1. A strong thesis statement surprises readers with something new or challenging. Thesis Statements

2. Thesis Statements Your answer to your subject-matter question becomes your thesis statement. Good thesis statements usually contain an element of uncertainty, risk, or challenge—”something that can be quarreled with.”

3. Thesis StatementsTrying to Change Your Reader’s View of Your Subject To change your audience’s view of your essay, you must first imagine how the reader would view the subject before reading your essay. Something this simple perhaps: Before reading my essay, my readers think this way about my topic:_____________________________. After reading my essay, my readers will (if I’ve argued well) think this different way about my topic:____________________________________.

4. Thesis Statements Before reading my essay, my readers think this way about my topic:_____________________________. After reading my essay, my readers will (if I’ve argued well) think this different way about my topic:____________________________________. Readers/Audience: Elderly People View before reading our essay: Technology is creating a lazy generation View after our essay: Technology is creating a generation capable of communicating and understanding different cultures and beliefs.

5. Thesis Statements Before reading my essay, my readers (elderly) think this way about my topic: that technology is creating a lazy generation. After reading my essay, my readers will (if I’ve argued well) think this different way about my topic: technology is creating a generation capable of communicating and understanding different cultures and beliefs. This isn’t quite a thesis statement, but we’re getting closer…

6. Thesis Statements Before reading my essay, my readers (elderly) think this way about my topic: that technology is creating a lazy generation. After reading my essay, my readers will (if I’ve argued well) think this different way about my topic: technology is creating a generation capable of communicating and understanding different cultures and beliefs. Although most elderly people think that today’s technology, like computers, cell phones, and video games, are creating a lazy generation that just sits around “playing” all day, today’s technology has actually created a generation capable of interacting with and learning from other cultures, thus creating a more socially aware generation. Now we have a thesis statement!

7. Thesis Statements Although most elderly people think that today’s technology, like computers, cell phones, and video games, are creating a lazy generation that just sits around “playing” all day, today’s technology has actually created a generation capable of interacting with and learning from other cultures, thus creating a more socially aware generation. …………………………………………………………………………….. Our thesis statement has tension, or what we also refer to as “surprising reversal.” We contrasted a surprising answer to our audience’s common answer. We followed this basic template: “Many people believe X (common view), but I am going to show Y (new, surprising view).”

8. A Thesis Statement without Tension Question: What effect has the cell phone had on our culture? Thesis without Tension: The invention of the cell phone has brought many advantages to our culture. Thesis with Tension: Although the cell phone has brought many advantages to our culture, it may also have contributed to an increase in risky behavior among boaters and hikers. What is the difference between these two statements?

9. A Thesis Statement without Tension Question:Do reservations serve a useful role in contemporary Native American culture? Thesis without Tension:Reservations have good points and bad points. Thesis with Tension:Although my friend Wilson Real Bird believes that reservations are necessary for Native Americans to preserve their heritage, the continuation of reservations actually degrades Native American culture. What is the difference between these two statements?

10. Now take some time to begin reading the articles for Essay 1. See what is being said about the topic, then decide which stance you are going to take on the topic and fill out the following. Your audience is going to be the people who feel opposite to how you feel about your stance. Before reading my essay, my readers think this way about my topic: _____________________________. After reading my essay, my readers will (if I’ve argued well) think this different way about my topic: ____________________________________.