Help Yourself Beat the Clock:

Help Yourself Beat the Clock: How to Write an Effective Thesis Statement Created by C. Wishart, Literacy Coach Based on work by Joy Wingersky, Jan Boehner, and Diana Holguin-Balogh

Thesis statement that states direction: A general statement Good for a longer paper – 5 to 10 pages Example: Students with learning disabilities may encounter many academic problems. Thesis statement that states direction and previews main points: Lists what each paragraph will be about Keeps the paper on topic Example: Students with learning disabilities may encounter academic, social, and personal problems. Types of Thesis Statements:

Each point listed in the thesis statement will be covered in one paragraph in the 5 paragraph essay: • Students with learning disabilities may encounter academic, social, and personal problems. • Paragraph 1 in the essay will be the introduction with the thesis statement. • Paragraph 2 will cover academic problems. • Paragraph 3 will cover social problems. • Paragraph 4 will cover personal problems. • Paragraph 5 will be the conclusion.

Important Points About Thesis Statements: • Ideas in the thesis statement must be coordinate and not subordinate. • Ideas in thesis statement must be broad enough to write a paragraph about, but not so broad that they can’t be addressed in detail • Ideas in thesis statement must not overlap • Ideas in thesis statement must be parallel • Ideas in thesis statement must be presented in a logical order

Ideas in the thesis statement must be coordinate and not subordinate. • Coordinate means of equal value. • Example: Car maintenance involves checking the oil, checking the coolant, and checking the air – all are coordinate • Subordinate means of lesser value. • Example: Car maintenance involves tuning the engine, servicing the tires, and checking the air – checking the air is subordinate to servicing the tires. “I’m more important than you are!!!”

Ideas in thesis statement must be broad enough to write a paragraph about, but not so broad that they can’t be addressed in detail. • Think about Goldilocks and the Three Bears: • Simple facts cannot sustain an entire paragraph; they are too small. • Goldilocks went into the house. • Broad ideas cannot be contained in a single paragraph; they are too big. • Fairy tales have many different types of themes. • Points in the thesis need to be just right. • Goldilocks learned to respect others’ property.

Ideas in a thesis statement must not overlap. When fighting a fire, the firefighter must pre-plan, initiate, and evaluate. Why am I reading the same point twice? Paragraph 2 When fighting a fire, the firefighter must pre-plan, strategize, and evaluate. Paragraph 3

Ideas in thesis statement must be parallel: • Each point must be balanced. • Choose a grammatical structure. • Use nouns, verbs, phrases, or clauses to organize your thesis statement.

If an “-ing” verb form is used, all divisions must be “-ing.” • For the elderly, having a pet means receiving companionship, getting exercise, and having protection. – Correct • For the elderly, having a pet means companionship, getting exercise, and to have protection. – Not parallel

If the present tense of the verb is used, all divisions must be in the present tense. • Elderly people with pets receive companionship, get exercise, and have protection. – Correct • Elderly people with pets receive companionship, getting exercise, and could have protection. – Not parallel

If a noun is used, all divisions must be nouns. • Having a pet can provide companionship, exercise, and protection for the elderly. – Correct • Having a pet can provide companionship, exercise, and will give protection for the elderly. – Not parallel

If “to” is used before verb, must have “to” before each division.* • Elderly people often own a pet to receive companionship, to get exercise, and to have protection. – Correct • Elderly people often own a pet to receive companionship, for exercise, and to have protection. – Not parallel • *Once “to” is written before the first verb, it is not necessary to write each time. “Elderly people often own a pet to receive companionship, get exercise, and have protection” is also correct.

If a prepositional phrase is used, all divisions must be prepositional phrases.* • Elderly people often own pets for companionship, for exercise, and for protection.- Correct • Elderly people often own pets for companionship, to get exercise, and to have protection. – Not parallel • *If the same preposition is used, it can be used only once. “Elderly people often own pets for companionship, exercise, and protection” is also correct.

Ideas in thesis statement must be presented in a logical order. • Divisions can be presented: • in increasing order of importance. • In decreasing order of importance • with the 2nd most important point first, the most important point last, and the weaker points in the middle. • in increasing interest. • in chronological order. • in sequential progression.

Divisions can be presented in increasing order of importance. • Before buying a car, the buyer needs to consider the style, condition, and cost of the vehicle. • Choosing a family pet should be determined by the family’s availability, the family’s interests, and the family’s dedication to meeting the animal’s needs.

Divisions can be presented in decreasing order of importance. • When considering human cloning, we must examine the moral, physical, and economic costs.

Divisions can be presented with the 2nd most important point first, the most important point last, and the weaker points in the middle. • Cigarette smoking effects a person socially, economically, and physically.

Divisions can be presented in increasing interest. • As I reflect on my life, I realize that it has been driven by my love of books, education, and family.

Divisions can be presented in chronological order. • Harriet Tubman’s life can be examined during her youth, during the Civil War, and during her senior years.

Divisions can be presented in sequential progression. • When cooking a cake, the baker must assemble the ingredients, mix the ingredients in the proper order, and bake the cake with care. Take one step at a time.

Formulas Do Work When Writing! • Choose the topic. • Choose the divisions, or sub-topics. • Write a thesis statement in parallel form. • Follow each division for each paragraph. • Earn a higher grade!

Give Credit Where Credit is Due: • Wingersky, Joy, Jan Boehner and Diana Holguin-Balogh. Writing Paragraphs and Essays 2nd Ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing, 1995. Print. • Many of the ideas for this presentation are based on pages 132 – 152 in the above text and the above text is often directly quoted.

Help Yourself Beat the Clock: