Thesis Extras 1

Exercise 1

The following exercise contains hypothetical thesis statements. On the blank line beside each statement, write “A” if the statement is arguable or “F” if the statement is a statement of fact.

_______1. The amount of financial aid available to students should be proportionate to the earning potential of the career fields for which their majors prepare them.

_______2. Tom Hanks should have won the Best-Actor award for his performance in Castaway. _______

_______3. Frank Sinatra was loved and admired by many people.

_______4. The United States contains citizens of many different ethnicities.

 _______5. Sterling College should make coffee available to students in every building.

_______6. Driving under the influence of alcohol is dangerous.

_______7. Penalties for drinking and driving should be more severe.

_______8. Television networks air a lot of reality shows nowadays.

_______9. The Harry Potter movies are better than the Indiana Jones movies.

_______10. Steroid abuse can lead to serious health problems.

Exercise 2
Each item below contains a general subject and a narrower subject that is derivative of it. Write an arguable thesis statement for each group of words in the column labeled “Narrower Topic.”
General Topic

1.     education

2.     communication

3.     work

4.     dishonesty

5.     community

6.     television

7.     relationships

8.     newspapers

9.     family

10.  criminal justice

Narrower Topic Thesis Statement

distance education ?

the difference in people’s voices ?

paid vacation time ?

cheating in sports ?

volunteerism ?

reality shows ?

fathers and sons ?

college newspapers ?

 eating together ?

treatment of inmates ?

More Exercise
Write two arguable thesis statements, each with at least three supporting arguments. They do not need to be complicated. The important thing is that your thesis and supporting arguments logically align.
Example:
Thesis: Random drug testing should not be allowed in high schools. Supporting Arguments:

1.     It is a violation of privacy.

2.     It wastes taxpayer money because most students know how to “cheat”

on the tests.

3.     It instills unnecessary fear in students and consequently affects their

academic performance in a negative way.

Writing Thesis Statements
10
EXERCISE 5
Listed with the two thesis statements below are possible supporting arguments. Within each group of possible supporting arguments, one (1) does not align logically with the thesis. Circle each supporting argument that does not align.

1.     The media should be as hard on non-players as they are on players when it comes to cheating in baseball.

·       Gamblers do a lot of damage to the game.

·       Fans steal signals from opposing teams and relay them to players and coaches.

·       Non-starting players also steal signals.

·       Groundskeepers have been known to “fix” fields for a home-team advantage.

2.     Kansas is a great place to live.

·       The state has great roads and traffic is seldom congested.

·       Kansas City offers many fun attractions, especially east of State Line Road.

·       It has many community colleges that enhance local economies.

·       Kansans have a rich history of looking out for one another.

EXERCISE 6

Revise the thesis statements in Exercise 5 above so that they “cover” all four of the supporting arguments.