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“WANNA” WRITE A GOOD thesis statement?. Follow these simple steps. First of all,. #1 Write a statement…. NOT an announcement. For example, this is an announcement: “In this essay I am going to talk about crime in Puerto Rico.”. This is a statement :
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“WANNA” WRITE A GOOD thesis statement? Follow these simple steps
First of all, • #1 Write a statement…. NOT an announcement. • For example, this is an announcement: • “In this essay I am going to talk about crime in Puerto Rico.”
This is a statement: • “Crime on our Island has several serious causes such as unemployment, drugs, and deteriorating family values.”
Another announcement: • “How to dance salsa is the topic of my essay.”
Change to: “Rhythm, great musicians and tradition give salsa its popularity.”
Is this a statement or an announcement? • “The topic of this paper is the importance of recycling in Puerto Rico and the world.”
How would you change it? • (Write your answer in your notebook.)
#2 Avoid statements that are too broad. • Example: • “Disease has shaped human history.” • (Why is this a broad statement?)
A possible change could be: • “In the 1980’s, AIDS changed people’s attitudes about dating.” • (Why is this better?) • (How could it be an even better thesis statement?)
“In the 1980’s, AIDS changed people’s attitudes about dating, medical expenses and sex education.” • Now the thesis statement has a 3-point plan of development.
Here’s another example of a broad statement: • “Insects are fascinating insects.” • Why is it too broad? • Write a narrower 3-point thesis statement • in your notebook.
#3 A thesis statement should not be too narrow. • Example: • “Last week classes were suspended due to a tropical storm.” • Why is that statement considered narrow?
How about this one? • “Predicting storms is still an inexact science.” • (Improve that statement even more.”Write your suggestion in your notebook.)
#4 Make sure statements develop only one idea. • “Studying with others has its benefits, but it also has many drawbacks.” • Rewrite this statement using only one main idea.
How about this? • “Three benefits of studying with a partner include dividing up the material to be studied, clarifying doubts, and quizzing each other.”
Let’s review… • A good thesis statement should: • Be a statement, NOT an announcement. • NOT be too broad. • NOT be too narrow. • Develop only one idea. • Have a 3-point plan of development. • Include the topic and the writer’s attitude, opinion, idea, or point of view. • Appear at the end of the introductory paragraph.
Practice exercise: Identify each of the following statements as either too narrow (TN) or too broad (TB). Rewrite each of them so that they are effective thesis statements. • There are excellent athletes in Puerto Rico. • One of our most famous basketball players is José Juan Barea. • This month we commemorate the 24th anniversary of Hurricane Hugo. • UHS is the best school around.