A clear thesis helps a writer tell their reader what an essay will be about. A thesis statement also requires the writer to take a position on something, which is an important part of argumentative writing.
A strong thesis statement is important to a good introductory paragraph. An introductory paragraph may typically look like:
1. Hook (maybe a question, statistic, or definition)
2. Background of the topic being discussed
3. Thesis & reasons supporting the thesis
Students are prompted to ask themselves three questions when forming a thesis statement:
1. Does my statement take a position on a topic?
2. Does my statement answer the essay question?
3. Does my statement use clear and precise language?
This lesson helps students recognize strong and weak theses in this fun lesson, enriched with plenty of pictures and class discussions.