how to write a real-world thesis statement
DESCRIPTION
A series of questions and activities that help you brainstorm a thesis statement... on anything you want! Also known as: How to plan your 2Fer paper at SLATRANSCRIPT
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How to Writea Real-World
Thesis Statement
Also known as: How to plan your 2Fer paper at SLA
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At SLA, students in the 11th grade write a two-page paper every two weeks… on any topic they want.
In order to help them develop quality thesis statements, I produced a series of activities.
It begins with one basic question:
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Why is the world the way that it is?
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Why is the world the way that it is?
Ok, that’s the vaguest
question ever. You could
answer this for the rest of
your life and barely scratch the surface. So it’s
time to zoom in…
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Why is ________ the way that it is?
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Why is ________ the way that it is?
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Why is ________ the way that it is?
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Why is ________ the way that it is?
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Why are high schools the way that they are?
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Narrow it down!
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Narrow it down!Patterns and Themes
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Narrow it down!Patterns and Themes
Past, Present, and Future
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Narrow it down!Patterns and Themes
Past, Present, and FutureCause and Effect
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Narrow it down!Patterns and Themes
Past, Present, and FutureCause and Effect
Unusual Connections
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Narrow it down!Patterns and Themes
Past, Present, and FutureCause and Effect
Unusual ConnectionsExpectations vs. Reality
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Why are high schools _______?
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Why are high schools _______?
Why are they so similar across the country?
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Why are high schools _______?
Why are they so similar across the country?
Why are they divided intoCore subjects?
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Why are high schools _______?
Why are they so similar across the country?
Why are they divided intoCore subjects?
Why are they so focusedon grades and rankings?
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Why are high schools _______?
Why are they so similar across the country?
Why are they divided intoCore subjects?
Why are they so focusedon grades and rankings?
Why do so many students drop out, when most people agree that high school ed. Is essential?
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A question is NOT a thesis statement.
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You must ANSWER the question!
Why are they so similar across the country?
Why are they divided intoCore subjects?
Why are they so focusedon grades and rankings?
Why do so many students drop out, when most people agree that high school ed. Is essential?
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Unique, Insightful, and Debatable
And remember, your final thesis statement should set out to be
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Try making your own thesis statement by answering one
of these Q’s now.
Why are they so similar across the country?
Why are they divided intoCore subjects?
Why are they so focusedon grades and rankings?
Why do so many students drop out, when most people agree that high school ed. Is essential?
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High schools are all so similar because…
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High schools are so focused on grades and rankings
because…
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Remember, it all comes down to…
Why is ________ the way that it is?
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Photo credits:
Slide 6: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kathycsus/408020988/sizes/l/in/photostream/
Slide 7: http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/5391637466/in/set-72157625788363887/
Slide 8, 9, 25: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dystopos/195707530/sizes/l/in/photostream/
Slide 26: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pjern/2150874047/in/photostream/ Slide 27:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fsse-info/2792355658/sizes/l/in/photostream/
E-mail me at: Lpahomov at scienceleadership dot org