Writing Manual & Sea King Capstone - Palos Verdes High School

Thesis Statement
A well-written thesis statement must contain a subject and an assertion (opinion). The thesis is
the backbone of the essay. It includes the following: a specific topic, a bias for the topic, and an
arguable reason for the stance on the topic. The thesis statement, a single sentence, appears at the
end of the introductory paragraph and becomes the foundation of the essay.
A strong thesis statement is not a fact; it takes a firm stand on a topic and makes a logical
argument for that choice.
Statement of Fact
The media has infiltrated our everyday lives.
General Thesis Statement
Today’s media messages manipulate youth into making mindless choices based loosely
on facts due to weak analytical skills.
A strong thesis statement uses precise vocabulary to convey intent and clearly focuses on a
specific bias for the chosen topic and the reason for that stance.
Broad Statement
Today’s media messages manipulate youth into making mindless purchases, which are
based loosely on facts, due to weak analytical skills.
Strong Thesis Statement
The latest cellular communication innovations manipulate adolescents, through carefully
designed advertisements, to make product choices based on promises of increased social
status in order to increase sales of merchandise.
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