The Thesis Sentence

1. The Thesis Sentence

2. Question: What is a thesis sentence? • Expresses central idea of your essay. • Previews specific points covered in body paragraphs Students who believe that intelligence can groware less helpless, fear making mistakes less, and get higher grades.

3. Topic + Key Points = Thesis sentence • are less helpless • fear making mistakes less • earn higher grades Question: What is a thesis sentence? Topic + Key Points Topic Students who believe they can become smarter

4. A thesis sentence is . . . • your “what’s the point?” • the main idea you want to express • what you want your readers to know • your message

5. Its purpose is to • Show why your topic is important • Preview your approach • Lead the reader into the essay broad context narrowed topic

6. One type of introduction is a funnel: New research shows that beliefs about intelligence influence success. Some think of intelligence as a fixed quantity,while others believe that it changes as the result of effort and new learning. Students who believe that intelligence can change are less likely to be helpless, fear making mistakes less, and get higher grades. • Put your topicin context • Show why it matters • Move from broad to narrowwith the ladder of abstraction

7. specific; concrete Use the ladder of abstraction for context the universe and everything in it life abstract; general carbon-basedlifeforms animals mammals livestock cows Bessie

8. Use the ladder of abstraction for context the universe and everything in it life abstract; general carbon-basedlifeforms • Avoid “Since the dawn of time…” animals • Aim for the middle or lower mammals • Start one rung above your topic to get context livestock specific; concrete cows Bessie

9. Use the ladder of abstraction for context the universe and everything in it research into intelligence:• IQ• emotional intelligence • beliefs about intelligence• “scientist in the crib”… New research shows that beliefs about intelligence influence success. Some think of intelligence as a fixed quantity,while others believe that it changes as the result of effort and new learning. Students who believe that intelligence can change are less likely to be helpless, fear making mistakes less, and get higher grades. characteristics of intelligence; e.g., fixed or not person’s intelligence

10. Where is your topic on the ladder? the universe and everything in it abstract; general • Avoid “Since the dawn of time…” • Aim for the middle or lower • Start one rung above your topic to get context specific; concrete Your topic

11. A thesis does • generally appear at the end of the introduction • limit the topic to a few key areas (three key points) • indicate the kind of support to follow • help to organize the supporting material • use precise wording

12. Avoid openings like these • “I am going to tell you about….” • “My essay will explain….” • From the dawn of time, people have wondered…. • In fact, avoid I and you as much as possible.

13. Use third person • First person (I, we, us) is subjective • You works for instructions, but can make you lazy(You might write As you know, when readers don’t know —or don’t agree) • Third person (he, she, they) is objective First person As a mother of three, I know how hard it is tobe a single parent. Every day is a new challenge. Third person Parenting is not an easy task, but single parents face unique challenges: managing on oneincome, acting as both mother andfather, and building a supportnetwork. True for you—is it true for all? Writing like an expert—generally true

14. One way to find a thesis: • Answer your research question. Q. Can sleep help you lose weight? A. Lack of sleep disrupts the hormones thatcontrol appetite, store calories, and regulate metabolism. Q. What causes autism? A. Researchers have identified several possible causes, including food allergies, heavy metal toxicity, and mirror neuron disfunction.

15. How does the thesis impact my career? • Consider this scenario. • In a meeting, the leader says: We have just expanded our territory. How are we going to increase sales over the next quarter?

16. Career impact of thesis skill continued . . . • Whose response to this question is going to make a better impression and get more done? • We can hire more salespeople. • Since the territory is larger, the company needs as to add many accounts as possible; new salespeople can scout new, smaller accounts, while more experienced salespeople focus on big accounts, existing and new.