2. The Thesis Statement
• What do you know about it?
• Take a minute to brainstorm with a
classmate:
• What is it?
• When do you use one?
• Why do you need one?
• How does it work?
• Where does it go?
• What does it do?
3. The Thesis Sentence/
Statement
o Every essay should have a thesis statement.
o It is a single declarative sentence that states
the main idea of an essay.
o It answers a question or a writing prompt.
4. Basic Thesis Sentence
Examples
Writing prompt:
o What is your favorite time of year?
Thesis statement:
o Spring is definitely the best time of year.
Writing prompt:
o Should students have to go to school year
round?
Thesis Statement:
o Students absolutely should not have to go to
school all year long.
5. What did you notice?
• A thesis statement answers the question
AND states the main idea of the essay –
all in one clear and concise sentence.
• It restates the question.
• It tells the reader WHAT you will be
explaining throughout the rest of the essay
(this also helps keep you focused!)
6. The 3-Point Thesis
Sentence
Let’s take it to the next level:
In the same sentence, give three reasons for
your answer.
Hint: These three reasons will become the
topics of your three body paragraphs. Your
thesis statement now gives a basic outline
of your paper.Tip: Put your best reason
last!
7. 3-Point Thesis
Sentence Example
Spring is definitely the best time of year.
o Spring is definitely the best time of year
because there are more hours of sunshine, it
gets warmer outside, and all the plants start
to bloom and turn green.
Notice the word because comes
after the answer and before the
3 reasons why.
8. 3-Point Thesis Sentence
Example
Students absolutely should not have to go to
school year round.
o Students absolutely should not have to go to
school year round because they deserve a
break, it’s too hot in the summer for them to
work, and students and teachers all come
back refreshed after a nice break.
9. Your Turn
Writing Prompt:
o Should students be allowed to eat snacks in
the classroom? Why or why not?
Thesis Sentence:
o Students (should / should not) be allowed
to eat snacks in the classroom because
______, _________, and ________.
10. Your Turn
Writing Prompt:
o Write an essay explaining why a decision
you made was the right one?
Thesis Sentence:
o My decision to______________ was the
right one because___________,
___________, and ____________.
11. Thesis Statements vs. Topic
Sentences
Thesis Statements & Topic Sentences
o Thesis statements provide the main ideas of each of
the body paragraphs (the 3 reasons why).
o Each body paragraph needs a topic sentence.
What does a topic sentence do?
•It provides one of the reasons why.
•It makes a strong declarative statement.
•It states the main idea of the paragraph.
•It helps you stay focused as you’re writing!
•It acts as a smooth transition to your next topic.
12. Topic Sentence Example
Thesis Sentence: Spring is definitely the best time of year
because there are more hours of sunshine, it gets
warmer outside, and all the plants start to bloom and
turn green.
Topic Sentence Paragraph #1: One of the greatest things
about spring is that the sun begins to stay out longer, so
we have more hours of sunshine every day.
Topic Sentence Paragraph #2: More sunshine also brings
warm weather, and warm weather is one of the best
reasons to love spring.
Topic Sentence Paragraph #3: My favorite thing about
spring is how beautiful and alive everything looks: the
fresh flowers, the new leaves on the trees, and the new
green grass.
13. Your Turn
Thesis Sentence: Students absolutely should not have to
go to school year round because they deserve a break, it’s
too hot in the summer for them to work, and students and
teachers all come back refreshed after a nice break.
Topic Sentence Paragraph 1:
Topic Sentence Paragraph 2:
Topic Sentence Paragraph 3:
14. Practice
Writing Prompt: In order to survive, people have been
known to go to great lengths and to do things they would
not ordinarily do. Write an essay for your teacher that
explains the lengths to which people will go in order to
survive. You may use examples from real life, books,
movies, or television shows to support your essay.
Write a thesis statement and your three
topic sentences for this prompt.
15. Now you have an outline!!
• All that’s left now is to fill in the details, add
some “voice” or personality, and make
sure to move smoothly (or transition) from
one paragraph to the next.
• Make sure your grammar is good.
• Oh – one more thing: the conclusion
paragraph!
16. Basics of the conclusion
paragraph
Use different wording to:
• Restate your answer to the question
• Remind the reader about your reasons
• Make a new and interesting comment
about one of your reasons
• Use 4-5 sentences
End with something memorable!
17. PARCC Practice
For your Essay you will be reading about to
scientific studies on elephants. You will
read a total of 3 articles. The first article is
about the experiment, the second is a
passage from the study, the third is a
completely different study on elephant
behavior. As you read you will gather
information about the authors/researchers
points of view and purposes for writing.
