4A1 - Thesis statement

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Welcome!

Lesson plan

1. Recap of introduction to essay writing

2. Theory on thesis statement

3. Exercise on thesis statement

Goal: At the end of class, you can construct a thesis statement, and you can plan the body of your argumentative essay. 

What is the goal of an argumentative essay?

Argumentative essay

The goal of an argumentative essay is to convince / to persuade your reader that your opinion on a controversial topic is the correct one. 

How many paragraphs should your argumentative essay have?

Argumentative essay

Your argumentative essay will have four paragraphs: an introduction, 2 body paragraphs and a conclusion.

What four elements does the introduction to an argumentative essay have?

Argumentative essay

The introduction to an argumentative essay has four required elements: 

1. A hook or attention grabber
2. Some background information
3. A thesis
4. A road map 

example 1 of an introduction

As online learning becomes more common and more and more resources are converted to digital form, some people have suggested that public libraries should be shut down and, in their place, everyone should be given an iPad with an e-reader subscription.

Malaria is an infectious disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through female Anopheles mosquitoes. Each year, over half a billion people will become infected with malaria, with roughly 80% of them living in Sub-Saharan Africa. Nearly half a million people die of malaria every year, most of them young children under the age of five. Unlike many other infectious diseases, the death toll for malaria is rising. While there have been many programs designed to improve access to malaria treatment, the best way to reduce the impact of malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa is to focus on reducing the number of people who contract the disease in the first place, rather than waiting to treat the disease after the person is already infected.

How many arguments and counterarguments should you provide in support of your thesis?

Argumentative essay

In a four-paragraph argumentative essay, you should provide 1 arguments in support of your thesis, and 1 argument against your thesis. You should always refute your counterargument! (counts as another argument in favour of thesis)

Thesis statement

The thesis statement is divided into two parts: your opinion, and your reasons.​

• Your opinion forms the thesis, and is a summary of the main argument of your essay. ​ 
• Your reasons form the road map, the arguments you'll put forth to support your opinion. ​​

Each supporting argument forms the basis of the topic sentences in the body of the essay. ​

Thesis statement

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are the best type of sandwich 

= YOUR OPINION = YOUR THESIS

because they are versatile, easy to make, and taste good

= YOUR REASONS / ARGUMENTS = YOUR ROAD MAP

Thesis statement

Students should have a part-time job during high school because it helps build character, teaches financial responsibility and prepares them for the future.  

What is the thesis?

What is the road map?

Students should have a part-time job during high school because it helps build character, teaches financial responsibility and prepares them for the future.

What is the thesis?
What is the road map?

Thesis statement

Students should have a part-time job during high school 

= YOUR OPINION = YOUR THESIS

because it helps build character, teaches financial responsibility and prepares them for the future.

= YOUR REASONS / ARGUMENTS = YOUR ROAD MAP  

Thesis statement

1. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are the best type of sandwich because they are versatile, easy to make, and taste good.

2. Students should have a part-time job during high school because it helps build character, teaches financial responsibility and prepares them for the future.  

Thesis statement

• Thesis statement: 1 or 2 sentences
• Thesis and road map are linked with a linking word: 'because' / That is why'
• Thesis statement is written in the third person (it is your opinion, but state it as a fact. No 'I think' or 'in my opinion')
• Use strong and definitive language

            Modals: should, must, have to ​
            Comparatives or superlatives 

What two elements does a thesis statement consist of?

What is a road map?

What kind of language should you use in your thesis statement?

What is the thesis and what is the roadmap

As online learning becomes more common and more and more resources are converted to digital form, some people have suggested that public libraries should be shut down and, in their place, everyone should be given an iPad with an e-reader subscription.

what is the thesis and what is the roadmap?

What is the thesis and what is the road map 

thesis: public libraries should be shut down

roadmap: and everyone should be given an I-pad and a subscription to an e-reader

Malaria is an infectious disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through female Anopheles mosquitoes. Each year, over half a billion people will become infected with malaria, with roughly 80% of them living in Sub-Saharan Africa. Nearly half a million people die of malaria every year, most of them young children under the age of five. Unlike many other infectious diseases, the death toll for malaria is rising. While there have been many programs designed to improve access to malaria treatment, the best way to reduce the impact of malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa is to focus on reducing the number of people who contract the disease in the first place, rather than waiting to treat the disease after the person is already infected.

What is the thesis and what is the roadmap

thesis: the best way to reduce the impact of malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa is to focus on reducing the number of people who contract the disease

roadmap: rather than waiting to treat the disease after the person is already infected.

Some people prefer to do most of their shopping online. This has both positive and negative effects for individuals, businesses and society. Are there more advantages or more disadvantages of online shopping?

create a thesis and a roadmap

One thing that is certain is that the world has become more connected and this growth in online shopping has become a necessity to satisfy the modern consumer. Without it, consumers wouldn't be able to benefit from the global trade market and businesses would be limited in expanding their sales market

thesis: online shopping has become a necessity to satisfy modern consumer needs

roadmap: consumers can benefit from shopping globally and businesses can expand their sales market

- write your introduction 

- hook/anecdote

- information

-thesis

- roadmap (reasons)