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ESSAYPROMPTANDASSIGNMENT11
TompkinsERWCEnglish
ESSAYPROMPTANDASSIGNMENT11
11.ConsideringStructureEvaluatingThesisStatements
instructions: Using the guidelines for developing effective thesis statements, evaluate
Thompsons thesis statement. Then evaluatethethesisstatementstaken from student
essays below. Label them very effective, OK, or not effective, and
briefly explain
eachofyourdecisions
.
GuidelinesforDevelopingThesisStatements
A thesis reflectsthewriterspositionon a questionthathas morethanoneside.After
reading thethesis,the reader should be abletoexplainwhattheissueisandwhatside
oftheargumentthewriterison.
Develop a thesis statement that makes the topic andyour opinionorpositiononthe
topiccleartoyourreader.
Chooseonesideoftheissueifyourtopicrequiresit,butyoumayqualifyyourposition.
If the topic asks to what extent you agreeordisagree witha statement, be sure to
explain how strongly you agree or disagree. You may include a because statement,
butyoudonotneedtolistallthereasonsforyourposition.
Neitherafactual statementnoraquestionmakeaneffectivethesisbecausethey
donotreflectthewriterspositionontheissue.
ThompsonsThesis
In terms of cognitive development, as research on the human brain has shown,
Brazillandanyotheryoungteenisfarfromadulthood.
StudentThesisStatements
1.Juvenileoffendersareyoungpeopleundertheageof18whocommitcrimes.
TompkinsERWCEnglish
ESSAYPROMPTANDASSIGNMENT11
3. Juveniles must be held accountable for their crimes, but they must be treated
differentlythanadults.
4.Sentencingjuvenilestolifeinprisonisbothgoodandbad.
6. With a growing number of young adults being tried and sentenced as adults for
violentcrimes,thequestionarises,Whydidtheycommitthesecrimes?
Nowbrainstormathesisstatementpriortobeginningyourwritingonthecomputer:
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