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Writing a Thesis Statement

Writing a Thesis Statement Free Lesson Plan

Here is a guided writing workshop to teach students how to brainstorm and draft a thesis statement. This activity provides students an opportunity to consider their prompt and develop a claim that is effective and arguable. Three handouts are included in each download, with the teacher version also containing instructions on how to conduct the workshop.

This lesson plan can be used with any persuasive, argumentative, or research-based essay.

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Activities to Teach How to Write A Thesis Statement

Research Writing , Secondary Literacy , Writing

If there’s any literacy skill you would want your English Language Arts students to master, it would probably be how to write a thesis statement . If you want to teach your students how to write powerful, eloquent, and exceptionally captivating thesis statements, then you’ll love the activities in this article.

The key to any good essay is a strong thesis statement. A strong thesis statement sets the tone and clarifies the author’s purpose : it tells you the writer’s opinion, along with the level of thought and criticism that has gone into formulating it.

A strong thesis statement also creates an alluring introduction paragraph. This makes each paper in your grading pile a lot more inviting.

How do you teach students to write a thesis statement to make their audience continue reading? This blog post explores six activities to teach how to write a thesis statement.

Activities to Teach How to Write a Thesis Statement in High School

1. Differentiate Between Strong and Weak Thesis Statements

Writing a thesis statement might be a new skill for your students. Thesis statements are often taught as a topic sentence or the “whole essay boiled down into one sentence.” This can be a challenging concept for your students to grasp.

To teach how to write a thesis statement, have a discussion about what makes a strong thesis statement. You can turn this into a collaborative lesson by brainstorming clarifying statements ; these statements dictate what a thesis is and is not.

For example: “ A proper thesis statement is written in one sentence ,” or “ a proper thesis statement is directly related to the rest of the essay .” This is a great opportunity to teach students the difference between concepts like a “topic sentence” or a “hook.”

Your students can use this free bookmark to differentiate between a strong thesis statement and a weak one. This slideshow lesson also explores clarifying statements with detailed examples.

How to scaffold thesis statements: the ultimate guide

2. Evaluate Thesis Statement Examples

Now that students have plenty of guidelines, challenge their understanding by evaluating thesis statement examples . You can use thesis statement examples from past students’ essays. You can even write your own examples based on the clarifying statements you create with your class.

If you’re open to your students receiving constructive, anonymous criticism , you can even have them write a thesis statement and evaluate each one as a class. I’ve had success with providing students with a thesis statement topic and having them write a thesis statement. Then, I prompt them to swap with their elbow partner to offer feedback.

If you’d rather provide a comprehensive list of thesis statements that reflect the common errors you would typically see in students’ essays, there are several student examples in this introductory lesson on how to write a thesis statement – this is one of my favourite activities for teaching thesis statement writing!

Scaffolding How to Write Thesis Statements

3. Provide a Thesis Statement Template

One of the easiest ways to teach how to write a thesis statement is to offer a thesis statement template . There are a variety of thesis statement templates that students can use as a framework for their essays. I start with a basic template that involves the three parts of a thesis statement: a topic, position, and evidence . I then demonstrate to students how they can create variations of this template, depending on which order they introduce each part. You can find examples for each template in these thesis statement handouts .

You can also introduce a few sentence styles to your students. These styles scaffold eloquent thesis statements. They also offer students the space to articulate their thoughts without exceeding the one-sentence limit.

Sentence Styles for the Three Parts of a Thesis Statement

Here are a few sentence styles that incorporate the three parts of a thesis statement. Each style also includes an example written by a real student:

  • Style A : “Noun phrase; Noun phrase; Noun phrase – Independent Clause” Example: “The promotion of hygiene; the presence of medical professionals; the prevention of death – these are all reasons why supervised injection services are an important facet of public health.”
  • Style B : If (subject + verb + object phrase), if (subject + verb + object phrase ), if (subject + verb + object phrase ), then (independent clause) Example: “If taxpayers do not wish to have their money allocated to cruelty, if more than 100 million animals die from animal testing a year, if alternatives to animal testing exist, then governments should ban the practice of testing on animals.”
  • Style C : Independent clause: subject + verb, subject + verb, subject + verb Example: “College education should be entirely funded by the government: student debt would be eliminated, education would not be commodified, and access to education would not be exclusive to privileged people.”

All of these sentence styles are outlined in these practice worksheets for how to write a thesis statement, with writing prompts to reinforce each thesis statement template through repeated practice.

Thesis Statement Templates for Teaching Writing in ELA

4. Daily Practice Activities to Teach How to Write a Thesis Statement

One of the most effective ways to teach how to write a thesis statement is through repeated practice. You can do this by incorporating daily bell ringers into your persuasive writing unit. To assign this activity, I provide students with three topics to choose from. I then prompt them to develop an opinion and write a thesis statement for one.

I’ll also include bell ringers that provide a thesis statement that students need to evaluate. Students really enjoy these drills! They get the opportunity to develop opinions on interesting topics, and many of them choose to explore these ideas as the subject of their final research paper.

If you’re looking for pre-made worksheets with thesis statement activities, these daily thesis statement bell ringers include one month’s worth of thesis statement prompts, graphic organizers, and templates in both digital and ready-to-print format.

5. Use a Self-Assessment Thesis Statement Anchor Chart

You can provide students with a thesis statement anchor chart to reference the guidelines and rules they’ve learned. A personalized anchor chart is best – like this free thesis statement bookmark – so that students can have it on hand while they are reading and writing.

You can distribute the anchor chart at the beginning of your research paper unit. Students can refer to it while evaluating thesis statement examples or completing daily practice activities. A thesis statement anchor chart has been a complete game-changer in my classroom, and I’m pleased to learn that many of my students have held on to these after completing my course.

Teaching thesis statements in high school ELA

6. Provide Engaging Thesis Statement Topics

You can collaborate with your students to generate an engaging list of good topics for thesis statements. Start by writing down every topic that your students suggest. Then, you can narrow this list down to avoid broad, far-reaching thesis statements that lead to a watered-down essay. When I make this list with my students, we end up with topics that are truly engaging for them. I also have the opportunity to clarify which topics might be a little too vague or broad for an exceptional essay.

For example, students often suggest topics like “racism” or “the problem with school.” These are learning opportunities to demonstrate to students that a great thesis statement is the essential starting point for an even greater essay.

To elaborate, a topic like racism has different implications all over the world. It is far too complex to explore in a single, 750-word essay. Instead, we work together to narrow this topic down to something like “racism in the media,” or even better, “representation in Hollywood.”

Additionally, a topic like “the problem with school” is more of a conclusion. To solve this, we work backward to identify some of the aspects of our school that make it an obstacle . This can include uniforms, early starts, or cell phone policies. This process leads students to a more concise topic, like “cell phone policies in twenty-first-century schools.”

If you’re looking for engaging thesis statement topics to inspire your students, I’ve included a list of 75 argumentative essay topics in this practice unit for how to write a thesis statement .

Tying it All Together

There are plenty of fun thesis statement activities and practice lessons that you can incorporate into your curriculum. Give thesis statements the love and attention they deserve in the classroom – after all, they truly are the most important part of a research essay.

All of the worksheets, lessons, and activities explored in this blog post are included in Mondays Made Easy’s unit for teaching how to write a thesis statement . This bundle has everything you need to teach your students how to master their thesis statements and apply these essential literacy skills to their writing.

Reading Worksheets, Spelling, Grammar, Comprehension, Lesson Plans

How to Write a Thesis Statement

About this worksheet:.

Practice developing thesis statements with this writing introduction worksheet! Students will learn how to improve their writing with a strong, attention grabbing thesis statement. This activity helps build writing skills by asking students to create a statement for the topics provided, such as: “What was the greatest challenge in your life?”.

How to Write a Thesis Sentence Activity

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Create a Thesis Statement

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Create a thesis statement and include relevant facts, details, reasons, and examples that support the thesis. 0601.3.5 Links verified on 6/1/2014 Compose a Thesis Statement - Now that you have decided, at least tentatively, what information you plan to present in your essay, you are ready to write your thesis statement. Developing Paragraphs - Scroll down to find ideas and activities on how to elaborate paragraphs. Guide to Writing Academic Essays - Guide to help support one's thesis. Outline - Outline of how to create a thesis. Tips and Examples for Writing Thesis Statements - from the OWL at Purdue Thesis Builder - online interactive tool developed by Tom March, one of the co-developers of the WebQuest concept Thesis Statement - [from LEO] "a thesis takes a stand rather than announcing a subject" Thesis Statements - How to write a thesis statement Write a Thesis Statement - [from Cliffs Notes] includes a "magic working thesis equation" site for teachers | PowerPoint show | Acrobat document | Word document | whiteboard resource | sound | video format | interactive lesson | a quiz | lesson plan | to print

thesis statement lesson plan 6th grade

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Teaching Thesis Statements with Lesson Ideas

Teaching thesis statements made easy.

Essays without thesis statements are easy to grade: simply write an ‘F’ at the top of the paper, laugh, and shuffle up the next paper. Unfortunately, not teaching thesis statements is the sign of a really bad English teacher.

A Thesis Statement Tale of Woe

On my way out the door, I noticed all the English teachers were busily grading essays. “Hey, Bob,” I shouted as I stumbled into his classroom, “Not done with those essays yet? I finished mine an hour ago.”

“How’d you grade them so fast?” he asked.

“It’s simple,” I responded, “I didn’t teach my students about writing thesis statements, so grading their essays was easy. I just gave them all F’s. While you guys waste your time teaching thesis statements and then having to actually grade their essays, we watch movies.”

“So, none of your students know anything about writing a thesis statement?”

“Nope.”

“You’re a disgrace!” Bob shouted. He moved toward me, stapler in hand.

Next thing I remember, I was surrounded by angry tax-payers. Angry tax-payer #1 shouted, “Get up you thief! Our tax dollars pay your salary and you’re supposed to teach the children of this great state how to write a thesis statement. I suggest you start teaching thesis statements tomorrow morning, or you’ll pay dearly!” The angry tax-payer clubbed me with a ruler and knocked me out again. When I awoke, I saw lesson ideas on my desk titled “Writing a Thesis Statement.”

I share it with you

Common Core Standards

Teaching thesis statements satisfies the following common core standards and establishes the basis for teaching all the common core standards in writing for all grade levels.

  • W.9-10.1 Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
  • W.9-10.1a Introduce precise claim(s), distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and create an organization that establishes clear relationships among claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence.
  • W.9-10.2a  Introduce a topic; organize complex ideas, concepts, and information to make important connections and distinctions; include formatting (e.g., headings); graphics (e.g., figures, tables); and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.
  • W.9-10.4   Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

Ideas for Teaching Thesis Statements

Leonid_Pasternak_-_The_Passion_of_creation

  • A quick review of how to write a thesis statement may help.
  • Have students create thesis statements on a slice of paper. Collect the paper and read them to the class. Have the class vote on them.
  • Do the same activity, but use individualized white boards to record judgments.
  • Read thesis statements anonymously. The ones that do not qualify get tossed in the garbage (visualizing what happens to bad thesis statements is powerful). Give students chances to rewrite the thesis statement until they get it right.
  • Write random topics on the board and have groups of students brainstorm good thesis statements.
  • Require students get thesis statements approved before writing an essay.

Evaluating Thesis Statements

1. Have you answered the question or merely restated it? The following examples are based on this question: Does Romeo’s prior feelings for Rosaline diminish the credibility of his love for Juliet?

  • Good example: Romeo’s prior feelings for Rosaline diminish the credibility of his love for Juliet.
  • Bad example: This essay examines whether or not Romeo’s prior feelings for Rosaline diminishes his love for Juliet.

2.  Have you tried to argue both sides of the case? It is important to acknowledge the other side and address the other position. That does not, however, excuse you from choosing a side.

  • Good example: Juliet was not the first woman to capture Romeo’s fancy; she was, however, the one who affected him the most.
  • Bad example: Romeo loved Juliet with all his heart, but he loved Rosaline too; It could be argued they were both his favorite.

3.  Have you prejudged the issue by using loaded language? Immature writers manipulate readers through emotionally-charged language.

  • Bad example: Immature, whiny, male-pig Romeo, a male harlot, ruins precious Juliet whom he loved no more than Rosaline.

I’ve taken these lesson plans and added notes, graphic organizers, and more lesson options to create what I consider an invaluable resource for middle school and high school teachers. It’s only $5.95.

It includes 10 lesson plans aligned to common core standards, notes, and over 15 assignments with answer keys. All you need to do is print out each assignment, make copies, and pass them out. Here’s a Free Topic Sentence Sample Plan to give you an idea of what the paragraph teaching guide has to offer.

Of course, you’re more than welcome to make your own handouts and assignments that took me weeks to make and years to perfect.

Last Updated on October 20, 2017 by Trenton Lorcher

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Forming a Thesis Statement

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Forming a Thesis

The whole purpose of writing is to transfer an idea from your head into someone else's. If you can state your idea in a single, clear sentence, your reader can easily grasp it.

Use this simple formula to craft an effective thesis statement (for an essay) or topic sentence (for a paragraph).

Topic (who or what am I writing about? )

+ Focus (what specific thought or feeling do I have about my topic?)

_________________________________

= Thesis Statement (or Topic Sentence)

Here are some examples of the formula in action with different forms of writing.

Explanatory

Antibiotic resistance (topic) creates superbugs through the misuse of modern medicine (focus).

Sex and gender (topic) are related but different, one defined by biology and the other by culture (focus).

Narrative Writing

My hectic senior year of high school (topic) embodied the word overcommitment (focus) .

Your Turn Use the formula to create thesis statements for the following topics. Note: The focus is up to you.

  • Career opportunities
  • Community involvement
  • Generational differences
  • The search for colleges
  • Lasting lessons of high school

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Answers will vary.

Standards Correlations:

The State Standards provide a way to evaluate your students' performance.

  • 110.38.c.10.C
  • 110.39.c.10.C
  • 110.38.c.5.J
  • 110.39.c.5.J
  • LAFS.1112.W.1.1
  • LA 12.2.1.b
  • LA 12.2.2.a
  • LAFS.1112.W.1.2
  • 110.38.c.10.A
  • 110.39.c.10.A
  • LAFS.1112.W.1.3

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Book Units Teacher Blog by Gay Miller

There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom

Multiple Choice Test Taking Strategies

Writing a Thesis Statement

  • By Gay Miller in Writing

January 11, 2021

Free Lesson on Writing a Thesis Statement

Writing a thesis statement is an extremely difficult skill for some students. This post provides step-by-step instructions. Student-friendly language helps students understand the concepts. To learn the rules, students watch a Google Slide presentation. While watching, they complete organizers. The printable organizers may be placed in an interactive notebook. Digital organizers are also provided. They may be housed on Google Drive. Students may use these organizers as reference tools any time they write essays.

So where to begin…

The Teaching Standards

Common Core State Standards do not include the words thesis statements. CCSS state essays should introduce the topic and state an opinion. (Sounds like a thesis statement to me?!?!) Before Common Core, this skill was included in the 6th grade Tennessee Standards. Depending on the level of your students, I recommend including thesis statements beginning in 5th or 6th grades. Find more information on Why Thesis Statements are Important for Kids here.  

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1.A Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which related ideas are grouped to support the writer’s purpose.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1.A Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which ideas are logically grouped to support the writer’s purpose.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.1.A Introduce claim(s) and organize the reasons and evidence clearly.

Thesis Statement Google Slides

This lesson includes a Google Slide Presentation that goes over rules and examples. The presentation also includes a section with examples for students to evaluate. Students rate examples as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ and discuss why.  All the text in these presentations is editable. Therefore, you can change sentences to topics that interest your students. 

Download these free resources to use with your students.

Foldable Organizers

Grab this free thesis statement mini lesson.

To make learning the information a little easier, three foldable graphic organizers go over the information. These organizers need no cutting. Just print and fold.

For Organizers #1 and #2, check out these 3 versions:

  • Version 1 contains blanks for students to write their own definitions.
  • The next version contains sentences with blank spaces for students to write in keywords.
  • Version 3 is fully completed.

Use the third version as an answer key. Use different versions to differentiate instruction. Give absent students the completed organizer to use as a guide to complete their organizer.

For Organizer #3, students write example thesis statements. Because of this, only one version of the organizer is provided.

Free Lesson on Writing a Thesis Statement

The Content

Organizer 1 – what is a thesis statement.

A thesis statement is the main idea of an essay.

It is often a point you want to argue or support in an essay.

The thesis statement explains to a reader the main idea of the essay and the writer’s opinion on that idea.

 A thesis statement is usually one sentence .

 It is often placed in the introductory paragraph of an essay.

A thesis statement is a claim that could be argued .

The essay will contain evidence and opinions that support the argument.

Organizer 2 – Things Thesis Statements Should Include and Should Avoid

A thesis statement should:

  • contain a topic (main idea of what you are writing about)
  • contain an opinion about the topic (what your attitude is toward the topic)

Subject + Attitude = Thesis

A thesis statement should avoid:

  • the first person (I believe, In my opinion, etc.)
  • unclear language (It seems, etc.)
  • attempting two topics at once – even if they seem related. Pick one and stick with it.
  • just stating a fact – A thesis is something you plan to make an argument about. Facts can’t be argued.

Free Lesson on Writing a Thesis Statement

Organizer 3 – Thesis Statement Examples

  • A thesis statement should not be too broad .

Mountain City is a great place to live.

Better – One reason to live in Mountain City is access to many wonderful places to fish.

2. A thesis statement should not be too wordy .

Some problems with Mountain City Elementary School are that it needs a larger playground, an air-conditioned gym, an auditorium, restrooms connected to each classroom, running water in the classrooms, and a number of other physical changes to the building.

Better – Mountain City Elementary needs several changes to its facility to make it a better school.

3. A thesis statement should not be a title .

Cost of Living

Better – The cost of living in Mountain City is lower than in most other cities in the United States.

4. A thesis statement should not be too general .

Music makes people happy.

Better – Music therapy is useful in relieving stress and other conditions.  

5. A thesis statement should not be a fact .

The average temperature for Mountain City in winter is 34 and in summer is 75 degrees.

Better – The climate in Mountain City is ideal for outdoor sports.

Important Update

If you are looking for original organizers, don’t worry. They’re still here. I know how frustrating it can be to follow a link from Pinterest, only to not find what you are looking for. Because of this, I included the original organizers in the download.

These organizers contain the exact same information as the new. The difference is they require more time to assemble. A link to the original PowerPoint is also included in the download.

Original Thesis Statement Organizers

More Activities

  • Provide a topic. Tell students to write a  thesis statement on the topic. Collect the sentences. Read these aloud and have students evaluate them.
  • Provide thesis statements. Students use different color highlighters to show the parts: subject + attitude.
  • Anchor Chart
  • Word Map with Facts

  • Writing Strategies

Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=336

10 comments

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  • Theresa on January 25, 2015 at 12:20 pm

BRILLIANT! I will use this for my freshmen who have a tendency to “forget” what the thesis IS and IS NOT!

' src=

  • anis on June 16, 2015 at 1:32 pm

' src=

  • sarah egger on September 9, 2015 at 9:02 am

This is wonderful, thanks so much for sharing. I gave it to my fellow English teachers and we all use it and we are raving about how much the students enjoy it and learn from it.

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  • Beverly on September 9, 2015 at 9:31 am

Thank you so much.

' src=

  • Louise on October 22, 2015 at 9:31 pm

This is so helpful. Thanks for sharing with us.

' src=

  • ENRIQUE GUZMÁN CH on November 22, 2015 at 6:22 am

Hi. I´m from Colombia. Thanks a lot for everything.

' src=

  • Pat on September 26, 2016 at 12:14 am

Thanks for sharing!

' src=

  • student on September 29, 2016 at 5:25 am

Everything is very open with a really clear description.

It was definitely informative. Your website is very useful. Many thanks for sharing!

' src=

  • Thesis Generator on January 27, 2017 at 12:30 pm

Most thesis statements are one sentence (Unless you have a really long paper) but if you need to add more info use a semi colon or a coordinating conjunction to add more.

' src=

  • Homeschool Teacher/Mom on March 22, 2017 at 12:22 pm

Thank you so much! This was very helpful!!

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Fun Ways to Teach Thesis Statements for High Schoolers

Fun Ways to Teach Thesis Statements for High Schoolers

The Thesis Statement Dilemma

On my way out the door, I noticed all the English teachers were busily grading essays . “Hey, Bob,” I shouted as I stumbled into his classroom, “Not done with those essays yet? I finished mine an hour ago.” “How’d you grade them so fast?” he asked. “It’s simple,” I responded, “I didn’t teach my students how to write a thesis statement, so grading their essays was easy. I just gave them all F’s. While you guys waste your time teaching valuable lessons and then having to actually grade their essays, we watch movies.” “So, none of your students know anything about writing?” “Nope.” “You’re a disgrace!” Bob shouted. He moved toward me, stapler in hand. Next thing I remember, I was surrounded by angry tax-payers. Angry tax-payer #1 shouted, “Get up you thief! Our tax dollars pay your salary and you’re supposed to teach the children of this great state how to write! I suggest you start doing your job tomorrow morning, or you’ll pay dearly!” The angry tax-payer clubbed me with a ruler and knocked me out again. When I awoke, Bob was asking me if I wanted to learn some fun ways to teach thesis statements to my students. I now share these ideas with you.

What to Do Before Writing

Learn about fun ways to teach thesis statements to your class

  • You must begin with a topic question. If your instructor has assigned an essay question to answer, this step has been done for you. If you are doing a research paper, take time to come up with a good topic question.
  • You must form an opinion and state it clearly. Do not be wishy-washy.
  • Be sure you have approached your evidence fairly, without bias.
  • Consider both sides of a controversial issue.
  • Once you’ve established the topic question, a clear position, and objectivity, you’re ready to write a thesis statement.

What Is a Thesis Statement?

Students have heard the term thesis statement hundreds of times by the time they reach high school, yet have only a vague understanding of what one is. Your first responsibility is to teach them that a thesis statement:

  • Presents your opinions or thoughts on a subject or an issue. You cannot write an essay without one.
  • Must contain a subject + an opinion.
  • Answers the topic question (the one you created or the one presented to you by the instructor).

TIP : A thesis statement should never contain the following: in my opinion, I think, I believe , etc. Tell them that the entire thesis represents what they believe. However, it may be helpful for students to begin their thesis statement rough draft with i_n my opinion, I believe, or I think_ to make sure they are expressing their thoughts or opinion on a specific subject or issue. When writing the final draft, simply eliminate those phrases.

How to Teach Students to Write A Thesis Statement

It is important to demonstrate the difference between good and bad thesis statements. These instructions will help you teach the former:

  • Good Example: Success is a result of doing the right things consistently.
  • Bad Example: In a world full of success gurus and books about success, it becomes ever so more important to delineate the one trait that ultimately determines success: doing the right things consistently.
  • Good example: The key to successful dieting is focusing on a specific goal.
  • Bad example: T_he key to successful dieting is focusing on a specific goal, which is also the key to successfully running a business and coaching a football team._
  • Good example: Lebron James’ ability to score, pass, and rebound make him the league’s most valuable player.
  • Bad example: Does Lebron James’ ability to score, pass, and rebound make him the league’s most valuable player?
  • Bad Example: Lebron James’ ability to score, pass, and rebound just might make him the league’s most valuable player.

Write It Out

Knowing what to do and actually doing it are not the same thing. The following steps will help you and your students write clearly:

  • Write several trial statements: writing is a process - you don’t have to get it perfect on the first try. Teach your students to revise their work .
  • If you’re having trouble deciding which side to take on a controversial issue, write your thesis statement from two different points of view. Then decide which one better represents your opinion. If you still can’t decide, list facts on both sides of the issue and decide which facts make a more persuasive argument.

Evaluating the Work

You’ve spent a lot of valuable classroom time teaching thesis statements, but your lesson is not finished without teaching your students how to evaluate their writing. Instruct students to use the following questions to analyze their statement:

  • Good example: Romeo’s prior feelings for Rosaline diminish the credibility of his love for Juliet.
  • Bad example: This essay examines whether or not Romeo’s prior feelings for Rosaline diminish his love for Juliet.
  • Good example: Juliet was not the first woman to capture Romeo’s fancy; she was, however, the one who affected him the most.
  • Bad example: Romeo loved Juliet with all his heart, but he loved Rosaline too. It could be argued they were both his favorite.
  • Bad example: Immature, whiny, male-pig Romeo, a male harlot, ruined precious Juliet whom he loved no more than Rosaline.

More Teaching Ideas

The following activities will help reinforce the concept.

  • Have students create thesis statements on a slice of paper. Collect the paper and read them to the class. Have the class vote on them.
  • Do the same activity, but use individualized white boards to record judgments .
  • Read the thesis statements anonymously. The ones that do not qualify get tossed in the garbage can (visualizing what happens to writing is powerful). Give students a chance to rewrite until they get it right.
  • Write random topics on the board and have groups of students brainstorm good ones.
  • Make the thesis statements part of a writing challenge .
  • Require that students get thesis statements approved before writing an essay.

Click here for a complete 1st semester curriculum map for language arts with lesson plans and links. I hope you learned some fun ways to teach thesis statements to your students. If you have other tips, be sure to leave them in the comments. Image by  Nicholas Jackson  from  Pixabay

IMAGES

  1. How To Write A Thesis Statement 6th Grade

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  2. Writing a Thesis Statement Lesson Plan by Anikdotes

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  3. How to Write a Thesis Statement: High School English Lesson Plan

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  4. FREE Thesis Statement Cheat Sheet

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  5. Creating Thesis Sentences Lesson Plan for 6th

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  6. Thesis Statement Practice Worksheet Inspirational Hoot in 2020

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VIDEO

  1. How to Write a THESIS Statement

  2. Grade 9

  3. Understanding Thesis Statements vs. Topic Sentences

  4. What is Thesis Statement? Writing Thesis Statement with Practice in Urdu/Hindi #researchmethodology

  5. How to Write Thesis? Thesis Writing Tips #thesis #shorts #assignment

  6. Writing a Clear Thesis Statement #essay # #howtowriteessay #academicwriting

COMMENTS

  1. Writing a Thesis Statement

    Writing a Thesis Statement Free Lesson Plan. Here is a guided writing workshop to teach students how to brainstorm and draft a thesis statement. This activity provides students an opportunity to consider their prompt and develop a claim that is effective and arguable. Three handouts are included in each download, with the teacher version also ...

  2. Activities to Teach How to Write A Thesis Statement

    Activities to Teach How to Write a Thesis Statement in High School. 1. Differentiate Between Strong and Weak Thesis Statements. Writing a thesis statement might be a new skill for your students. Thesis statements are often taught as a topic sentence or the "whole essay boiled down into one sentence.".

  3. PDF HOW T TEACH STUDENTS T WRIT THESIS STTEMENT

    A thesis statement is one to two sentences in the introduction of an essay that the writer uses to "set the stage" for the reader. The thesis statement provides the focus for the writing ... LESSON PLAN FOR HOW TO TEACH STUDENTS TO WRITE A THESIS STATEMENT NOTE: This lesson plan refers to Steps 1-8 on pages 1-3 of the Thesis Statement Tab.

  4. Thesis Statement Lesson Plan

    Thesis Statement Lesson Plan Related Study Materials. Related Topics; Browse by Courses; English 102: American Literature ... 6th Grade Graduate & Post-Graduate Elementary School ...

  5. PDF Writing Center Workshop Lesson Plan Thesis Statements

    Workshop Lesson Plan . Thesis Statements. Lesson Objectives: 1. To understand the purpose of a thesis statement 2. To convey the importance of a one sentence thesis statement Preparation: 1. Review lesson plan, student handouts, and the activity answer key. 2. Check if there are enough copies of all student handouts. Make copies if necessary ...

  6. PDF Thesis Statement Mini-Lesson

    Work through good and bad thesis statements together with the students. (5-10 min.) 4. Give students the second handout containing problematic thesis statements in need of correction. 5. Have the students break into groups to correct the thesis statements. (5-10 min.) 6. Discuss the corrections as a class. (5 min.)

  7. How to Write a Thesis Statement Worksheet Activity

    About this Worksheet: Practice developing thesis statements with this writing introduction worksheet! Students will learn how to improve their writing with a strong, attention grabbing thesis statement. This activity helps build writing skills by asking students to create a statement for the topics provided, such as: "What was the greatest ...

  8. Thesis Statement Sixth 6th Grade English Language Arts Standards

    Create a thesis statement and include relevant facts, details, reasons, and examples that support the thesis. 0601.3.5 Links verified on 6/1/2014. Compose a Thesis Statement - Now that you have decided, at least tentatively, what information you plan to present in your essay, you are ready to write your thesis statement.

  9. Teaching Thesis Statements with Lesson Ideas

    Common Core Standards. Teaching thesis statements satisfies the following common core standards and establishes the basis for teaching all the common core standards in writing for all grade levels. W.9-10.1 Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.

  10. Stating Your Case: Writing Thesis Statements Effectively

    This Stating Your Case: Writing Thesis Statements Effectively Lesson Plan is suitable for 6th - 12th Grade. As a writer, if you have a weak introductory paragraph or thesis statement, you might lose your audience! Have your middle and high schoolers practice writing introductory paragraphs that include clear thesis statements in response to document based questions.

  11. Forming a Thesis Statement

    The State Standards provide a way to evaluate your students' performance. Forming a Thesis Statement The whole purpose of writing is to transfer an idea from your head into someone else's. If you can state your idea in a single, clear sentence, your reader can easily grasp it. Use this simple formula to craft an effective thesis statement (for ...

  12. Writing a Thesis Statement

    A thesis statement is the main idea of an essay. It is often a point you want to argue or support in an essay. SO. The thesis statement explains to a reader the main idea of the essay and the writer's opinion on that idea. A thesis statement is usually one sentence. It is often placed in the introductory paragraph of an essay.

  13. Fun Ways to Teach Thesis Statements for High Schoolers

    It is important to demonstrate the difference between good and bad thesis statements. These instructions will help you teach the former: A good thesis statement is short and simple: it should be no longer than one sentence, regardless of essay length. Good Example: Success is a result of doing the right things consistently.

  14. Creating Thesis Sentences Lesson Plan for 6th

    This Creating Thesis Sentences Lesson Plan is suitable for 6th - 9th Grade. Growing writers explore what it takes to develop and support a thesis statement with pre-fabricated ideas provided by the Virginia Department of Education. Learners take notes on what makes a thesis statement and a topic sentence, and move into a group effort where the paragraph crafters develop the parts of a ...

  15. Thesis Statement Exercises Lesson Plan for 6th

    This Thesis Statement Exercises Lesson Plan is suitable for 6th - 7th Grade. Highlight the importance of introductions and thesis statements by having writers edit and re-write nine different paragraphs that serve as poor introductions. In addition to correcting the grammar and spelling mistakes, your leaner will ensure that each paragraph contains a clear thesis statement. .

  16. Informational Essay: Creating an Outline for a Draft

    W.8.2.e. W.8.2.f. W.8.10. In this informational writing lesson plan, students will use their organized notes to create an essay outline. They will begin to write out key pieces of the essay, such as the thesis statement, supporting points, and concluding statement, in preparation for the first draft.

  17. Informational Essay: Getting Organized Before Writing

    Introduction. (2 minutes) Introduce the general structure of an informational essay: An introduction paragraph that includes a thesis statement, a sentence that summarizes the main point or claim in the essay. Three body paragraphs, one for each supporting point. A concluding paragraph that restates the thesis and wraps up the essay.

  18. Thesis Development

    What Is a Thesis Statement? A thesis statement, often simply referred to as a thesis, is the guiding statement in an essay. Typically one sentence long in most essays, the thesis is the most ...

  19. Thesis Statement

    A thesis statement is the main idea of a piece of writing. It's typically one or two sentences that sum up the main points/argument and showcase the reason for writing. In most cases, the thesis ...

  20. Thesis Statements Lesson Plans & Worksheets Reviewed by Teachers

    Writing Thesis Statements in Sociology. For Teachers 11th - 12th. Students discover methods for writing strong thesis statements. In this writing skills instructional activity, students follow the steps their instructor outlines to review the strengths and weaknesses of their sociology thesis statements.

  21. 1Lesson Plan-Thesis Statement

    A sample lesson plan for grade 11 Senior High School subject in English for Academic and Professional Purposes, the topic is about writing a thesis statement. ... of Attendance Present 0n-line class Guidelines Review of the past lesson B. Establishing a purpose for the lesson Define what is a thesis statement and topic sentence. Discuss the ...

  22. Thesis Statements PPT for 6th

    View 67,828 other resources for 6th - 9th Grade English Language Arts. This Thesis Statements PPT is suitable for 6th - 9th Grade. Develop an understanding of main ideas and thesis statements with your class by using this step-by-step presentation. The concepts presented will guide learners through essay focus, main idea, central points ...

  23. Writing a Thesis Statement Lesson Plans & Worksheets

    Thesis Statement Exercises. For Teachers 6th - 7th. Highlight the importance of introductions and thesis statements by having writers edit and re-write nine different paragraphs that serve as poor introductions. In addition to correcting the grammar and spelling mistakes, your leaner will...