education

1. English for Academic and Professional Purposes
Senior High School Applied - Academic
Unit 2: Thesis Statements and Outlining
Lesson 1
What Is a Thesis Statement?

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For our papers
to be
convincing, we
must first define
our stand
concretely. How
do we write a
strong thesis
statement?
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3. Learning
Objectives
At the end of the
lesson, you should
be able to do the
following:
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EVALUAT 3
● Identify the characteristics of a thesis
statement.
● Write a strong thesis statement.

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1. What should be considered
when formulating a working
thesis statement?
2. Why must a thesis statement be
open to debate?
Essential
Questions
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The Thesis Statement
● In the introductory paragraph of your paper,
you should state your stand on an issue or
question in one sentence.
● This sentence is called a thesis statement.
● Your main idea will dictate the flow of the rest
of your paper.
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Characteristics of a thesis statement:
● It shows your stand on an issue.
● It answers a question.
● It makes a claim that can be disputed.
● It is a single sentence at the start of your paper
that presents your argument to the readers.
The Thesis Statement
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Keywords that signal a need for a thesis
statement:
● analyze
● interpret
● compare and contrast
● show causes and effects
● choose a side or stand on an issue
The Thesis Statement
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How to Write a Thesis Statement
● Formulating a thesis is not the first thing you
do upon receiving an assignment or task.
● A thesis must be the result of a long process of
thinking and planning.
● Before you can develop any kind of thesis, you
must first do your research on the topic.
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● Look for information and evidence, then
organize them based on the points they make.
● Look for possible relationships between pieces
of information.
● Analyze and find the significance of these
relationships.
How to Write a Thesis Statement
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● Afterward, you will most likely be able to come
up with a “working thesis” that has a basic main
idea.
● It’s okay if your thesis and your arguments
might need adjustments along the way.
How to Write a Thesis Statement
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● What matters is that you can find substantial
evidence to support a more concrete thesis,
even if you had to adjust from time to time.
How to Write a Thesis Statement
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Example 1
Given the following question: Should the SOGIE Bill be passed
in the Philippines?
● Simple thesis statement: “I believe the SOGIE Bill should
be passed.”
● Improved thesis statement: “I believe the SOGIE Bill should
be passed because it ensures that all basic human rights
are available to all people, regardless of sexual orientation
or gender expression.”
How to Write a Thesis Statement
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13. Tips
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Make your thesis statement as specific as
possible by doing the following:
● expressing just one major idea
● naming the topic and asserting
something specific about it
● stating your position or opinion about
the issue

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Example 2
Given the assignment: Analyze the state of traffic in Quezon
City and propose a possible solution for it.
● Do initial research and observations on the road conditions.
● Possible thesis statement: A possible solution to the traffic
situation in Quezon City is to set up carpooling systems in
the most densely populated communities and outside large
company buildings.
How to Write a Thesis Statement
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15. Remember
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Make use of the thesis statement to
take a stance on an issue that you
can support with facts and reasons.

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Writing Strong Thesis Statements
● It is always a good idea to consult with your
instructor regarding your thesis statements in
order to get some feedback.
● It is also possible to do your own evaluation so
that you yourself can fine-tune the thesis
statement you have written.
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● Am I answering the question? Review the
question prompt and your thesis statement.
● Have I taken a position that can possibly be
disputed by others? Your thesis has to be
persuasive and yet open to opposition. It must
not simply be stating facts.
Writing Strong Thesis Statements
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● Is my thesis statement specific enough? Avoid using
vague words such as “good” or “successful” and try being
more specific.
● Does my thesis statement pass the “So what?” test? If
a reader looks at your thesis statement and asks, “So
what?” then you might need to make some clarifications,
provide a deeper relationship, or connect to a more
relevant issue.
Writing Strong Thesis Statements
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● Does the rest of my essay specifically and
concretely support my thesis statement?
You may sometimes have to modify your thesis
statement during the process of writing in order
to reflect any newfound knowledge.
Writing Strong Thesis Statements
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● Does my thesis statement pass the “How
and why?” test? If your thesis statement is
still too open-ended, add a supporting
statement that will clarify your position and
strengthen your stance.
Writing Strong Thesis Statements
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21. Remember
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A good thesis statement is supported
with facts and achieved through hours
of research. Creating an initial
statement and developing it to be more
specific is an excellent way to start
your research.

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Example 1
● Given the following question: Are the use of metal straws
instead of plastic straws helpful in saving the environment?
● If you write a thesis statement based on stock knowledge
and without initial research, you might be inclined to write:
● Using metal straws instead of plastic straws is an effective
way to reduce the amount of waste in the country.
Writing Strong Thesis Statements
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● It is a thesis statement with a clear stand,
however remember to avoid vague words such
as “effective.”
● Be more concrete in your stance.
● Research why it is effective and add it to your
thesis statement.
Writing Strong Thesis Statements
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● Then, during your research, you could find evidence that
shows your initial working thesis should be modified.
● You can still change your thesis to be more concrete and
also more supported by the evidence you have found.
● Metal straws are a band-aid solution to the problem of
global warming because in mass-producing metal straws
for people to use, large companies continue to emit
dangerous amounts of CO2 into the environment.
Writing Strong Thesis Statements
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● In your research, you have found a more
significant issue to connect to the use of metal
straws and have found convincing evidence on it,
so you have shifted the direction of your thesis
statement.
● You have also made your thesis statement more
specific, and you have made your stance clearer
in the process.
Writing Strong Thesis Statements
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Example 2
● It is important to take note that you should
avoid using jargon or language that is too
specific to the topic or discipline, as this will
make it unclear for your readers.
● For example: Quarantine and social distancing
are effective in fighting COVID-19 because
they flatten the curve.
Writing Strong Thesis Statements
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● While the thesis statement makes a clear stand, its
reasoning could be unclear to readers who are not
familiar with the term “flattening the curve.”
● A better thesis statement would be: Quarantine
and social distancing are effective in fighting
COVID-19 because they slow down the rate at
which people get infected with the virus.
Writing Strong Thesis Statements
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● The jargon used earlier is replaced with a much
clearer statement that can be backed up by
data and also disputed.
Writing Strong Thesis Statements
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● Technical language and jargon can be used in
the different parts of the paper, as long as they
are relevant and explained to the readers.
● Avoid using them in thesis statements because
they will confuse the readers as to what your
main idea is.
Writing Strong Thesis Statements
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● It can also make the thesis statement too
lengthy and therefore harder to understand.
Writing Strong Thesis Statements
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1. Read the thesis statement in the next slide.
2. Based on the topic being discussed in the
thesis statement, strengthen the thesis
statement and write an introductory paragraph
based on your preliminary research.
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Plastic wastes thrown in large bodies of water is
bad for the environment.
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Questions
1. What does it mean when your thesis statement
is a “working thesis”?
2. What should your thesis statement respond to
in order for it to be more effective?
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What can you do if in the middle of writing your
research paper you realize that the data you are
using is beginning to contradict your initial thesis
statement?
Question
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35. Wrap Up
The thesis statement is a single
sentence usually found in the
introductory paragraph of a paper that
states the main idea and position of the
writer.
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36. Wrap Up
The thesis statement is a product of a
long thinking and researching process.
Consultation and self-evaluation are
important in order to develop a stronger
thesis statement.
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37. Bibliography
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“Creating a Thesis Statement, Thesis Statement Tips.” Purdue Writing Lab.
Accessed February 21, 2020.
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/the_writing_process/thesis_statement
_tips.html.
Thesis Statements. The Writing Center. Accessed February 21, 2020.
https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/thesis-statements/.
Vos, Lesley. “How to Write a Strong Thesis Statement for Your Essay.”
Bid4papers, October 31, 2019. https://bid4papers.com/blog/thesis-statement/.
“Writing a Thesis Statement.” Ashford Writing Center. Accessed February 21,
2020. https://writingcenter.ashford.edu/writing-a-thesis.
“Writing Tips: Thesis Statements.” Center for Writing Studies. Accessed February
21, 2020. http://www.cws.illinois.edu/workshop/writers/tips/thesis/.