Thesis Statements - Inquizitive

Which one of the following sentences best defines a thesis statement? A statement that expresses a writer's personal opinion on a topic. A statement that announces the subject of a piece of writing. A statement that communicates the topic and main point of a piece of writing.

A statement that communicates the topic and main point of a piece of writing.

Which of the following options would accurately complete this sentence? An effective thesis statement . . . always forecasts the supporting points made in a text. always stakes out a position on a controversial topic. is always one sentence. is always explicitly stated. always appears at the end of a text's introduction.

Correct: N/A Incorrect: always forecasts the supporting points made in a text. always stakes out a position on a controversial topic. is always one sentence. is always explicitly stated. always appears at the end of a text's introduction.

True or False: Every college writing assignment will require a thesis statement.

False

True or False: A thesis statement is sometimes also called a central idea, a controlling idea, or a main claim.

True

Watch the video below, then respond to the prompt that follows. Aiko decides to transform—or "remix"—her report on the history of tone indicators into an infographic that she'll share online. The thesis she wrote for her report was this: Tone indicators are relatively new communication tools, but they're part of a long history of attempts to make tone more understandable in written forms of English. Aiko wants to include her thesis in the headline of her infographic. Should she consider adjusting her original thesis for the medium and genre of an online infographic? 1. No, her current thesis is fine for the new medium and genre. 2. Yes, she should consider adjusting her thesis for the new medium and genre.

Yes, she should consider adjusting her thesis for the new medium and genre.

Watch the video below, then respond to the prompt that follows. Qualifiers are words that limit a thesis in some way. Click on the words that Carlos uses to qualify his thesis statement. (Click or tap on words, phrases, or items in the passage below to complete the question as instructed.) Adopting the Elam Ending could make college basketball more exciting for fans, with minimal impact on players.

could college with minimal impact on players.

Identify the words or phrases in the passage below that help qualify the writer's thesis. (You must click or tap at least one more word, phrase, or item to complete the question.) For certain schools, majors, occupations, and individuals, college may not be a smart investment.

ANSWER: certain schools, majors, occupations, and individuals may not

Which of the following parts of the writing process can you begin before having a well-developed thesis statement? Revising Drafting Outlining Brainstorming Reading and researching Getting feedback

Before Developing a Thesis: Revising Drafting Outlining Brainstorming Reading and researching Getting feedback Only After Developing a Thesis: N/A

A student plans to write an argument on the topic of children and social media. To focus her research and to work toward a tentative thesis, she's generated the following questions about her topic. Which questions would work best to guide her research efforts and allow her to develop an arguable thesis statement? Has the number of children using social media increased in recent years? How do children's versions of popular social media apps compare to. the regular versions? At what age do most children start using social media? Is it okay for children to be social media influencers?

Correct: How do children's versions of popular social media apps compare to. the regular versions? Is it okay for children to be social media influencers? Incorrect: Has the number of children using social media increased in recent years? At what age do most children start using social media?

A good thesis statement for a rhetorical or literary analysis... Makes an arguable claim about the text's meaning or purpose. Makes a factual claim about the text. Can be supported with evidence from the text under consideration. Tells readers whether the writer liked or disliked the text. Summarizes what others have said about the text.

Correct: Makes an arguable claim about the text's meaning or purpose. Can be supported with evidence from the text under consideration. Incorrect: Makes a factual claim about the text. ells readers whether the writer liked or disliked the text. Summarizes what others have said about the text.

Watch the video below, then answer the following question. Imagine that Carlos decides to write a report about the Elam Ending. Which thesis statement would be most appropriate for the report genre? The "Elam Ending" is a new scoring system designed to make the final minutes of a basketball game more competitive and fast-paced. College basketball should adopt the "Elam Ending" in order to make the game more exciting for both players and fans. Nick Elam began working on the basic concept for his alternative scoring system for basketball in 2004.

Correct: The "Elam Ending" is a new scoring system designed to make the final minutes of a basketball game more competitive and fast-paced. Incorrect: College basketball should adopt the "Elam Ending" in order to make the game more exciting for both players and fans. Nick Elam began working on the basic concept for his alternative scoring system for basketball in 2004.

True or False: The expectations for thesis statements are the same regardless of the academic discipline you're writing in.

False

True or False: You should have your thesis statement fully developed before you begin drafting a piece of writing.

False

One of your classmates is writing an argument about financial literacy classes. After turning his topic into a question, he brings the following tentative thesis statement to a peer-review workshop: Schools should offer financial literacy classes because they're beneficial for students. Which suggestion(s) might you make to help him improve his thesis? 1. Your overall position is clear, but "beneficial for students" seems vague. Could you be more specific about why financial literacy classes are beneficial? 2. I'm wondering if financial literacy classes are always beneficial for all students? Maybe you could qualify your statement? 3. It might be helpful for readers to know what kinds of schools you're referring to. High schools? Middle schools? Colleges?

Helpful: 1. Your overall position is clear, but "beneficial for students" seems vague. Could you be more specific about why financial literacy classes are beneficial? 2. I'm wondering if financial literacy classes are always beneficial for all students? Maybe you could qualify your statement? 3. It might be helpful for readers to know what kinds of schools you're referring to. High schools? Middle schools? Colleges? Not Helpful: N/A

After watching the video below, identify additional activities that might help Carlos develop a tentative thesis statement. Jumping right into drafting—and not worrying about a thesis until later. Talking with teachers, tutors, or peers about his research and brainstorming. Giving feedback to his peers about their working thesis statements.

Helpful: Jumping right into drafting—and not worrying about a thesis until later. Talking with teachers, tutors, or peers about his research and brainstorming. Giving feedback to his peers about their working thesis statements. Not helpful: N/A

Watch the video below, then answer the following question. Imagine that Aiko decides to write a proposal related to her topic of tone indicators. Which of the following thesis statements would be most appropriate for the genre of a proposal? 1. Tone indicators are a new and valuable form of communication. 2. Learning to use tone indicators has enhanced my literacy skills considerably. 3. Interpreting tone correctly has sometimes been difficult for the members of our Facebook group. To solve this problem, we should consider learning about and using tone indicators in our posts.

Interpreting tone correctly has sometimes been difficult for the members of our Facebook group. To solve this problem, we should consider learning about and using tone indicators in our posts.

At what point in the writing process is it too late to adjust your thesis? When you're editing and proofreading When you're revising. It's never too late.

It's never too late.

Fill in the blanks to complete the following statements. Qualifiers are words that _________ a thesis in some way. Examples of qualifiers include words like "in some cases," "nearly," and ___________. limit absolutely expand usually

Limit; usually

The following are thesis statements for an evaluation essay. Rank the thesis statements from most effective to least effective, starting with the most effective one. The Park of Roses is located in the middle of the city. The city's park system has plusses and minuses. The Park of Roses may be small, but its fountains, walking paths, and dozens of rose beds make it one of the gems of the city's park system. The Park of Roses is the best park in the city because it has more rose varieties than any of the other parks.

MOST to LEAST EFFECTIVE: The Park of Roses may be small, but its fountains, walking paths, and dozens of rose beds make it one of the gems of the city's park system. The Park of Roses is the best park in the city because it has more rose varieties than any of the other parks. The city's park system has plusses and minuses. The Park of Roses is located in the middle of the city.

You're writing a literacy narrative about learning to speak a new language. Should you include an explicit thesis statement in your text? Yes No Maybe

Maybe

The sentences below describe the purposes of thesis statements for three particular genres. Match each purpose to the appropriate genre. A thesis for this genre indicates the significance of a personal story you're sharing. A thesis for this genre presents a fair and balanced assessment of a particular subject. A thesis for this genre concisely states your overall reaction to a text whose ideas you've recapped.

Memoir: A thesis for this genre indicates the significance of a personal story you're sharing. Summary and Response Essay: A thesis for this genre concisely states your overall reaction to a text whose ideas you've recapped. Evaluation: A thesis for this genre presents a fair and balanced assessment of a particular subject.

A student has drafted several possible thesis statements for a rhetorical analysis of magazine ads. Which of his thesis statements need revision? The Dove Men+Care ad campaign is very interesting. Advertising's portrayal of men is changing. Dove's latest ads feature men taking care of children. Two recent ads for men's grooming products challenge traditional media representations of masculinity by portraying men as nurturing, emotional, and vulnerable.

Needs Revision: The Dove Men+Care ad campaign is very interesting. Advertising's portrayal of men is changing. Dove's latest ads feature men taking care of children. Doesn't Need Revision: Two recent ads for men's grooming products challenge traditional media representations of masculinity by portraying men as nurturing, emotional, and vulnerable.

The sentences below describe the purposes of three types of thesis statements. Match each description to the appropriate genre. A thesis for this genre indicates the particular angle you're capturing in your portrait of a person, place, event, or object. A thesis for this genre concisely puts forward a solution to a problem. A thesis for this genre presents your interpretation or judgment of how-or how well-a written or visual text achieves its purposes.

Profile: A thesis for this genre indicates the particular angle you're capturing in your portrait of a person, place, event, or object. Proposal: A thesis for this genre concisely puts forward a solution to a problem. Rhetorical Analysis: A thesis for this genre presents your interpretation or judgment of how-or how well-a written or visual text achieves its purposes.

Below are several newspaper headlines that function as thesis statements, suggesting both the main point and the genre of their accompanying articles. Match each thesis/headline to the genre it suggests. No amount of detention is safe for a child. Here are better solutions for migrant kids. Amazon's new rotating, follow-you camera is useful—and invasive. Teenage brains may be especially vulnerable to marijuana and other drugs.

Proposal: No amount of detention is safe for a child. Here are better solutions for migrant kids. Evaluation: Amazon's new rotating, follow-you camera is useful—and invasive. Report: Teenage brains may be especially vulnerable to marijuana and other drugs.

Fill in the blank to complete the following statement. In academic contexts, a thesis is typically expressed in the form of a __________. command declarative sentence question

declarative sentence

Fill in the blanks to complete the following statement. A tentative thesis statement is a _________ thesis that will most likely ____________ as you work through your writing process. final stay the same preliminary evolve

preliminary; evolve