thesis statement is:  Topic + Claim + Three Points of Support

3. Why should your essay contain a Thesis Statement?  To put your main ideas into one summary sentence  To better organize and develop the opinion/argument of your essay  To provide your reader with a “guide” to your argument

4. What Are The Components of a Good Thesis Statement?  A good argumentative thesis is focused and not too broad.  DON’T WRITE, “Eating fast food is bad and should be avoided.  DO WRITE, “Americans should eliminate the regular consumption of fast food because the fast food diet leads to preventable and expensive health issues, such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.”

5. What Are The Components of a Good Thesis Statement?  A good argumentative thesis is centered on a debatable topic.  DON’T WRITE, “There are high numbers of homeless people living in Berkeley, California.”  DO WRITE, “Homeless people in Berkeley should be given access to services, such as regular food donations, public restrooms, and camping facilities, because it would improve life for all inhabitants of the city.”

6. What Are The Components of a Good Thesis Statement?  A good argumentative thesis picks a side.  DON’T WRITE, “ Secondhand smoke is bad and can cause heart disease and cancer; therefore, smoking should be outlawed in public places, but outlawing smoking is unfair to smokers so maybe non-smokers can just hold their breath or wear masks around smokers instead.”  DO WRITE, “Secondhand smoke is just as harmful as smoking and leads to a higher prevalence of cancer and hear disease and for this reason, smoking in any public place should be banned.”

7. What Are The Components of a Good Thesis Statement?  A good thesis makes claims that will be supported later in the paper.  DON’T WRITE, “Humans should relocate to Mars.”  DO WRITE, “It is too late to save earth; therefore, humans should immediately set a date for their relocation to Mars where, with proper planning, they can avoid issues of famine, war, and global warming.

8. How to Generate a Thesis Statement?  The thesis should answer a single question that will give the main idea of your essay.  Your first step is to understand the specific question.  The answer to the question is the thesis statement for the essay.  Example: What are the potential benefits of using computers in an 8 th grade class?  Answer/THESIS: “The potential benefits of using computers in an 8 th grade class are… (3 reasons/ideas)

9. How to Tell a Strong Thesis Statement from a Weak One?  A strong thesis takes some sort of stand. (gives your opinion)  A strong thesis expresses a main idea and is specific.  Example: Should middle school’s serve soda at lunch?  Middle School’s should not serve soda at lunch because of soda’s high sugar content which contributes to poor nutrition, bad behavior in class, and hyperactivity.

10. Forming a Thesis Statement  Read the question.  Figure out your opinion.  Brainstorm to find 3 reasons to support your opinion.  Form the thesis statement that answers your question by restating the question.  The three reasons should also be included in the thesis.

11. Thesis Statement  Question - What do you need to do to go back to college to earn another degree?  Opinion – it is a complex process  3 reasons – researching a school, applying for admissions, and enrolling in classes  Thesis Statement – “Going back to college was a complex process that involved researching a school, applying for admissions, and enrolling in class.”

12. Let’s Break Down the Thesis Statement  “Going back to college was a complex process that involved researching a school, applying for admissions, and enrolling in class.”  Topic – going back to college  Claim – was a complex process  Three reasons – your need to research a school, you need to apply for admission, you need to enroll in classes

13. Supporting your Claim  Your thesis statement comes in your introductory paragraph and is the last sentence of the introductory paragraph  One paragraph will be about researching a school, the next paragraph will discuss applying for admission, and the third paragraph will be about enrolling in classes  These will be followed by the concluding paragraph, summarizing how these point prove your claim.

14. Thesis Statement Don’ts  A thesis statement should not be too broad.  A thesis statement should not be too wordy.  A thesis statement should not be too general.  A thesis statement should not be a subject.  A thesis statement should not be a title.  A thesis statement should not be a fact.

15. Let’s Try Some Now in a Group  Should cell phones be allowed in school?  Why is a good education crucial for being successful in life?  Should schools keep detentions or eliminate them?  Should middle schools serve soda to students at lunch?  Should schools change to year round school?  Should school uniforms be the dress code?