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Coleman’s Thesis Pieces
Steps to Thesis
Writing

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What Are They?
5 pieces which when put together
create an effective thesis.

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Why Use It?
Gives Direction
Guides Way
Limits Topics
Facilitates Ideas
Thesis =
ROAD MAP

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Five Pieces
1. Make Claim
2. Give Reasons
3. Combine Pieces
4. Revise Language
5. Add Counter Argument (optional)

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Make a claim about topic.
Example:
Cats are the best pets.
Thesis Piece 1

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Give reasons for claim with
ending because clause.
Example:
because they purr when happy.
Thesis Piece 2a

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Give reasons for claim with
ending because clause.
Example:
because they are independent.
Thesis Piece 2b

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Give reasons for claim with
ending because clause.
Example:
because they live long lives.
Thesis Piece 2c

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Thesis Piece 3
Combine pieces
Example:
Cats are the best pets
because they purr when
happy, are independent, and
live long lives.

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Thesis Piece 4
Revise and Polish by using…
Strong Verbs
Precise Nouns
Affective Adjectives
Awesome Adverbs
Perfect Punctuation

11.
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Piece 4: Revision Steps
Cats are the best pets because
they purr when happy, are
independent, and live long lives.
Cats make the best companions
because their purr is pleasing,
their care is convenient, and
their lives are long.

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Cats make the best companions
because their purr is pleasing,
their care is convenient, and
their lives are long.
Revised Thesis Sentence

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How Many Body
Paragraphs
Would this
Thesis have?
Revised Thesis Sentence
Cats make
the best
companions
because their
purr is pleasing,
their care is
convenient, and
their lives are
long.

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Optional 5th Thesis Piece
Give alternative positions with
beginning although clause.
Example:
Although the dogs are more
popular than cats,

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Step 5
Optional BUT NOT Required
Might not be applicable for
every essay !!!!

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Although the dogs are more
popular than cats, cats make
the best companions because
their purr is pleasing, their care
is convenient, and their lives are
long.
5th Piece Thesis Sentence

17.
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How Many Body
Paragraphs
Would this
Thesis have?
Revised Thesis Sentence
Although the
dogs are more
popular than cats,
cats make the best
companions because
their purr is
pleasing, their care
is convenient, and
their lives are long.

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Thesis Pieces Review
1. Make Claim
2. Give Reasons
3. Combine Parts
4. Revise Language
5. (optional) Give Alternatives

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Example Progression
Cats are the best pets
Cats are the best pets because they purr
when happy, they are independent, and
they live long live.
Cats make the best companions because
their purr is pleasing, their care is
convenient, and their lives are long.
Although dogs are more popular than cats

20.
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Question (1)
Which of the five Thesis Pieces
could you remove and still have
a good thesis?

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Which of the five Thesis Pieces
could you remove and still have
a good thesis?
Answer: Piece 5 (Give Alternatives)

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Thesis without piece 5
Cats make the best
companions because their
purr is pleasing…
Thesis with piece 5
Although the dog is the more
popular pet, cats make the
best companions because
their purr is pleasing…

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Question (2)
Do you have to revise and polish
the thesis?

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Do you have to revise and polish
the thesis?
Answer: It is possible to leave
out this piece; however, revision
and editing will make the thesis
stronger!

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Thesis without piece 4
Cats are the best pets because
they purr when happy, are
independent, and live long lives.
Thesis with piece 4
Cats make the best companions
because their purr is pleasing, their
care is convenient, and their lives
are long.

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Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Question (3)
Do you have to have three
reasons in your because clause?

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Do you have to have three
reasons in your because clause?
Answer: Of Course Not!

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Thesis with 3 reasons
Cats are the best pets because
they purr when happy, are
independent, and live long lives.
Thesis without 3 reasons
Cats make the best companions
for many reasons.
There are many reasons cats
make the best companions.

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Question (4)
Should my thesis be so
specific? Why wouldn’t it be
better to be more vague?

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Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Should my thesis be so
specific? Why wouldn’t it be
better to be more vague?
Answer: Yes. The thesis is the
road map for your essay. If you
are going from LA to SF, would
you rather have a map of CA or
the entire USA?

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Direct
Route
What’s
all
this?
Unnecessary

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Question (5)
Why should I spend so much time
and effort on thesis?

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Why should I spend so much time
and effort on thesis?
Answer: The thesis performs two
functions. It not only previews
topic and directs your reader, but
also helps you maintain structure
and coherence for the essay!

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Your Turn
Use the Coleman Thesis Pieces to
create a thesis on this topic:
Cigarettes

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Piece 1: Make a Claim
Questions To Ask:
How do you feel about topic?
What do you want to prove?
Is it provable?
WHAT IS YOUR CLAIM?

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Some Examples
College students smoke
too much
Smoking should be restricted
YOUR CLAIM?

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Piece 2: Because Clause
Questions to Ask:
Why is your position valid?
What causes your claim to be
true?
Who supports your ideas?
When is this true?

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Some Examples
because they want to be popular
with their peers.
because it is unhealthy and
addicting.
WHAT IS YOUR BECAUSE?

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Piece 3: Put It Together
Simply add the first 4 pieces
WHAT IS YOUR TOTAL
SENTENCE?

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Piece 5: Give Alternatives
Questions to Ask:
Why disagree with my point?
Who disagrees?
What are other possibilities?

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Some Examples
Although smoking allows people
to be part of a social group,
Although America is the land
of the free,
YOUR ALTERNATIVE?

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Some Examples (1)
Although smoking allows
people to be part of a
social group, college
students smoke too
much because they want
to be popular with their
peers.

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Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Some Examples (2)
Although America is the land of
the free, smoking should be
restricted because it is
unhealthy and addicting.

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Piece 4: Revise & Polish
Questions to Ask
What verbs can you make active?
What vocabulary words can you
make more specific or detailed?
Is there another way to state your
because clause?

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Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Some Examples (1)
Although smoking allows people to be
part of a social group, many students
smoke too much because they want to be
popular with their peers.
Although smoking allows people to
participate in a social group, many
students smoke too much simply to gain
popularity among their peers.

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Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Some Examples (2)
Although America is the land of the
free, smoking should be restricted
because it is unhealthy and addicting.
Although Americans have many
freedoms, smoking should be restricted
because it is unhealthy and addicting.

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More Practice
Complete the following
sentences by filling in the
missing parts.

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Practice Question 1)
Although fast food is
convenient, college students
should avoid eating it
because ______________.

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Practice Question 2)
Although _____________,
cell phones are beneficial
because they provide
convenience and security.

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Practice Question 3)
Although it would allow
drivers to get to work sooner,
the speed limit should not be
raised because __________.

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Practice Question 4)
Although it is difficult for
students to get to class on
time, _________________
because tardiness disrupts
the entire class.

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Practice Question 5)
Although _______________,
TV programs benefit society
because they provide
educational and interesting
shows for students.

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Practice Question 6)
Although many movies use
violence to entertain,
people should be
encouraged to watch moves
because _____________.

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Practice Question 7)
Although denying women the
right to fight in combat is
unfair, this policy is good
because ______________.

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Practice Question 8)
Although _______________,
California schools should
teach classes in English
because ____________.

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Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Practice Question 9)
Although _______________,
schools should keep
extracurricular programs
such as music and art
because _______________.

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Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Practice Question 10)
Although _______________,
student athletes should be
held to the same standard as
non-athletes because _____.

59.
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Bigger Topics
Have Same
Thesis Pieces

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Examples from Blind Side
Micheal Oher over came his
awful background because of
his ability to embrace
change, to learn new
motivation strategies, and to
respond to adversity in
innovative ways.

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Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Examples Blind Side
Micheal Oher has become
successful in his life because
he was able to overcome his
unfortunate background
through new skills.

63.
Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Examples The Other Wes Moore
Success was possible
because of Wes Moore’s
ability to change his bad
responses, to find new
motivation, and to overcome
his negative influences.

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Examples The Other Wes Moore
Wes Moore’s story provides
an blueprint for overcoming a
destructive background as he
learns positive responses to
his life trials.

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Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Example I am Mala
Mala Yousafzai has become
an inspiration to women
around the world because of
her ability to change her
terrible circumstances and
still be positively motivated.

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Example I am Mala
Mala Yousafzai’s life proves
that any adverse situation
can be overcome with the
right attitude and help from
others.

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Problem Thesis

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What’s The Problem?
I Am Mala is a motivating book.

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I Am Mala is a motivating book.
Claim with NO reasons
#2 missing

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What’s The Problem?
Micheal Oher had a very
difficult life before moving in
with the Tuoys.

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What’s The Problem?
Micheal Oher had a very difficult life
before moving in with the Tuoys.
NO claim & NO reasons
#1 & # 2 missing

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What’s The Problem?
Temple Grandin is a great
representative for autistic
people.

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Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
Temple Grandin is a great representative for
autistic people.
NO Clear Claim
& NO reasons
# 1 weak & # 2 missing

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What’s The Problem?
Both Wes Moores had
difficulties, but only one of the
men overcame them.

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Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net
What’s The Problem?
Both Wes Moores had difficulties, but only
one of the men overcame them.
2 Sides- NO Clear Claim
& No Reasons
# 1 Weak & # 2 Missing

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Final Words
Try the Coleman Thesis Pieces on
your own papers !!!!
Good Luck and
Happy Writing!!!!

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For More Information
Email Mrs. C
ccoleman@clmn.net
Visit Coleman’s Classroom
www.clmn.net