Writing an Effective Thesis Statement

Dos and Donts that will guide you in writing a strong thesis statement.
Name: Period: Date:

Instructions: Use the websites listed to answer the following questions.

How to Begin:
http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/thesis_statement.shtml If a topic is given to you, what is the best way to begin your thesis statement? If a topic is not given to you, what is the best way to begin your thesis statement? What are four 1. attributes that a good thesis statement will 2. include? 3. 4. What is the difference between a

strong thesis statement and a weak thesis statement?

Tips for Writing a Thesis Statement:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/545/1/ What are three 1. different types of papers that students 2. usually write about? 3. Look at the examples of sample thesis statements given on the website. Using their subjects, write your own thesis statement for each type of essay. Specificity: http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/thesis-statements/ Why do you want your thesis statement to be specific? In order to be specific, what three questions should you ask yourself about your statement? The following is a The Revolutionary War was important for thesis statement

about the Revolutionary War. Rewrite it so that it is more specific.

America. Does your rewrite answer the three specificity questions? How? Organization: http://studenthacks.org/2007/11/06/thesis-statement/ How does a thesis statement help organize your paper? Why should you focus on one main idea in your thesis? What do you think would happen if you listed too many ideas in your thesis statement? Language: http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/word-choice/ Read the section 1. titled Strategies for

Successful Word Choice. What are three strategies that you found to be the most helpful? Why?

2. 3.

Language Continued: http://studenthacks.org/2007/11/06/thesis-

statement/ How can you make your thesis statement more specific and more interesting at the same time? Why do you want to make your thesis statement more interesting? List two reasons (These are not on the website. Think of reasons from your own experience.) List three adjectives that are not overused that you might want to use in a future essay.

Putting it all Together:

http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ss5/b/effrevwarl.cfm Look back at the first thesis statement you wrote for this assignment. Using the website given, write a thesis statement that addresses how the Revolutionary War was an important event in American history.

Putting it All Together:

http://www.kidinfo.com/american_history/historical_events.html Choose one historical event from this page to write about. Your thesis statement can be anything you like, as long as it focuses on one historical event.