Thesis Statement Practice

Name______Date: ______Pd: ______

Thesis Statement Practice 5 A thesis statement is one sentence which expresses the main idea of your paper.

A thesis statement: 1. provides author with a direction to write his or her paper; and 2. provides the reader with an idea as to what the paper will be about.

In the activities that follow, construct a thesis statement for each of the topic questions. For each question, 1. write a declaration (you opinion on the topic), 2. three reasons to support your declaration, 3. one reason to oppose your declaration, 4. and a thesis statement for each.

The first example has been completed for you. Follow this example closely for the remaining five topic questions.

Topic Question Should high school students have a curfew?

Declaration/ High school students should have an enforced curfew. Opinion on the Topic

Three Reasons to 1. Students are less likely to get into trouble if they are home. Support your Opinion 2. Students need their rest for school.

3. Being behind the wheel of a vehicle during the early morning hours increases their chances of accidents.

One Reason to 1. The police officers have more important things to worry about than Oppose your whether or not a high school student is out after curfew. Opinion

Thesis Statement Even though police officers have more important things to worry about, high school students should have an enforced curfew because students need their rest for school, are less likely to get into trouble, or have accidents if the curfew is enforced. Topic Question Imagine your school cafeteria plans to change to a new, healthier school lunch menu, which would eliminate some of the students’ favorite cafeteria foods. Take a position on this issue and write to convince your principal whether this change to the school menu is a good idea or a bad idea. Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.

Declaration/ Opinion on the Topic

Three Reasons to 1. Support your Opinion 2.

One Reason to 1. Oppose your Opinion

Thesis Statement

Topic Question It has been said, “Failure is not the worst thing in the world. The very worst is not to try.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Take a position on this issue. Use reasons and specific examples to support your opinion.

Thesis Statement

Topic Question Some people believe that students should be required to take a music, a drama, or an art class. Should students be required to take a class in the arts, or should such classes be electives? Take a position on this issue. Use reasons and specific examples to support your position.

Thesis Statement

Topic Question The great artist Michelangelo once said, “The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.” Do you agree or disagree with Michelangelo’s statement? Take a position on this issue. Support your response with details and specific examples.

Thesis Statement

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