1. I Search Thesis Creation

2. What is a thesis statement…
A thesis is a complete sentence that demonstrates the take away value of your writing.
It is never a question but is often an answer to a question.
It answers the question readers may be asking themselves: “So what?”
Uses specific, objective language
Identifies the topic
States your purpose, intention, or attitude toward the topic

3. When first crafting a thesis…
Don’t expect to think of a perfect thesis at the beginning. 01
Plan to create a working thesis that you can use as you revise your sloppy copy into a draft. 02
A working thesis need not be elegant or formal; it just needs to get you started. 03

4. WeakStrong Thesis Statement Examples
My instructor has an attendance policy.
My instructor should change her attendance policy because it is unreasonable, inflexible, and unfair.
Some children show violent behavior.
Conflict-resolution courses should be taught to help prevent violence in America’s schools.
Social networking sites such as Facebook can cause problems.
College students should be careful of what they put on their Facebook pages because prospective employees routinely check them.
WeakStrong Thesis Statement Examples

5. Example Working Thesis & Subtopics Submission
Topic: Universal Healthcare
Research question: Would adopting a universal healthcare system make the United States a better place to live?
Working Thesis: While adopting universal healthcare would be a very difficult process, it would make the United States a healthier, wealthier and more equitable nation in the long run.
Subpoints:
Improve public health
More equal human rights
Stop medical bankruptcies
Equal access to healthcare
Encourage entrepreneurship
Benefit businesses

6. Thesis Statement Templates
Although many people think ____, in reality, ____ because ____.
_____ is the most significant _____ because _____.
______ illuminates the role of ______ in people’s lives by showing us how _______, _____, and _____.
Although many reasons have been suggested for _____, they all boil down to _____.
_____ is true for these reasons: _____, _____, _____, and _____.
X has argued that _____, but Y’s position is stronger because _____.
The more important effects of _____ went beyond those of _____.

7. 5 Groups of Never-Use Words:
Personal pronouns – I, you, we
Uncertainty qualifiers – might, maybe, perhaps
Extremism symptoms – everything, all, none, always, never
Vague formulations – some, kind of, somewhat
Obvious exaggerations – life-saving, best of the best
5 Groups of Never-Use Words:

8. 6 Groups of Must-Use Words:
Sources of information: studies reveal, research shows
Realistic views: many, significant, most
Characteristics: primarily, frequently, often
Clear explanations: because, thus, for, due to, since
Relationships: impact, influence, tendency, contribute to
Active verbs: demonstrate, illustrate, identify, elucidate, present, inform, reveal, show, express, justify, convey
6 Groups of Must-Use Words:

9. Final checklist Could somebody disagree with it?
Is your standpoint clear and precise?
Does it pass the ‘so what’ and ‘who cares’ questions?
Doesn’t it include any odd details?
Does it tell everything your paper will cover in brief?
Does it answer the question ‘how’ or ‘why’?
Check it for must-use and never-use words?
Wow! Now your thesis statement rocks!

10. Extended Introduction contains two paragraphs:
Paragraph Number 1:
Begins with an attention grabber (take from KAI?)
Transitions into brief context of issue as it pertains to you and your attention grabber
Ends with research question
Paragraph Number 2
Provides brief context and definition if necessary
Provides subpoints, each roughly a sentence each
Ends with thesis statement