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1. ElementsofanEssay
byoxfordtutoring
Thesis Statement
Workshop

2. ofschoollifeiswritingapaper.
Oneofthemostchallengingaspects

3. It is a daunting task to stare down a
a five-page paper you have yet to
begin.

4. Where do I even start?
How do I pick a topic?
Will my essay be long enough?
What the heck is a thesis statement?
Questionsaboutwritingapaper.

5. OxfordTutoringisheretohelp!
We have broken down the essay
so that you can feel confident in
the papers you write.

6. ElementsofanEssaySystem
Let's start with a brief overview
of the main components of
an essay.

7. TheIntroductionParagraph
is the
HEART.

8. TheThesisStatement
is the
GLUE.

9. TheBodyParagraphs
are the
MEAT.

10. TheDetails
are the
KEY.

11. TheCommentary
is the
TREASURE.

12. TheConclusionParagraph
is the
the bow.

13. Let'sstartwiththethesisstatement.
Activity#1
Footballvs.Basketball Catsvs.Dogs
YourowntopicSummer
Remember, the thesis statement is
the glue.
Directions: Choose one of the following
topics and write one sentence expressing
your opinion about that topic.

14. So, what exactly is a thesis
statement?

15. Athesisstatementisanopinionthatcan
beprovenandisworthprovingtoothers.

16. Ideally, your thesis
statement should
only be one
sentence.

17. Thatway,youdonotconfuseyourreader
andoverwhelmyourself.

18. But, how do I use a thesis
statement?

19. Athesisstatementisusedsothatyour
entireessayshouldbebuiltaroundit.

20. You will use your
body paragraphs to
argue or defend
your thesis
statement.

21. Okay, then why do I need a thesis
statement?

22. AThesisstatementcanhelpyou:
It can tell the reader what you will be
It will let the reader know ahead of
talking about in your essay.
time what is coming.

23. ASk yourself the
following question:
Why would others
care about my
thesis statement?

24. Ifyoucannotanswerthequestion,
youneedanewthesisstatement!

25. Think of you thesisstatement as a
map!

26. Itletsthereaderknowwhereyouaregoing,
anditgivesyoudirectionasthewriter.

27. Yeah, but how do I write a thesis
statement?

28. Athesisstatementisdeclarative,short,
concise,andcanbedefendedwithevidence.

29. Here is a formula
for writing your
thesis statement.

30. SUBJECT
+
WHATYOUTHINK
+
2-3Pointsofsupport/contention
=
ThesisStatement

31. Example of a Thesis
Statement
DecidingwhichCollegetoattendwasa
complicatedprocessthatrequired
researchingthecollege,applyingtothe
college,andenrollinginmychosenclasses.

32. What is the subject of the thesis
statement?

33. DecidingwhichCollegetoattend

34. What does the author think?

35. ITwasacomplicatedprocess.

36. What are the author's points of
support?

37. 1.Researchingthecollege
2.Applyingtothecollege
3.Enrollinginthechosenclasses

38. Activity#2
Directions: look back at the opinion you
wrote in Activity #1. Write a thesis statment
on your opinion based on the previous
formula.

39. Then, how does my thesis
statement work in my essay?

40. Inyourintroductionparagraph,your
thesisstatementisonesentence(usuallythe
last),whiletherestofyourintropargraph
setsthereaderupforyourthesisstatement.

41. Your points of
support become the
topics of your body
paragraphs.

42. Body Paragraph #1 Topic
Point of Support #1
=
Body Paragraph #2 Topic
Point of Support #2
=
Body Paragraph #3 Topic
Point of Support #3
=

43. DecidingwhichCollegetoattendwasa
complicatedprocessthatrequired
researchingthecollege,applyingtothe
college,andenrollinginmychosenclasses.
Remember our last thesis statement?

44. Ifwewerewritingouressaywiththis
thesisstatementourbodyparagraphswould
looklike
...

45. Body Paragraph #1 Topic
Researching the college
=

46. Body Paragraph #2 Topic
Applying to the College
=

47. Body Paragraph #3 Topic
Enrolling in the classes
=

48. InyourConclusionparagraph,youwill
restateyourthesisstatement.

49. See? Your thesis
statement really is
the glue that holds
your whole paper
together!

50. Activity#3
Directions: ldenitfy the thesis statement
components in the following thesis
statements - the subject, what the author
thinks, and the points of support.
1)Sodasshouldremainanoptioninourlunchroomsbecauseoftheir
fund-raisingimportanceandbecausetheyallowstudentstobegin
exercisingresponsibilityandgooddecision-making.
2)Studentsshouldbeallowedtocarrycellphonesatschoolbecausethey
providestudentsmoresecurity,theycanbeusedinemergencies,andthey
keepparentsinvolvedintheirchildren’sschoollives.
3)Cellphonesshouldnotbeallowedatschoolbecauseoftheirpotential
todistractstudents,toleadtothefts,andtobeusedforcheating.

51. awesomethesisstatement!
Nowyouknowhowtowritean

52. Questions?

53. CallOxfordTutoring!
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