1. A THESIS STATEMENT A CONTROLLING FORCE… AND NOTHING TO FEAR!

2. A Thesis ► What Is It? ► How Do You, Your Thesis, and Your Essay Relate? How Do You Build on Each Other? ► Why Do You Care? … And Yes, You REALLY Do!

3. A Thesis... ► Is a Controlling Force ► States the Main Idea of Your Essay. ► Answers: “Why Are You Telling Me This?” ► Is Your ONE Thing – Your ONE Focus. ► May List Your Three Topics. ► Always Provides Unity and Direction. ► An Example: “When I am a writer, I will write books, articles, and people profiles.”

4. How Do You, Your Thesis, and Your Essay Relate? How Do You, Your Thesis, and Your Essay Relate? ► Brain Dump 1 – Find Your Focus ► Brain Dump 2 – Find Your Three Points ► Write Your Thesis – Again, Again, & Again ► Let It Drive Your Essay - Anything in Your Essay That Doesn’t Relate to Your Thesis Must GO…

5. Brain Dump 1 – Find Your Focus Brain Dump 1 – Find Your Focus ► Start with any concept or question. For this example, “Why are you here?” or “What is your dream job?” ► Put this in the middle of the page. ► Doodle words wildly around it – anything goes. Anything. ► When you’ve totally dumped your brain, pick your favorite focus. Be strong and focused here, and your essay will be, too.

6. Brain Dump 1 Brain Dump 1 ► Put “WHAT IS MY DREAM JOB IN THE MIDDLE” and the rest might look like pick your favorite focus. Be strong and focused here, and your essay will be, too. PRESIDENT TEACHER COMPUTER PROGRAMMER HORSE TRAINER STAY-AT HOME PARENT DOG WALKER DREAM JOB

7. Brain Dump 2 – Find Your Points Brain Dump 2 – Find Your Points ► Start with the newly found focus Let’s say you decided (just for this essay) you’d like to be a teacher. ► Again, doodle and write wildly around it. ANYTHING that pops into your head, dump it on the paper. WHY do you want to be a teacher? What will it be like? Etc…

8. Brain Dump 2 – Find Your Points Brain Dump 2 – Find Your Points ► When you’ve exhausted all ideas, pick your favorite three – as long as they SUPPORT your thesis. ► These are your three points. Circle them. ► You’re nearly there...

9. Brain Dump 2 Brain Dump 2 ► Put “MY DREAM JOB IS BEING A TEACHER” (or whatever your focus turned out to be!) and it might look like this: More time with my family due to summers off Get to be in charge of my classroom Serve Others Teach my favorite subject all day Change lives DREAM JOB AS A TEACHER

10. Write Your Thesis Write Your Thesis ► Write at least three versions of your thesis. Name your focus and clearly state your three points. ► You can write a thesis without the three points – but carefully cover them, in order, as you write your essay. ► Pick the most coherent, directive version of your thesis.

11. Write Your Thesis Write Your Thesis ► Maybe you wrote, “My dream job is to be a teacher so that I can have summers off to spend more time with my family, change lives, and serve others.” Done! It has your focus (Dream job = teacher) and the three reasons why. PERFECT.

12. Keep Your Focus as You Go Keep Your Focus as You Go ► FIRST - Before you write, make your outline. It will serve as a map for you as you write. Highlight your THESIS and POINTS 1 through 3. ► LATER… As you write, carefully stick to your focus. If in doubt, throw extras out. ► FINALLY… As you edit, carve out any ideas that don’t stick to your thesis.

13. Why Do You Care? ► Rambling essays annoy. ► You don’t want to annoy the lady with a red pen in her hand. ► Your reader doesn’t need a new sleep aid. ► Encouraging your reader to snooze and drool are to be avoided. ► A thesis will bring you closer to an A – that thing you crave – faster than your reader can say, “Why are you telling me this?”

14. One More Time... ► Find Your Focus ► Find Your Favorite Three Points ► Twist and Twirl Your Thesis Until It Points the Way to an A ► Write an Outline ► You Can Do This – And Your Clear Effort to Make a Solid Point and Stick to It Will Soothe and Entertain Your Reader

15. A THESIS STATEMENT A CONTROLLING FORCE… AND NOTHING TO FEAR!