Lesson 4:
THESIS STATEMENT
OF AN ACADEMIC
TEXT
Questions:
1. Have you ever written an essay
before?
2. How did you write your essay?
3. Was it difficult to write an
essay?
4. Which part is difficult?
Learning Objectives:
States the thesis statement of an
academic text
Define thesis statement;
Identify the various techniques in
locating thesis statement; and
Formulate thesis statement of the
Activity:
Read the two statements shown
on the slide. Analyze, then identify
which statement is better than the
other?
Reading develops Reading can
a child's mind by develop a child's
fostering analytical mind
comprehension skills,
increasing vocabulary,
and exposing them to
new worlds they
might not otherwise
encounter.
Writing is an activity that
requires organization. Although it
sometimes starts as a chaotic
process, much preparation is
needed. Therefore, as ideas arise,
there are two important
components to consider – the
thesis statement and the outline.
What is thesis statement?
It is a statement that summarizes your topic
and declares your position on it.
It is one sentence that expresses the main
idea of a research paper or essay, such as an
expository essay or argumentative essay.
It makes a claim, directly answering a
question.
It tells the reader how you will interpret the
significance of the subject matter under
Generally, your thesis statement can be the
last line of the first paragraph in your academic
paper or essay.
It is usually a single sentence near the
beginning of your paper (most often, at the end
of the first paragraph) that presents your
argument to the reader.
It is written in a declarative sentence.
THESIS STATEMENT- is the overall
idea or argument of your work. It is
a general statement that presents
essential points that leads the
reader to the right direction. Your
thesis statement makes all parts of
your work stick together.
Example:
The ASEAN region is a dynamic
system because it capitalizes on
cultural diversity, rich resources
and a variety of perspectives.
The thesis statement contains the main
idea that the ASEAN region is a dynamic
system. In order to support this, there are
three points that need elaboration –
cultural diversity, resources, and a variety
of perspectives.
These three points will then be
developed in each paragraph in order to
make the main idea a well elaborated one.
NOTE: A thesis statement is different
from a topic sentence in two aspects.
1.The thesis statement is the main
idea of an essay. An essay has
several paragraphs. The thesis
statement covers the main idea of
the essay. A topic sentence serves as
the main idea of a paragraph.
2. The thesis statement contains at
least two supporting points which are
developed in succeeding paragraphs.
A topic sentence usually has just one
supporting point.
Where does a Thesis Statement go?
Your thesis should be stated
somewhere in the opening paragraphs
of your paper, most often at the last
sentence of the introduction.
How do you write a Thesis Statement?
The kind of thesis statement you
write will depend on the type of paper
you are writing. Here is how to write
the different kinds of thesis
statements:
Argumentative Thesis Statement: Maki
ng a Claim
An argumentative thesis states the
topic of your paper, your position on
the topic, and the reasons you have
for taking that position.
Analytical Thesis Statement: Analyzing
an Issue
An analytical thesis states the
topic of your paper, what specifically
you analyzed, and the conclusion(s)
you reached as a result of that
analysis.
Expository Thesis Statement: Explainin
g a Topic
An expository thesis statement
states the topic of your paper and lists
the key aspects of your topic that will
be discussed in the paper.
QUALITIES OF A
STRONG THESIS
STATEMENT
Specificity. A thesis statement must
concentrate on a specific area of a
general topic. The creation of a thesis
statement begins when you choose a
broad subject and then narrow down
its parts until you pinpoint a specific
aspect of that topic.
Precision. A strong thesis statement
must be precise enough to allow for a
coherent argument and to remain
focused on the topic.
Ability to be argued. A thesis
statement must present a relevant and
specific argument. A factual statement
often is not considered arguable. Be
sure your thesis statement contains a
point of view that can be supported
with evidence.
Ability to be demonstrated. For any claim
you make in your thesis, you must be able
to provide reasons and examples for your
opinion. You can rely on personal
observations in order to do this, or you can
consult outside sources to demonstrate
that what you assert is valid. A worthy
argument is backed by examples and
details.
Forcefulness. A thesis statement that
is forceful shows readers that you are,
in fact, making an argument. The tone
is assertive and takes a stance that
others might oppose.
Confidence. You must also use confidence in
your claim. Phrases such as I feel or I
believe actually weaken the readers’ sense of
your confidence because these phrases imply
that you are the only person who feels the way
you do. In other words, your stance has
insufficient backing. Taking an authoritative
stance on the matter persuades your readers to
have faith in your argument and open their
minds to what you have to say.
Examples:
1. Pornography is harmful to society because it
depersonalizes and dehumanizes sexuality;
and it is degrading and oppressive to
women.
2. Welfare benefits for single mothers should
not be eliminated as it helps to prevent
hunger and poverty among our country’s
most helpless citizens - our children.
3. Libraries are essential resources for
communities and should be funded more
heavily by local municipalities
4. Corporations should provide more work
from home opportunities and six-hour
workdays so that office workers have a
better work-life balance and are more
likely to be productive when they are in
the office.
5. Having a diverse group of people in an
office setting leads to richer ideas, more
cooperation, and more empathy between
people with different skin colors or
backgrounds
Exercise: Craft a suitable thesis statement and
supporting points to develop using the following
words:
1.Recyclable Bags – Problematic Production –
Added Resources Needed – Increased Cost
2.Political Dynasties – Stifles Development –
Monopolizes Resources – Limits People’s
Choices
3.Cycling – Cheap Method of Travel –
Sustainable Transport – Health Benefits
QUIZ TIME!
½ sheet of paper,
crosswise
Test I: True or False. Write your
name if the statement is TRUE.
Otherwise, write the name of your
crush/gf/bf.
1. A thesis statement is a simple
statement of fact.
2. Locating the thesis statement
or topic sentence while reading
a text can save time.
4. The thesis statement is presented
at the beginning of the introduction.
5. A paragraph can consist of two or
more topic sentences.
6. The thesis statement of a text is in
question form.
7. You don’t have to read the full text
if you know how to spot its thesis
statement.
9. A thesis statement is a
roadmap of a paper; it tells the
reader what the paper will focus
on.
10. A good thesis statement is a
broad generalization about a
topic.
11. The statement, “Yankee
Doodle restaurant is a great place
12. The “blue printed” thesis
statement is a statement that
includes the main areas of support
in the order you will introduce
them in your essay and, thus, acts
as a blue print for the essay.
13. By observing the writing
purpose of the author, you can
determine the type of thesis
15. A thesis statement should
always be located at the
beginning of the introduction.
Test II: Answer the question briefly.
In writing academic texts, why is it
important to write a thesis
Performance Task:
Select a topic from the list, then
write a good thesis statement.
Remember to consider the
qualities of a good thesis
statement.
Topics:
Homelessness Poverty Mental Health
Exploitation Violence Contraceptives
Social Inequality Diet Internet Censorship
Discrimination Child Labor Artificial Intelligence
Unemployment Corruption Stereotyping
Technology Food Hate Crimes
Climate Change LGBTQ+ Human Rights
Digital Divide Politics Freedom of Speech
Substance Abuse Smoking Sex Education
THANK YOU!
