1. Developing a Thesis Statement

2. What is a Thesis?
A sentence that has BOTH a subject and an opinion.
A thesis is a general sentence with a subject and an opinion.
Example:
Australia is the best country of all for a vacation.
(In this sentence Australia is the subject and is the best country of all for a vacation is the opinion.)

3. What is a Thesis?
A thesis is found in the introductory paragraph, most often at the end.
A thesis tells the reader of your paper, what your paper is about.
A thesis acts as a road map for your paper.
A thesis presents your argument to your reader.

4. Is it a Thesis Statement?
A thesis statement has a SUBJECT and an OPINION.
1. My high school is the best one around.
2. I have gone to East High School for three years.
3. Our football team is better than last year’s.
4. My family went to Disneyland last year.
5. School is a cool place to be.

5. How to Develop a Thesis
When you write an essay you are provided with a prompt. Your thesis answers the question to your prompt.
A weak thesis simply restates the question, without providing any additional information.
A weak thesis leaves the reader with questions about your paper.

6. Creating a Strong Thesis
EXAMPLE:
Prompt: Compare and contrast the reasons why the North and the South fought the Civil War.
Weak Thesis: The North and the South fought the Civil War for many reasons, some of which were the same and some different.
The reader wonders: What reasons? How are they the same? How are they different?

7. Creating a Strong Thesis
A strong thesis: While both Northerners and Southerners believed they fought against tyranny and oppression, Northerners focused on the oppression of slaves while Southerners defended their own right to self-government.
The reader knows EXACTLY what will be discussed in the paper.
Check Point: what is this person writing their paper on?
What are the differences between the weak thesis and the strong thesis?

8. Let’s Practice
Prompt: Why is Redlands High School the best high school in Redlands?
Weak Thesis: Redlands High School is the best high school in Redlands for many reasons.
Can you make this thesis a strong thesis?

9. Using Your Thesis to Write Your Paper
Your thesis should act as a road map for the rest of your paper.
Each opinion in your thesis should be the foundation of a paragraph.
Example: Redlands High School has proved that they are the top school in Redlands through their exceptionally high test scores and their success in athletics.
What are your body paragraphs going to be about? Test scores and athletics
You must now use your body paragraphs to PROVE your thesis.

10. (Hook) Sandra was only thirteen years old when she realized she felt different than most of the kids in her middle school.
(Background information 2-3 sentences)
(THESIS) Through her experience, Sandra learned that being an American meant having the freedom to be different, to be unique.