Session+14

**Session 14.1: Brainstorm** **//What is a thesis statement? Why are thesis statements so important?//** A thesis statement allows the reader to know what your big idea(s) of your aper is about. It also gives you the writer an organized outline or base for your paper.

**Session 14.2: Define Thesis Statement ** ** __Thesis Statements__ **
 * 1)  ** A thesis statement is an argument. It is a 1-2 sentence statement of the purpose of your essay: what will you be proving to the reader in the essay? **
 * 2)  ** It should be toward the end of an introductory paragraph and include enough specifics that the reader has a general idea of the key points you will make to support your biggest claim. **
 * 3)  ** Your thesis statement should likely be a compound sentence, including a preview of the major points you will make to support your big claim. So, instead of writing a simple thesis statement like "The end of World War II brought about major consequences" you should probably write something like "When World War II ended in 1945, the major consequences included the division of Germany, the start of the United Nations, and the beginning of the Cold War." **
 * 4)  ** To write your thesis, ask yourself 4 questions: **

** a. What is my topic? **   ** b. What argument am I prepared to make? **   ** c. How can I state my argument as clearly and powerfully as possible? **   ** d. Is my statement a direct answer to the question or response to the prompt or claim about the topic? **

** A compound sentence is a sentence that explines two or more topics in one sentencce. **
 * ** DEFINE compound sentence. **

** The third example has three main topics. It gives the reader a quick guidline before reading. **
 * ** In number 3, explain why the second example thesis statement is better than the first. **

**Session 14.3: Examples** __**//For each of the following statements, highlight the choice you think is better. Then explain why you think it is the better choice.//**__ __Student work__:

//** P rompt A: Why were the American colonists successful in winning independence from the British in the late 18th century? ** //

**Choice 1:** Aid from the French helped turn the tide of the American Revolution toward victory for the colonists. This, in addition to their previously held advantages of strong military leadership and homeland advantage, led the colonists to win the war and gain their independence. **Choice 2**: In the late 18th century, after years of protesting unfair laws and many key battles, the American colonists won independence from their mother country of Great Britain.

***Choice 1 is the best example of a thesis statement due to its thorough explination to its given question. It gives three main ideas which will help the reader better grasp your essay to follow.***

//**Prompt B: In what ways was the abolition movement of 19th century America divided?**// **Choice 1**: The abolition movement of 19th century America was divided in terms of both tactics and goals, as there were strong, differing opinions over how to most effectively make abolition occur and the process by which complete abolition should be sought. **Choice 2:** Leading up to the Civil War, the abolition movement in America was divided, but ultimately remained united enough to push leaders of the country to end slavery forever.

***Choice 1 gives actual examples of how the abolition movement divided America in the 19th century. It answers the question brefily, giving the writer a chance to further explain their logic in the essay below this excellent thesis.***

//**Prompt C: To what extent did Andrew Jackson’s presidency benefit the United States of America? **// **Choice 1:** Despite his record on treatment of Native Americans, Andrew Jackson’s presidency greatly benefited the U.S. due to his administration’s work on expanding voting rights and economic policies. **Choice 2:** Andrew Jackson was the eighth president of the United States and known for being the symbol of Jacksonian Democracy.

***Choice 1 is the better thesis due to it's catchy and interesting opening. It provides the reader with a minor negative and proceeds in showing why Andrew Jackson's presidency benefited the U.S.A.***

**14.4: Practice thesis writing** Asses this statement: no movie should ever have a sequel. ﻿Due to contrary belife, movie sequels always lack the original's quality of interest, provide a terrible music score, and the addition of new character simply add to the dissapointment and death of some of our favorite movies.

<span style="background-color: #0073f5; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Why are there different age limits set on driver’s licenses (varies by state), voting (18), and alcohol use (21)? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">﻿The age limits set on driver's licenses varie throughout multiple states due to that particular states traffic levels, weather and climate change, and torrential obsticles.

<span style="background-color: #0073f5; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">To what extent is Malden High School a great place to go to school? <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">﻿Compared to other public schools, Malden High School provides a safe and welcoming atmosphere. Its friendly teachers and classmates allow students to grow in their scholastic careers, as well as providing a great place for one to form useful life skills.

<span style="background-color: #0073f5; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Compare apples and oranges.

When it comes down to apples and oranges, apples bcome the better choice. It's a fruit with less mess, an often sweeter taste, and living in New England gives me the ability to go pick them fresh off the tree. <span style="background-color: #000000; color: #ffff00; display: block; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; text-align: center;">**14.5 - Response to the Casey Anthony Trial**

<span style="background-color: #000000; color: #ffff00; display: block; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">**14.6 - Memory and Study Skills** <span style="color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: center;">//**How do you remember information? How do you study?**// I usually just read over all my notes. If i'm having real trouble understanding the topic, I like to go back and read over the chapter.

<span style="background-color: #000000; color: #ffff00; display: block; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">**14.7 - Memory Statements** <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">**// Copy the following statements into your virtual notebook. Put them in the order with the top one being the one that most relates to you, and list through the last one which least relates to you. //** //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> 6. “I remember every word the teacher says in class, but I have trouble remembering information from what I read.” //

//<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> 7. “I’m just so bored with what we have to learn. I can’t remember things if they’re not interesting to me.” //

//<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> 1. “I just can’t remember anything when I take tests.” //

//<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> 2. “I remember the information when I’m studying, but I forget it the day of the test.” //

//<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> 3. “I can’t even remember information while I am studying, much less during the test.” //

//<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> 4. “My memory is so bad that I can’t even remember three pieces of information!” //

//<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> 5. “I remember things I read in the textbook, but I can’t seem to remember what the teacher talks about in class.” //

<span style="background-color: #000000; color: #ffff00; display: block; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">**14.8 - Memory Tricks**