The 3-Point Thesis Statement

Mrs. Walton-Bayne

The Thesis Statement

• What do you know about it?• Take a minute to brainstorm with a

classmate:• What is it?• When do you use one?• Why do you need one?• How does it work?• Where does it go?• What does it do?

The Thesis Statement:

• Every essay should have a thesis statement.

• It is a single declarative sentence that states the main idea of an essay.

• It answers a question

(or a writing prompt).

Basic Thesis Statement Examples

Writing prompt: What is your favorite time of year?

Thesis statement: Spring is definitely the best time of year.

Writing prompt: Should students have to go to school year round?

Thesis Statement: Students absolutely should not have to go to school all year long.

What did you notice?

• A thesis statement answers the question AND states the main idea of the essay – all in one clear and concise sentence.

• It restates the question.

• It tells the reader WHAT you will be explaining throughout the rest of the essay (this also helps keep you focused!)

The 3-Point Thesis Statement• Let’s take it to the next level:

• In the same sentence, give three reasons for your answer.

• Hint: These three reasons will become the topics of your three body paragraphs.

• Your thesis statement now gives a basic outline of your paper.

• Tip: Put your best reason last!

3-Point Thesis Examples:Spring is definitely the best time of year.

Spring is definitely the best time of year because there are more hours of sunshine, it gets warmer outside, and all the plants start to bloom and turn green.

Notice the word because comes

after the answer and before the

3 reasons why.

3-Point Thesis Examples:Students absolutely should not have to go to

school year round.

Students absolutely should not have to go to school year round because they deserve a break, it’s too hot in the summer for them to work, and students and teachers all come back refreshed after a nice break.

Your turn!• Should students be allowed to eat snacks in the

classroom? Why or why not?

• Students (should / should not) be allowed to eat snacks in the classroom because ______, _________, and ________.

Answer Reason #1Reason #2Reason #3

Your turn!• Where would you like for your class to go on a

field trip and why?

• If I could take my class anywhere on a field trip, we would go to ___________ because _______, __________, and __________.

Answer Reason #1Reason #2Reason #3

Where Does the Thesis Go?• You don’t actually start the paper with your

thesis statement.

• You start your introduction paragraph with a catchy FADDQQ!

• Fill in some more details to create interest…

hint at the points in your thesis statement.

• Then put the thesis statement at the end of the introduction paragraph.

Where would you take your class on a field trip? Why?.

Have you ever been snorkeling or scuba diving in the crystal clear ocean on a warm sunny day with brightly colored tropical fish swimming all around you? If you have never been snorkeling, then you are missing out. I have only done it once, but I will never forget how amazing it felt to be down in the water with all of those fish swimming around me. There is so much we can learn just by exploring. If I could take my class anywhere on a field trip, we would all go snorkeling because we could learn a great deal about life in our ocean, the feeling of being weightless like a fish is amazing, and the beauty of the marine habitat is quite extraordinary.

Your turn!Create thesis sentences for the following prompts.

Pick one of your thesis statements and develop it into a full introduction paragraph (5-8 sentences).

• Should schools require students to raise money for school activities? Explain your answer.

• Do you think students should be allowed use their cell phones during the school day? Why?

• If you could live anywhere in the world, where would that be? Why?

• Write to explain about your ideal or dream job.

Intro Paragraph Grading Criteria• Is there a good FADDQQ?• Are there 5-8 sentences?• Do the sentences hint at what is in the thesis

statement?• Does the writing have good “voice”?• Is the thesis at the end of the paragraph?• Does the thesis answer and restate the question?• Does the thesis have three points?• Is it clear and well written?

Give the paragraph a 1 (lowest) through a 6 (highest).

Point out 2 good things, and make 1 suggestion.

Thesis Statements & Topic Sentences

Thesis statements provide the main ideas of each of the body paragraphs (the 3 reasons why).

Each body paragraph needs a topic sentence.

What does a topic sentence do?• It provides one of the reasons why.

• It makes a strong declarative statement.

• It states the main idea of the paragraph.

• It helps you stay focused as you’re writing!

Spring is definitely the best time of year because there are more hours of sunshine, it gets warmer outside, and all the plants start to bloom and turn green.

Topic Sentence #1: One of the greatest things about spring is that the sun begins to stay out longer, so we have more hours of sunshine every day.

Topic Sentence #2: More sunshine also brings warm weather, and warm weather is one of the best reasons to love spring.

Topic Sentence #3: My favorite thing about spring is how beautiful and alive everything looks: the fresh flowers, the new leaves on the trees, and the new green grass. .

Now you have an outline!

• All that’s left now is to fill in the details, add some “voice” or personality, and make sure to move smoothly (or transition) from one paragraph to the next.

• Make sure your grammar is good.

• Oh – one more thing: the conclusion paragraph!

Basics of the Conclusion Paragraph

Use different wording to:

• Restate your answer to the question

• Remind the reader about your reasons

• Make a new and interesting comment about one of your reasons

• Use 5-8 sentences

End with something memorable!

Hint: Yes, you can use a FADDQQ!

Odyssey Thesis Statement

• Odysseus is / is not a hero because __________, _________, and _________.

5-Paragraph Essay Topic:• Write about heroism in the Odyssey.

• Let’s put that in question form:

• Is Odysseus a hero? How? Explain your answer.