Practice in Identifying Effective Thesis Statements
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- An Introduction to Punctuation
- Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
- M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
- B.A., English, State University of New York
This exercise will help you understand the difference between an effective and ineffective thesis statement , ie a sentence that identifies the main idea and central purpose of an essay .
Instructions
For each pair of sentences below, select the one that you think would make the more effective thesis in the introductory paragraph of a short essay (approximately 400 to 600 words). Keep in mind that an effective thesis statement should be sharply focused and specific , not just a general statement of fact.
When you're done, you may want to discuss your answers with your classmates, and then compare your responses with the suggested answers on page two. Be ready to defend your choices. Because these thesis statements appear outside the context of complete essays, all responses are judgment calls, not absolute certainties.
- (a) The Hunger Games is a science fiction adventure film based on the novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins. (b) The Hunger Games is a morality tale about the dangers of a political system that is dominated by the wealthy.
- (a) There is no question that cell phones have changed our lives in a very big way. (b) While cell phones provide freedom and mobility, they can also become a leash, compelling users to answer them anywhere and at any time.
- (a) Finding a job is never easy, but it can be especially hard when the economy is still feeling the effects of a recession and employers are reluctant to hire new workers. (b) College students looking for part-time work should begin their search by taking advantage of job-finding resources on campus.
- (a) For the past three decades, coconut oil has been unjustly criticized as an artery-clogging saturated fat. (b) Cooking oil is plant, animal, or synthetic fat that is used in frying, baking, and other types of cooking.
- (a) There have been over 200 movies about Count Dracula, most of them only very loosely based on the novel published by Bram Stoker in 1897. (b) Despite its title, Bram Stoker's Dracula , a film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, takes considerable liberties with Stoker's novel.
- (a) There are several steps that teachers can take to encourage academic integrity and curtail cheating in their classes. (b) There is an epidemic of cheating in America's schools and colleges, and there are no easy solutions to this problem.
- (a) J. Robert Oppenheimer, the American physicist who directed the building of the first atomic bombs during World War II, had technical, moral, and political reasons for opposing the development of the hydrogen bomb. (b) J. Robert Oppenheimer often referred to as "the father of the atomic bomb," was born in New York City in 1904.
- (a) The iPad has revolutionized the mobile-computing landscape and created a huge profit stream for Apple. (b) The iPad, with its relatively large high-definition screen, has helped to revitalize the comic book industry.
- (a) Like other addictive behaviors, Internet addiction may have serious negative consequences, including academic failure, job loss, and a breakdown in personal relationships. (b) Drug and alcohol addiction is a major problem in the world today, and many people suffer from it.
- (a) When I was a child I used to visit my grandmother in Moline every Sunday. (b) Every Sunday we visited my grandmother, who lived in a tiny house that was undeniably haunted.
- (a) The bicycle was introduced in the nineteenth century and rapidly grew into a worldwide phenomenon. (b) In several ways, bicycles today are better than they were 100 or even 50 years ago.
- (a) Although many varieties of beans belong in a healthy diet, among the most nutritious are black beans, kidney beans, chickpeas, and pinto beans. (b) Although beans are generally good for you, some kinds of raw beans can be dangerous if they're not well cooked.
Suggested Answers
- (b) The Hunger Games is a morality tale about the dangers of a political system that is dominated by the wealthy.
- (b) While cell phones provide freedom and mobility, they can also become a leash, compelling users to answer them anywhere and at any time.
- (b) College students looking for part-time work should begin their search by taking advantage of job-finding resources on campus.
- (a) For the past three decades, coconut oil has been unjustly criticized as an artery-clogging saturated fat.
- (b) Despite its title, Bram Stoker's Dracula , a film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, takes considerable liberties with Stoker's novel.
- (a) There are several steps that teachers can take to encourage academic integrity and curtail cheating in their classes.
- (a) J. Robert Oppenheimer , the American physicist who directed the building of the first atomic bombs during World War II, had technical, moral, and political reasons for opposing the development of the hydrogen bomb.
- (b) The iPad, with its relatively large high-definition screen, has helped to revitalize the comic book industry.
- (a) Like other addictive behaviors, Internet addiction may have serious negative consequences, including academic failure, job loss, and a breakdown in personal relationships.
- (b) Every Sunday we visited my grandmother, who lived in a tiny house that was undeniably haunted.
- (b) In several ways, bicycles today are better than they were 100 or even 50 years ago.
- (a) Although many varieties of beans belong in a healthy diet, among the most nutritious are black beans, kidney beans, chickpeas, and pinto beans.
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Thesis Statements Practice © Tutoring and Learning Centre, George Brown College 2013 www.georgebrown.ca/tlc . III. Read the following 3 paragraphs. Write a topic sentence for each paragraph. When you have completed the topic sentences, write one thesis statement that would be appropriate for an essay on the same topic. 1.
Both types of thesis statements are possible, but some writers or instructors prefer a specific style. The thesis statement in an essay should answer your research question. e.g. Research question: Why do people become homeless? Thesis statement: The lack of affordable housing, inadequate public assistance, and the breakdown of
Keep in mind that an effective thesis statement should be sharply focused and specific, not just a general statement of fact. When you're done, you may want to discuss your answers with your classmates, and then compare your responses with the suggested answers on page two.
A thesis statement is a fancy way of making a statement of what you believe and why you believe it. When you write an essay, you MUST clearly state your thesis at the end of the introduction paragraph. It needs to be there. If you do not have a thesis, you do not have a quality essay. The reason you write an entire essay is to PROVE your thesis ...
PRACTICE WORKSHEET A Writing a Thesis Statement Directions: Circle the letter of the best thesis statement for each composition. 1. a composition about the importance of eating lunch a. Lunch is one of my favorite meals, delicious and nutritious. b. Eating lunch boosts health and provides needed afternoon energy. c.
Thesis Statement Answer Key - Thesis Statement Worksheet Directions : State if the following thesis - Studocu. practice thesis statement worksheet directions: state if the following thesis is weak or strong. why? example: crime must be stopped. weak because it is general. Skip to document.