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Writing a Thesis

Be able to defend your arguments in a rational way. Otherwise, all you have is an opinion. Marilyn Vos Savant

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Thesis defined: The thesis sentence tells the reader what the

entire essay is about, a map of your essay.

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Thesis facts:

It must be the last sentence of the first paragraph.

It is the most important sentence of your entire essay.

In one sentence you must include your position and reasons.

(But most importantly, it is the first thing that the reader will look for in your essay. If you have a good thesis, you will no doubt make a favorable impression on the reader.)

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Let’s look at a thesis sentence:

Smoking should be banned in public places because smoke pollutes the environment, contaminates our lungs, and smells terrible.

Note: Thesis is one sentence composed of two parts.

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Unscramble the thesis:

and is too expensive. fast food should be banned promotes a sedentary lifestyle, because it contributes to heart disease and

obesity, (Learning the right order of the thesis

sentence is important. So try to unscramble this sentence.)

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Corrected thesis:

Fast food should be banned because it contributes to heart disease and obesity, promotes a sedentary lifestyle, and is too expensive.

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Let’s look at a poor thesis sentence: I believe teenagers should get paid minimum wage

because they do the same amount of work, equal labor rights, and they need the money.

(In this thesis sentence the reasons are not parallel which means that they are not in the same grammatical form. Do your best to improve and then take a look at the improved version on the next slide.)

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Improved version:

Teenagers should get paid minimum wage because teenage workers do the same amount of work, enjoy equal labor rights, and need the money.

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Rewrite this sentence:

I myself say that all citizens at the age of 18 should serve one year in the military because they will learn to work. Also, learn patriotism. Furthermore, they will learn to get along with people.

(Keep your thesis statement ONE SENTENCE! Do not break it up in to separate sentences because you will use too many words. In this particular thesis sentence, the second and third “ sentences” are not sentences but fragments.

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Correction:

All 18 year old citizens should serve one year in the military because they will learn to work, be patriotic, and get along with people.

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Complete:

Trash burning fires should be banned because _________________________, _________________________, and________________________________________________.

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Complete:

________________________________________

because they are dangerous and cause many unnecessary deaths.

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Assignment: Write a thesis sentence to the following topic.

Do you think that all high school students should wear uniforms to school on a daily basis?