Thesis Statements

1. Misconceptions

1.1. Students often think that a thesis statement is a topic sentence.

1.2. Students think a thesis statement can be at the beginning of the introduction paragraph.

1.3. Students do not understand the purpose of a thesis statement and how it functions in an essay.

1.4. Students do not understand the importance of the structure of a thesis statement.

2. Key Terms

2.1. Topic

2.1.1. This is the topic you are writing about

2.1.1.1. Example: Vanilla Ice cream

2.2. Opinion

2.2.1. This is your opinion on the topic you are writing about

2.2.1.1. Example: It's the best flavor

2.3. Three Main Points

2.3.1. Three supporting points for your opinion on your topic

2.3.1.1. Example: it is the most versatile flavor, it is one of the most popular flavors, and it is the basis for other ice cream flavors

2.4. THESIS+TOPIC+ THREE MAIN POINTS = THESIS

2.5. THESIS

2.5.1. A one-sentence statement in the last paragraph of your introductory paragraph in an essay.

2.5.2. Example: Vanilla ice cream is the best flavor because it is the most versatile flavor, it is one of the most popular flavors, and it is the basis for other ice cream flavors.

3. Prior Knowledge

3.1. Students already know:

3.1.1. How to organize a paragraph

3.1.2. How to write a topic sentence

3.1.3. How to write a concluding sentence

3.2. How to establish main points in multiple paragraph writing.

3.3. How to write a topic sentence in first person

4. Future Topics

4.1. The appropriate time to use less than three main points

4.2. The appropriate time to use more than three main points

4.3. Writing thesis statements in first person

4.4. Writing thesis statements in one OR two sentences

5. NO THESIS, NO ESSAY!

6. Often related