"A book, too, can be a star, 'explosive material, capable of stirring up fresh life endlessly,' a living fire to lighten the darkness, leading out into the expanding universe." - from Madeleine L'Engle's Newberry Medal Acceptance Speech

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Class Notes on Developing a Thesis Statement for an Argument Essay


Guidelines for developing a thesis statement:
  • brainstorm general ideas about your main and supporting arguments
  • come up with a tentative thesis
  • plan and outline the essay
  • revise your thesis after you plan the essay
  • continue to rethink and revise the thesis throughout the writing process
  • make sure your thesis:
    • is clear and concise (1 or 2 sentences)
    • states an opinion that can be argued 
    • includes the reasons supporting the opinion which are explained in the body paragraphs
    • is written at the end of the introduction 
  • Sentence starters:
    • It is important/necessary/crucial that _____________ because ____________________
    • _______________ should/should not __________________ because _________________
    • It is right/wrong, moral/immoral, ethical/unethical that ______________ because ______
    • Even though some believe that ___________, it is clear that _____________ because ______
    • While some think ________________, ______________________

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