Transcript Thesis Statement - Scholars in 223!

Opening Monday 10/26
Look at your notes in your spiral on
compound and complex sentences.
Knowing what you know, write a formula
and definition of a compound-complex
sentence.
Write in complete sentences.
Answer
A compound-complex sentence has two
independent clauses and at least one
dependent clause.
IND + IND +DEP(1 OR MORE) CDX
EX: After the two soccer players lost their
game, they joined their other teammates
for lunch, and they went to the movies
Standards
ELAGSE7RI2: Determine two or more central
ideas in a text and analyze their development
over the course of the text; provide an objective
summary of the text.
ELAGSE7W2: Write informative/explanatory
texts to examine a topic and convey ideas,
concepts, and information through the selection,
organization, and analysis of relevant content
ELAGSE7L1: Demonstrate command of the
conventions of standard English grammar and
usage when writing
Thesis Statements
What is a thesis statement?
A thesis statement is the main idea of an
essay.
It is often a point you want to argue or
support in an essay.
SO
The thesis statement explains to a reader
the main idea of the essay, and the
writer’s opinion about that idea.
A thesis statement is one sentence.
It is placed as the last sentence in
the introductory paragraph of an
essay.
A thesis statement is a claim or
controlling idea that can be argued.
The essay will contain evidence and
opinions that support the argument.
Thesis statements avoid the
following:
the first person (I believe, In my opinion,
etc.)
unclear language (It seems, etc.)
attempting two topics at once, even if they
seem related.
– Pick one and stick with it.
just stating a fact . A thesis is something
you plan to make an argument about.
A thesis statement should
contain a topic (main idea of
what you are writing about)
contain an opinion about the
topic (what your attitude is toward
the topic)
contain reasons why you hold that
view (explanations answering
“why?” or “so what?”).
A thesis statement should not be:
too wordy
too general
too broad
a title
a fact
Which sentence is too broad to be
a good thesis statement?
A. One reason to live in Mableton is
because it is very close to
Atlanta.
B. Atlanta is a great place to live.
Too Board
• Mableton is a great place to live.
A thesis statement should not be
too wordy.
Wordy
• Some problems with Highlands Middle School
are that it needs a larger playground, an air
conditioned gym,, restrooms connected to each
classroom, running water in the classrooms, and
a number of other physical changes to the
building.
Better
• Highlands Middle School needs several changes
to its facility to make it a better school.
Which sentence is too wordy to be
a good thesis statement?
A. Abe Lincoln was one of the best
presidents the United States has ever
known.
B. Abe Lincoln was an excellent speaker, the
16th President of the United States, a
liberator of slaves, and united the North
and South at the end of the American Civil
War.
Too Wordy
• Abe Lincoln was an excellent speaker, the
16th President of the United States, a
liberator of slaves, and united the North
and South at the end of the American Civil
War.
A thesis statement should not be
too general.
• Too general
• Lindley Middle School is a good school.
• Better
• Daily writing practice has led to improved
writing skills for the students at Lindley Middle
School.
Which sentence is too general to
be a good thesis statement?
A. Music makes people happy.
B. Music therapy is useful in
relieving stress and other
conditions.
Too general
• Music makes people happy.
A thesis statement should not be a
title.
• A title
• Cost of Living
• Better
• The cost of living in New York City is higher
than in many other cities in the United States.
Which sentence would not be a
good thesis statement because it is
a title?
A. Good teaching has led to an
increase in ELA scores at Lindley
Middle School.
B. Rising ELA Scores at Lindley
Middle School.
A Title
• Rising ELA Scores at Lindley
Middle School
A thesis statement should not be a
fact.
• A fact
• The average temperature for Mableton in
winter is in the 40’s and in summer is in the
90’s.
• Better
• The climate in Mableton is ideal for outdoor
sports almost all year round.
Which sentence would not be a
good thesis statement because it is
a fact?
A. The recycling of one aluminum
can saves enough energy to run
a TV for three hours.
B. Recycling is one of the most
important jobs a person can do to
protect our environment.
A Fact
• The recycling of one aluminum
can saves enough energy to run
a TV for three hours.
OPENING TUESDAY 10/27
Combine the following clauses into one full sentence (rewrite the
new sentence using the correct punctuation and any
conjuctions):
1. as soon as Mary texts me back / we can go to the movie / we just
need to pick up Mike first
2. my friend decided to try out for the school musical / but Mr.
Johnson didn’t give her the part / because she can’t sing and dance
at the same time
3. when my cousins first arrived / we got along great / but we were
ready to kill each other after we had been together for twenty minutes
Thesis:
As you explore your subject, you will
begin to see possible ways to connect
your ideas. A sentence that links all
your main ideas and explains your
opinion on those ideas is called a
thesis statement.
Opinion:
A thesis should contain a topic (what you are
writing about), an opinion about the topic (what
your attitude is toward the topic), and reasons
why you hold that view (explanations answering
“why?” or “so what?”).
In other words, a thesis needs to be an
arguable claim that can be proven with facts and
opinions. To check to see if a thesis is arguable,
locate the opinion words.
Locating the Opinion in a
Thesis:
When you look for the opinion in a thesis, ask
yourself what the writer’s attitude is towards the
topic.
For example, in the sentence: “Many hip-hop
songs are sexist because they make women look
like pretty pictures with no substance.”
In the thesis, the topic is “hip-hop songs” and the
controlling idea or claim is that these songs are
“sexist” Another person might have had a different
attitude and may have found the hip-hop songs
“empowering to women”.
How to write a thesis statement
Take notes in your spiral as you watch the
video
“Many hip-hop songs are sexist because they
make women look like pretty pictures with no
substance.”
In the thesis, the topic is “hip-hop songs” and the
controlling idea or claim is that these songs are “sexist”
Another person might have had a different attitude and
may have found the hip-hop songs “empowering to
women”.
Therefore, “sexist” reveals the writer’s attitude and also
indicates what the essay with this thesis statement will
be focused on: demonstrating why hip-hop songs are
“sexist.” This thesis statement limits the writer’s focus
and clearly tells the reader what the essay will be about.
Underline the opinion words below; if there
are no opinion words, it is not a thesis:
1)In this essay I will discuss civil rights.
2) Television is destroying the unity of the modern family.
3) In her essay, Erlich shows that there is a balance of
community and isolation in her hometown.
4) While text messaging can be a handy way to stay in
touch with friends and family, many people text
compulsively causing them to be distracted.
5) my uncle has taught me the best lesson that the
importance of putting family first.
More Practice
Directions:
1) Find the opinion words in the statement. If there
are no opinion words, it is not a thesis statement.
2) Tell if the statement is a good thesis statement.
• Although most people believe
otherwise, bats are harmless and
highly beneficial.
Directions:
1) Find the opinion words in the statement. If there
are no opinion words, it is not a thesis statement.
2) Tell if the statement is a good thesis statement.
• In this essay I will discuss the
crime rate in Mountain City.
Directions:
1) Find the opinion words in the statement. If there
are no opinion words, it is not a thesis statement.
2) Tell if the statement is a good thesis statement.
• Energetic exercise is a good way
to help relieve stress.
Directions:
1) Find the opinion words in the statement. If there
are no opinion words, it is not a thesis statement.
2) Tell if the statement is a good thesis statement.
• Lindley Middle School and Floyd
Middle School differ in many
ways.
Directions:
1) Find the opinion words in the statement. If there
are no opinion words, it is not a thesis statement.
2) Tell if the statement is a good thesis statement.
• This paper will consider the
advantages and disadvantages of
students having nightly
homework.
Directions:
1) Find the opinion words in the statement. If there
are no opinion words, it is not a thesis statement.
2) Tell if the statement is a good thesis statement.
• Hate speech should be eliminated
for many reasons.
Take out a piece of notebook paper
and number from 1 to 10.
In each of the following slides tell
whether the sentence is a good or
bad thesis statement.
Good or Bad
1. Many people do not like to watch
violent horror movies.
2. Today’s movies do not have the
emotional impact of the classic
horror movies of the 1940’s.
Good or Bad
3. Rap music is the best music
ever.
4. Although many people find
rap music offensive, it has
had a positive impact on
today’s youth.
Good or Bad
5. I enjoy white water rafting.
6. The first white water rafting
trip can challenge a person
both in body and spirit.
Good or Bad
7. Sixth grade students are
busy.
8. The life of a typical sixth
grade student is challenging
due to the need to succeed in
extracurricular activities.
Good or Bad
9. Community service projects include
building shelter for the homeless,
servicing meals to the hungry,
providing transportation for the sick,
distributing clothes, and a large
number of other helpful activities.
10. Students should help others who are
less fortunate.