critiquing a thesis statement quiz

Thesis Statement

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• Q 1 / 11 Score 0 A thesis statement communicates the main point of an essay and expresses the writer's position. For many academic essays, a thesis statement should be one sentence long. You'll usually place your thesis at the end of your first paragraph, which will be your introductory paragraph. What is a thesis statement? 29 A sentence written at the begininning of a paragraph A sentence found in the introduction A one sentence long position The main point of an essay that expresses the writer's position

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• Q 1 A thesis statement communicates the main point of an essay and expresses the writer's position. For many academic essays, a thesis statement should be one sentence long. You'll usually place your thesis at the end of your first paragraph, which will be your introductory paragraph. What is a thesis statement? A sentence written at the begininning of a paragraph A sentence found in the introduction A one sentence long position The main point of an essay that expresses the writer's position 30 s
• Q 2 Having a good thesis statement is useful for you, as it will help you stay on track as you write the rest of your essay. If a point doesn't support or relate to your thesis statement, you'll know you'll need to cut that point out. A good thesis also helps your reader. If your thesis statement is clear, a reader can know what to expect in your paper right from the start. What do you need to do if a point doesn't support or relate to your thesis statement? Write about something else Cut that point out Leave it and make it work Revise the thesis statement 30 s
• Q 3 You can pull the fundamental components for your thesis statement from your writing prompt or the topic idea that you've come up with. Because a thesis statement - particularly for a persuasive essay - should clearly present your position on a debatable topic, we can approach this in a straightforward way and try to answer the key question clearly. In order to formulate our answer, we should refer back to our prewriting, in which we generated some ideas for this particular prompt. As we determine how to answer the key question from our writing prompt, we'll first need to create a PRO and CON list. How do you begin developing a thesis statement? Brainstorm ideas, and make a PRO and CON list Write your thesis statement and check to see if it matches the prompt Begin with the prompt, refer to your prewriting, and make a PRO and CON list Make a PRO and CON list 45 s
• Q 4 Though it's certainly not a required format, some students - and writing instructors - like to use a should ... because structure for thesis statements for persuasive essays. This approach allows you to state your position clearly as well as your reasoning for that position. Add a because clause to your thesis statement. You won't need to make up your because reasoning on the fly. Instead, you can draw your reasoning directly from your brainstorming ideas. What does your best thesis statement need? a because clause enough words for a sentence evidence structure 45 s
• Q 5 There are a few things that a thesis statement should accomplish. Your thesis will be the central point of your essay; everything else that you write in your paper should revolve around and directly support your thesis. Here are two key points to remember: Don't make any points in your thesis that won't be in the rest of your paper. Don't make your thesis so vague that it doesn't really communicate anything of substance. What does your thesis statement accomplish? It is what the reader is looking for to read the paper. It is the central point of the essay that everything else revolves around and supports It is the sentence that lets the reader know you have strong reasoning skills It directs the reader to your conclusion. 45 s
• Q 6 Your thesis statement should be specific, but not so overly detailed that it can't be one concise sentence. If you end up with a thesis statement that is so overly detailed that it's a bit cumbersome, it may be a good idea to edit it. You don't need to include every major point from your paper in your thesis statement - just the major point or points that make up the heart of your argument. Remember that your thesis should serve as a guide for both you and your reader. A good thesis can help you stay on track. As you write your body paragraphs, you can ask yourself whether each point directly supports your thesis. Your thesis will also help guide the reader so that he or she knows where your essay is headed and won't be confused about your main point. Do you need to include every major point in your thesis statement? Yes No 45 s
• Q 7 What is a similarity between an overly detailed thesis statement and a vague thesis statement? There is no similarity, they are two completely different types of thesis statements. In both cases, you will need more than the required one sentence. In both cases, it will make constructing your arguments more difficult. In both cases, the thesis statement would make it more difficult for the reader to follow your arguments. 30 s
• Q 8 How does a well-written thesis statement help the reader? It succinctly summarizes the points made in the essay. It helps to introduce the sources to be used in the essay. It introduces the points to be made in the essay. It articulates both sides of the issue being discussed. 30 s
• Q 9 Why is a thesis statement the most important component of an essay? It introduces the topic to be covered in the essay. It tells the main point of the essay as well as the writer's position. It summarizes the issues raised in the essay. It effectively explains both sides of a particular issue. 30 s
• Q 10 A should ... because format for thesis statements in persuasive essays _____. allows you to state your position clearly as well as your reasoning for that position allows you to reach a conclusion on your position allows you to place your thesis statement later in your essay without causing confusion allows you to explore both sides of a given topic 30 s
• Q 11 You can make use of ideas that you generated during prewriting/brainstorming _____. to decide how to order your body paragraphs to interpret the writing prompt to write your concluding paragraph to draft the because clause in your thesis statement 30 s

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Evaluating a Thesis Statement Quiz

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Fill in all the gaps, then press "Check" to check your answers. Use the "Hint" button to get a free letter if an answer is giving you trouble. You can also click on the "[?]" button to get a clue. Note that you will lose points if you ask for hints or clues!

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Writing a Paper: Thesis Statements

Basics of thesis statements.

The thesis statement is the brief articulation of your paper's central argument and purpose. You might hear it referred to as simply a "thesis." Every scholarly paper should have a thesis statement, and strong thesis statements are concise, specific, and arguable. Concise means the thesis is short: perhaps one or two sentences for a shorter paper. Specific means the thesis deals with a narrow and focused topic, appropriate to the paper's length. Arguable means that a scholar in your field could disagree (or perhaps already has!).

Strong thesis statements address specific intellectual questions, have clear positions, and use a structure that reflects the overall structure of the paper. Read on to learn more about constructing a strong thesis statement.

Being Specific

This thesis statement has no specific argument:

Needs Improvement: In this essay, I will examine two scholarly articles to find similarities and differences.

This statement is concise, but it is neither specific nor arguable—a reader might wonder, "Which scholarly articles? What is the topic of this paper? What field is the author writing in?" Additionally, the purpose of the paper—to "examine…to find similarities and differences" is not of a scholarly level. Identifying similarities and differences is a good first step, but strong academic argument goes further, analyzing what those similarities and differences might mean or imply.

Better: In this essay, I will argue that Bowler's (2003) autocratic management style, when coupled with Smith's (2007) theory of social cognition, can reduce the expenses associated with employee turnover.

The new revision here is still concise, as well as specific and arguable.  We can see that it is specific because the writer is mentioning (a) concrete ideas and (b) exact authors.  We can also gather the field (business) and the topic (management and employee turnover). The statement is arguable because the student goes beyond merely comparing; he or she draws conclusions from that comparison ("can reduce the expenses associated with employee turnover").

Making a Unique Argument

This thesis draft repeats the language of the writing prompt without making a unique argument:

Needs Improvement: The purpose of this essay is to monitor, assess, and evaluate an educational program for its strengths and weaknesses. Then, I will provide suggestions for improvement.

You can see here that the student has simply stated the paper's assignment, without articulating specifically how he or she will address it. The student can correct this error simply by phrasing the thesis statement as a specific answer to the assignment prompt.

Better: Through a series of student interviews, I found that Kennedy High School's antibullying program was ineffective. In order to address issues of conflict between students, I argue that Kennedy High School should embrace policies outlined by the California Department of Education (2010).

Words like "ineffective" and "argue" show here that the student has clearly thought through the assignment and analyzed the material; he or she is putting forth a specific and debatable position. The concrete information ("student interviews," "antibullying") further prepares the reader for the body of the paper and demonstrates how the student has addressed the assignment prompt without just restating that language.

Creating a Debate

This thesis statement includes only obvious fact or plot summary instead of argument:

Needs Improvement: Leadership is an important quality in nurse educators.

A good strategy to determine if your thesis statement is too broad (and therefore, not arguable) is to ask yourself, "Would a scholar in my field disagree with this point?" Here, we can see easily that no scholar is likely to argue that leadership is an unimportant quality in nurse educators.  The student needs to come up with a more arguable claim, and probably a narrower one; remember that a short paper needs a more focused topic than a dissertation.

Better: Roderick's (2009) theory of participatory leadership  is particularly appropriate to nurse educators working within the emergency medicine field, where students benefit most from collegial and kinesthetic learning.

Here, the student has identified a particular type of leadership ("participatory leadership"), narrowing the topic, and has made an arguable claim (this type of leadership is "appropriate" to a specific type of nurse educator). Conceivably, a scholar in the nursing field might disagree with this approach. The student's paper can now proceed, providing specific pieces of evidence to support the arguable central claim.

Choosing the Right Words

This thesis statement uses large or scholarly-sounding words that have no real substance:

Needs Improvement: Scholars should work to seize metacognitive outcomes by harnessing discipline-based networks to empower collaborative infrastructures.

There are many words in this sentence that may be buzzwords in the student's field or key terms taken from other texts, but together they do not communicate a clear, specific meaning. Sometimes students think scholarly writing means constructing complex sentences using special language, but actually it's usually a stronger choice to write clear, simple sentences. When in doubt, remember that your ideas should be complex, not your sentence structure.

Better: Ecologists should work to educate the U.S. public on conservation methods by making use of local and national green organizations to create a widespread communication plan.

Notice in the revision that the field is now clear (ecology), and the language has been made much more field-specific ("conservation methods," "green organizations"), so the reader is able to see concretely the ideas the student is communicating.

Leaving Room for Discussion

This thesis statement is not capable of development or advancement in the paper:

Needs Improvement: There are always alternatives to illegal drug use.

This sample thesis statement makes a claim, but it is not a claim that will sustain extended discussion. This claim is the type of claim that might be appropriate for the conclusion of a paper, but in the beginning of the paper, the student is left with nowhere to go. What further points can be made? If there are "always alternatives" to the problem the student is identifying, then why bother developing a paper around that claim? Ideally, a thesis statement should be complex enough to explore over the length of the entire paper.

Better: The most effective treatment plan for methamphetamine addiction may be a combination of pharmacological and cognitive therapy, as argued by Baker (2008), Smith (2009), and Xavier (2011).

In the revised thesis, you can see the student make a specific, debatable claim that has the potential to generate several pages' worth of discussion. When drafting a thesis statement, think about the questions your thesis statement will generate: What follow-up inquiries might a reader have? In the first example, there are almost no additional questions implied, but the revised example allows for a good deal more exploration.

Thesis Mad Libs

If you are having trouble getting started, try using the models below to generate a rough model of a thesis statement! These models are intended for drafting purposes only and should not appear in your final work.

• In this essay, I argue ____, using ______ to assert _____.
• While scholars have often argued ______, I argue______, because_______.
• Through an analysis of ______, I argue ______, which is important because_______.

Words to Avoid and to Embrace

When drafting your thesis statement, avoid words like explore, investigate, learn, compile, summarize , and explain to describe the main purpose of your paper. These words imply a paper that summarizes or "reports," rather than synthesizing and analyzing.

Instead of the terms above, try words like argue, critique, question , and interrogate . These more analytical words may help you begin strongly, by articulating a specific, critical, scholarly position.

Read Kayla's blog post for tips on taking a stand in a well-crafted thesis statement.

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Thesis Statement

5th - 7th grade

19 questions

Introducing new   Paper mode

No student devices needed.   Know more

• 1. Multiple Choice Edit 5 minutes 1 pt The thesis statement should include your opinion on the on the points your are analyzing. True False

Where should a thesis statement appear?

In the introduction

In the first body paragraph

In the conclusion

In the first sentence of every paragraph

What three items make up a thesis statement?

identification of topic, claim (what you believe), and direction (reasons)

topic sentence, introduction, and conclusion

introduction, body, and conclusion

reason 1, reason 2, and reason 3

• 4. Multiple Choice Edit 5 minutes 1 pt Which of the following is a major component of any thesis? making a claim providing an amusing anecdote being at least three sentences only providing facts

Choose the strong thesis.

I would like to become a chef when I finish school

Although both chefs and cooks can prepare fine meals, chefs differ from cooks in education, professional commitment, and artistry.

• 6. Multiple Choice Edit 5 minutes 1 pt What is the purpose of the thesis? To remind your reader what your paper is about To state your opinion or claim and prove it To hook the reader's attention To use vocabulary words
• 7. Multiple Choice Edit 5 minutes 1 pt The thesis statement should express a main idea that links to supporting points True False
• 9. Multiple Choice Edit 15 minutes 1 pt Which CLAIM is the strongest for the following thesis statements? Violent video games are harmful for young people to play. Violent video games are harmful to young people, and it should be stopped. Violent video games are harmful for young people to play because  children can become desensitized to death. Violent video games are harmful for young people because they should be reading a book.

What can be found in the last sentence of your first paragraph and the first sentence in your last paragraph?

Topic Sentence

Ms Blake-Whitney

• 11. Multiple Choice Edit 15 minutes 1 pt A thesis statement should not directly announce your topic by using phrases such as, "This essay will talk about ........" Which of the following makes the best thesis statement? A. Even though marriage is a strong and respected institution in Russia, more and more people are choosing to live together before marriage, despite the cultural pressures. B. I am going to explain why many couples in Russia are choosing to live together rather than getting married. C. Marriage in Russia.
• 12. Multiple Choice Edit 15 minutes 1 pt A thesis statement is a complete sentence. A thesis statement is not a question. Which of these is a thesis statement? A. Knowing a foreign language. B. Why should people know a foreign language? C. Knowing a foreign language is a very useful skill.  It can help one advance in a career, relate better to others, and open one's mind to the ideas of another culture.

A thesis statement states an attitude or opinion on a topic. It doesn't just state the topic, itself. A thesis should not be a fact.

Which of these is a thesis statement?

A. Michelangelo's artwork is famous and admired by many.

B. Michelangelo's artwork is powerful because of its strong spiritual undertones.

C. Michelangelo was a great artist in Rome during 1500's.

What is a Thesis?

A vegetable sold at the farmer's market

3 sentences that create an introduction

1 sentence that controls the essay, located in the intro

An example of the prompt

• 15. Multiple Choice Edit 15 minutes 1 pt A Thesis should be: Clear and Focused In the conclusion of an essay Growing in your backyard Written with in the first person POV
• 16. Multiple Choice Edit 15 minutes 1 pt A thesis statement should be arguable. True False

Choose the best thesis:

A true friend is someone who you can always count on supporting you.

A friendship is something you can see grow like a tree.

True friendship isn't real, everyone is out for themselves.

All of the above.

Honesty is the best policy.

It is important to be honest so you have trust from your peers.

Being honest is an imprtant part of life because it tells who you are.

You don't always have to be honest, sometimes you need to lie.

The best way to save money is by buying lottery tickets.

Money is the lifeblood of America.

Don't save money, use it. We don't take anything when we die.

Saving money is like planting a tree. The best way to do it is to start small and wait for it to grow.

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