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Your Thesis Statement

What is a Thesis Statement?

Topic sentence or main idea sentence

Located in the Introduction or Opening Paragraph

How to make a Thesis Statement

What is your topic?

What is the main idea you want to write about?

Take a side and make an argument

Use 2 or 3 key pieces of information about your topic that you want to talk about in your paper

What to Avoid

• Write in the first person (I believe, In my opinion, etc.)

• Use unclear language (It seems, I think.)

• Attempt two topics at once (even if they seem related). Pick one and stick with it.

• Just state a fact - A thesis is something you plan to make an argument about.

DON’T…

Step 1

Decide what your topic or main idea is…

Example: President Abraham Lincoln

Step 2

What is your argument or claim about this topic?

Usually contains opinion words (best, worst, fastest, greatest, most important, etc.)

Example: Abraham Lincoln was one of the greatest Presidents of the United States in history.

Step 3

Include at least 2 or 3 pieces of evidence to support your claim or argument

These should be facts or ideas that you plan to explain more in your paper.

Might use the word “because”

Example: Abraham Lincoln was one of the best Presidents of the United States because he kept the country from breaking apart during the Civil War and he abolished slavery.