How-to-Make Your Thesis SNAP! Your Roadmap to a Good Thesis.

How-to-Make Your Thesis SNAP!Your Roadmap to a Good Your Roadmap to a Good

ThesisThesis

Thesis Statement

Roadmap to your essay•Where you are going•How you are going to get there

Should include…•Your argument

•How specifically you will prove that argument (your topics for the body paragraphs!)

4 Characteristics of a Good Thesis

SNAP

pecific

on-Obviousrguablerovable

Specific• Tells exactly what you will

prove

• Tells exactly how you will prove it

• Each topic sentence in the body paragraphs should match the information from the thesis

• Strong thesis statements have subpoints

• McDonald’s is the best fast food restaurant in the United States.

• McDonald’s has friendly service, low prices, and an extensive menu.

• McDonald’s is the best fast food restaurant in the United States because of its friendly service, its low prices, and its extensive menu.

Non-Obvious• The whole point of

an essay is to prove something- not to simply summarize the obvious!

• Alexander the Great was a famous leader in Ancient times.

vs.

• Alexander the Great was a strong leader because he spread Greek culture and accepted the traditions of people he conquered.

Arguable

• Thesis must contain an opinion; it is NOT a statement of fact.

• Alexander the Great had a positive impact on the Hellenistic world.

Provable

• If you can not prove your thesis, there is no point in writing the essay.

• Thesis must be able to be supported by quotations and facts.

• If Alexander had never conquered the Mediterranean, the modern world would be very different today.

Why aren’t these good thesis statements?

This essay will that Alexander the Great was a bad leader.

Alexander the Great was a good leader for three reasons: his army, culture, and bravery.

Was Alexander the Great a good leader?

Many people have wondered why Alexander the Great was a bad leader.

Your TurnOn a sheet of paper, formulate your thesis statement. DO NOT PUT YOUR NAME ON IT!

In the upper right hand corner, put a CODE NAME for yourself.

Draw the following chart on the bottom half of your paper.

Rate the thesis you receive on a scale of 1 to 5 for each SNAP characteristic

Write one thing the author needs to address.

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