Thesis Statements and Topic Sentences
HOW TO WRITE THEM BETTER
WHAT IS A THESIS STATEMENT?
A thesis statement is the road map to your
essay.
 It states your claim and previews your sub
claims.

HOW SHOULD I WRITE MY THESIS STATEMENT?
First, turn your question into a statement.
 For example, if my question was

 Why

was Manifest Destiny important to US History?
My statement would be
 Manifest
Destiny was important to US History
HOW SHOULD I WRITE MY THESIS STATEMENT?
But wait, there seems to be more to add
because my statement does not seem
complete.
 Second, you add your sub/supporting claims to
the end of the sentence.
 But wait, what are sub/supporting claims?

WHAT ARE SUB/SUPPORTING CLAIMS?
They are the answers to your question.
 Sub claims will become your topic sentences
for your body paragraphs.
 They are the main ideas that you will develop in
your body paragraphs.

HOW SHOULD I WRITE MY THESIS STATEMENT?
So how are the sub/supporting claims part of your
thesis statement?
 They will preview your argument for the reader.



If my statement is Manifest Destiny was important to
US History
I would turn it into a finished thesis statement by
adding my sub/supporting claims (which would be
turned into topic sentences for each of my body
paragraphs)
 Manifest
Destiny was important to US History because people
heading West provided more information about the geography
of our country, America gained more natural resources, and it
allowed more Americans to own their own land.
NOW WHAT DO I DO?
Manifest Destiny was important to US History because
This is your main claim created when you turned your
question into a statement.
BP = Body Paragraph
WRITE YOUR OWN CHICKEN FOOT
Don’t forget to turn your
question into a statement first.
This is your main claim created when you turned your
question into a statement.
Draw one at the bottom of your
handout.