WRITING A

THESIS
STATEMENT
Reading & Writing Level 2

WHAT IS A THESIS STATEMENT?

A sentence that tells the topic and main idea

of an essay.
It is the most important sentence in an
essay.
It is similar to a topic sentence. (A topic
sentence tells the topic and main idea of a
paragraph.)

WRITE A THESIS IN 2 EASY STEPS

Turn the prompt into a question (or create

a question if only a topic is given).

Answer the question in one sentence.

LETS TRY..WRITE A THESIS FOR

THIS PROMPT
Prompt 1:

Write an essay describing an advertisement and

explain whether or not you think it is effective.

EXAMPLE THESIS QUESTIONS:

Why do you think the advertisement is

effective or not effective?

Do you think the advertisement is effective?

EXAMPLE THESIS STATEMENTS:

I think the advertisement is effective because

it is eye-catching and convinces people to buy

the product.
I think the advertisement is effective.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOUR

THESIS STATEMENT IS A CLAIM!

A claim is a a statement that can be argued.

Think of it as an opinion that you can

support with facts, reasons, examples or
explanations.

Is your thesis statement a claim?

REMEMBER .
You need to support your thesis with body

paragraphs, so make sure you have

enough supporting details to write 2-3 body
paragraphs when you are thinking of what
thesis question and statement to write.

MORE PRACTICE:
WRITE A THESIS QUESTION AND STATEMENT FOR THE
PROMPTS.

Prompt 2

Write an essay about the strongest person you

know.

Prompt 3

Write about a foreign product that people can

buy in your country. Say whether or not it is
successful and explain why.

Prompt 4

Write your opinion about traveling to Antarctica.

QUESTIONS FOR YOU

Are your thesis statements claims? (can you

argue them with reasons, facts, explanations

or examples?)
Do you have enough supporting details to write

2-3 body paragraphs?

LETS REVIEW
What is a thesis statement?
How do you write one?

What should your thesis statement be?

When writing a thesis statement for an essay,

what do you need to make sure you have enough

of?

WHEN A TEACHER ASKS YOU TO WRITE AN

ESSAY, MAKE SURE TO WRITE THE

THESIS FIRST

Writing a thesis statement first will help you

organize your thoughts and your essay.

(You can always change the thesis later if you

realize you dont have enough supporting
details for body paragraphs or if you realize
your supporting details would better support a
different thesis.)

QUESTIONS FOR ME?