Elements of an Essay

by oxford tutoring

Thesis Statement Workshop

of school life is writing a paper.One of the most challenging aspects

It is a daunting task to stare down a 

a five-page paper you have yet to 

begin.

Where do I even start?

How do I pick a topic?

Will my essay be long enough?

What the heck is a thesis statement?

Questions about writing a paper.

Oxford Tutoring is here to help!

We have broken down the essay 

so that you can feel confident in 

the papers you write.

Elements of an Essay System

Let's start with a brief overview

of the main components of 

an essay.

The Introduction Paragraph is the 

HEART.

The Thesis Statementis the 

GLUE.

The Body Paragraphsare the 

MEAT.

The Detailsare the 

KEY.

The Commentaryis the 

TREASURE.

The Conclusion Paragraphis the 

the bow.

Let's start with the thesis statement.

Activity #1

Football vs. Basketball Cats vs. DogsYour own topicSummer

Remember, the thesis statement is

the glue.

Directions: Choose one of the followingtopics and write one sentence expressingyour opinion about that topic.

So, what exactly is a thesis statement?

A thesis statement is an opinion that can

be proven and is worth proving to others.

Ideally, 

your t

hesis

statem

ent sh

ould

only be

 one

senten

ce.

That way, you do not confuse your reader

and overwhelm yourself.

But, how do I use a thesisstatement?

A thesis statement is used so that your

entire essay should be built around it.

You will use your

body paragraphs to

argue or defend 

your thesis statement.

Okay, then why do I need a thesisstatement?

A Thesis statement can help you: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.

ASk yourself t

he

following question:

Why would others

care about my

thesis statement?

If you cannot answer the question,

you need a new thesis statement!

Think of you thesisstatement as a map!

It lets the reader know where you are going,

and it gives you direction as the writer.

Yeah, but how do I write a thesisstatement?

A thesis statement is declarative, short,

concise, and can be defended with evidence.

Here is

 a form

ula

for wr

iting yo

ur

thesis 

statem

ent.

SUBJECT+

WHAT YOU THINK+

2-3 Points of support/contention=

Thesis Statement

Example of a ThesisStatement

Deciding which College to attend was a complicated process that required

researching the college, applying to the college, and enrolling in my chosen classes.

What is the subject of the thesisstatement?

Deciding which College to attend

What does the author think?

IT was a complicated process.

What are the author's points ofsupport?

1. Researching the college2. Applying to the college3. Enrolling in the chosen classes

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

Then, how does my thesisstatement work in my essay?

In your introduction paragraph, your thesis statement is one sentence (usually thelast), while the rest of your intro pargraphsets the reader up for your thesis statement.

Your p

oints o

f

suppor

t beco

me the

topics 

of you

r body

paragr

aphs.

Body Paragraph #1 Topic

Point of Support #1=

Body Paragraph #2 Topic

Point of Support #2=

Body Paragraph #3 Topic

Point of Support #3=

Deciding which College to attend was a complicated process that required

researching the college, applying to the college, and enrolling in my chosen classes.

Remember our last thesis statement?

If we were writing our essay with thisthesis statement our body paragraphs would

look like. . .

Body Paragraph #1 Topic

Researching the college

=

Body Paragraph #2 Topic

Applying to the College

=

Body Paragraph #3 Topic

Enrolling in the classes

=

In your Conclusion paragraph, you willrestate your thesis statement.

See? Your thesis 

statement really is

the glue that holds

your whole papertogether!

Activity #3Directions: ldenitfy the thesis statement components in the following thesis statements - the subject, what the authorthinks, and the points of support.

1) Sodas should remain an option in our lunchrooms because of their fund-raising importance and because they allow students to begin exercising responsibility and good decision-making.

2) Students should be allowed to carry cell phones at school because theyprovide students more security, they can be used in emergencies, and theykeep parents involved in their children’s school lives.

3)Cell phones should not be allowed at school because of their potentialto distract students, to lead to thefts, and to be used for cheating.

awesome thesis statement!Now you know how to write an

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