Transcript What is a thesis statement? The MOST IMPORTANT SENTENCE in

What is a thesis
statement?
The MOST IMPORTANT
SENTENCE in your paper!
Deconstructing a Prompt
Read the prompt carefully.
 Look for key word or concept (idea)
 What is it asking you to do with that key
word or prompt?
 To discover what we must do, we should
hunt for verbs in the prompt and circle
them.
 Ask yourself the what of the verb and
answer it.
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Deconstruct the prompt below.
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Our principal is seeking ideas to improve
learning at the middle school with a recent
$100,000 donation. Selecting only one
idea, write a letter to our principal that
explains how your suggestion would
benefit student achievement. Include at
least two reasons why our principal should
choose your idea and support each reason
with specific details from your school
experience.
Deconstruct the prompt below.
 Most
people remember one day
that really was special. Think
about a special day you have had
and write an essay explaining
why that day was so special.
Deconstruct the prompt below.
 Think
of a time when you felt
proud of yourself because you
learned how to do something
new. First, tell what you learned.
Next, explain how you did it.
Deconstruct the prompt below.
 What
is your favorite time of
year? Explain what your reasons
are for liking it.
Deconstruct the prompt below.
 Write
about your best friend.
Explain why he or she is special
to you.
Avoiding Reader Bias
Handwriting (or the physical quality of the
handwriting) – the use of printed or cursive
writing, shape and size of letters, slant of
writing
 Lightness or darkness of the writing
 Neatness
 Length of the piece of writing
 Presence and size of paragraphs
 Viewpoint of the writer
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Avoiding
Reader
Bias
 Score the essay, not the student
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Adhere to the rubric
Personal reactions to the persona or tone
of the writing (e.g., “what a cute kid” or “how
conceited”)
Idiosyncratic preferences or prejudices in
style or usage (e.g., the use of “a lot”, or
“that is”, clichés
Deeply ingrained assessment standards
form previous writing instruction
experience
What is a thesis statement?
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The MOST IMPORTANT
SENTENCE in your paper
A road map for the rest of the
paper
Lets the reader know the main
idea of the paper
Answers the question: “What
am I trying to prove?”
Not a factual statement, but a
claim
that has to be proven
throughout the paper
Role of the thesis statement
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The thesis statement should
guide your reader through
your argument.
The thesis statement is
generally located in the
introduction of the paper.
A thesis statement may also
be located within the body of
the paper or in the
conclusion, depending upon
the purpose or argument of
the paper.
Which thesis statement is the most
effective for an argument about the
need for V-chips in television sets?
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Parents, often too busy to watch television shows with
their families, can monitor their children’s viewing
habits with the aid of the V-chip.
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To help parents monitor their children’s viewing habits,
the V-chip should be a required feature for television
sets sold in the U.S.
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This paper will describe a V-chip and examine the
uses of the V-chip in American-made television sets.
How do I Know if my Thesis is
Strong?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Do I answer the prompt?
Have I taken a position others would oppose?
Is it arguable?
Does my thesis pass the “SO WHAT” test?
Does my essay support my thesis specifically
and without wandering?
Does my thesis pass the “HOW or WHY” test?
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In your Journal choose the best thesis statement
from the list below and explain why you feel it
answers questions 2, 3, and 5 from the previous
slide.
 The North and South fought the civil war for many
reasons, some of which were the same and some
different
 While both sides fought the civil war over the issue
of slavery, the North fought for moral reasons
while the south fought to preserve its own
institutions.
 While both Northerners and Southerners believed
they fought against tyranny and oppression,
Northerners focused nobly on the rights of others
and the oppression of slaves while Southerners
defended only their rights to own property and
self-government.