Session+14

Session 14

A thesis statement is a sentence or two stating your argument that you are going to support in your writing.

**14.2 - Defining Thesis Statements** Copy and paste the following to your notebooks:

__Thesis Statements__ a. What is my topic? b. What argument am I prepared to make? c. How can I state my argument as clearly and powerfully as possible? d. Is my statement a direct answer to the question or response to the prompt or claim about the topic?
 * 1) A thesis statement is an argument. It is a 1-2 sentence statement of the purpose of your essay: what will you be proving to the reader in the essay?
 * 2) It should be toward the end of an introductory paragraph and include enough specifics that the reader has a general idea of the key points you will make to support your biggest claim.
 * 3) Your thesis statement should likely be a compound sentence, including a preview of the major points you will make to support your big claim. So, instead of writing a simple thesis statement like "The end of World War II brought about major consequences" you should probably write something like "When World War II ended in 1945, the major consequences included the division of Germany, the start of the United Nations, and the beginning of the Cold War."
 * 4) To write your thesis, ask yourself 4 questions:


 * DEFINE compound sentence.
 * A COMPOUND SENTENCE is a sentence structure in which two thoughts are shared and connected and have equal importance.
 * In number 3, explain why the second example thesis statement is better than the first.
 * The second example is better than the first, because the first example states that WWII brought about major consequences. They just stated the obvious, and in example two they stated what the WWII lead to exactly.

**14.3: Examples** For each of the following statements, highlight the choice you think is better. Then explain why you think it is the better choice.

__//Example: //__ //**Prompt ****:** Explain the relationship between nationalism and sectionalism in 1850s America. // //**Choice 1:** In 1850s America, nationalism was being overshadowing by growing sectionalist developments as the debate over the spread of slavery reached its highest points and set the stage for the start of the Civil War. // //**Choice 2:** American nationalism grew after the victory in the Mexican-American War in 1848 and the resulting land acquisitions. // //**Answer:** Choice 1 - The first thesis statement is better because it directly responds to the essay prompt, is clearly written, and includes specifics of the argument that will be made in the essay. Meanwhile, the second choice seems to be off in terms of time period and does not include enough specifics. //

__Student work__: **Choice 1:** Aid from the French helped turn the tide of the American Revolution toward victory for the colonists. This, in addition to their previously held advantages of strong military leadership and homeland advantage, led the colonists to win the war and gain their independence. **Choice 2**: In the late 18th century, after years of protesting unfair laws and many key battles, the American colonists won independence from their mother country of Great Britain.
 * //Prompt A// **: Why were the American colonists successful in winning independence from the British in the late 18th century?

The first example is better because it stated why they won and then continued to state details about why they won rather than just stating they won.

**Choice 1**: The abolition movement of 19th century America was divided in terms of both tactics and goals, as there were strong, differing opinions over how to most effectively make abolition occur and the process by which complete abolition should be sought.
 * //Prompt B://** In what ways was the abolition movement of 19th century America divided?
 * Choice 2:** Leading up to the Civil War, the abolition movement in America was divided, but ultimately remained united enough to push leaders of the country to end slavery forever.

Choice 1 was better because it in fact answers the question choice two just says it was divided but does not say in what way.

**//Prompt C//:** To what extent did Andrew Jackson’s presidency benefit the United States of America? **Choice 1:** Despite his record on treatment of Native Americans, Andrew Jackson’s presidency greatly benefited the U.S. due to his administration’s work on expanding voting rights and economic policies. **Choice 2:** Andrew Jackson was the eighth president of the United States and known for being the symbol of Jacksonian Democracy.

Choice one was better because it gives details and examples of what he did to benefit the country during his term serving as president.

**14.4: Practice thesis writing**


 * //Choose five// of the topics/questions/prompts below to create a thesis statement. Remember: your thesis should be a compound sentence.

__//Incorrect: McDonald's is the best just because.//__

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">All fast food is cheap, but even cheap food deserves to taste good. Burger King has the cheapest fast food in the fast food market today. The fries stay fresh and crispy and the sesame seeds top of their juicy burgers.
 * 1) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What is the best fast food restaurant operating today?
 * 1) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Asses this statement: no movie should ever have a sequel.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Movies should have sequels, this is because directors sometimes leave details out and the viewers always wonder what is going happen next and people hate movies that you have to use your imagination to figure out what happened in certain parts of movies.


 * 1) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Should immigrants be allowed into the United States if they cannot speak basic English?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Immagrants should be allowed into the United States without disrcimination of what language they speak, they are probably coming here to get an education or for work which requires them to learn English anyways, however everyone in the United States were once immigrants or ancestors of immigrants.


 * 1) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What are the reasons that a ratings system has been implemented for video games?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Rating systems have been implemented for video games for the safety of the child. Games rated with the letter M (mature) should only be played by people who are over the age of 18 and mature enough to handle the graphic visuals or language. Kids who are far too young to play rated M games began to become descensitized when playing games that are too graphic. Kids begin thinking shooting people is cool and stealing cars is fun, and with these games shaping the minds of our young who knows what our future could look like.


 * 1) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Why are there different age limits set on driver’s licenses (varies by state), voting (18), and alcohol use (21)?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Their are different age limits on drivers licenses, voting, and drinking because not only mentally do you need to be mature, however you physically need to be mature to complete driving or using alcohol. The human body can not handle the use of alcohol until the age of twenty one because that is when your brain is complete, anbd when drinking before that alcohol leads to the brain not being able to function properly, it also can be harmful to the liver and with alcohol in the hands of minors who do not know that information it could be deadly. When being able to get a drivers lisence you need to be able to know all the rules of the road, which requires a lot of time to study. You also need to be able to reach the pedals and steering wheel for your own and other drivers safety. Some states might introduce driving to teens at different times so they get to learn the rules before others which is why they are abvle to get a drivers lisence before other teens still learning in other states. However aside from being physically applicable to drive or drink you need to be mentally stable to vote. At age eightteen you are a legal adult and are responsible for making your own desicions. Voting is a big desicion you are held responsible for, that is the person who will be leading your country for the next four years so you need to be able to make a good desicion.
 * 1) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Should the United States ever attack another country that has not attacked the U.S. first?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The United should attack another country although we were not targeted first. If the United States doesn't go into other countries other countries will come into us. So by doing that, the United States is protecting its land and its people.
 * 1) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">To what extent is Malden High School a great place to go to school?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Malden High School is a great school to attend. the teachers are very social and understand every student as an individual. If the student does not feel like he/she is given enough individual attention he is able to go to the PASS program and work with interns from Harvard University to resovle his/her issues.
 * 1) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Compare apples and oranges.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Apples and oranges are both fruit, however both have many differences. Apples have a hard core while oranges have a juciy center, and apples you can eat the skin and the oranges skin probably wouldn't taste so good. Both fruits do have seeds and have juices that are made from them.
 * 1) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Analyze the reasons for which some teenagers drop out of school.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Some teens drop out of school because they need to get jobs in order to support their family, or if the teenager has a family of his/her own they need to support. Somne teens however drop out because they got mixed in with the wrtong crowed maybe a gang or people who do drugs and they feel as if they don't need school because they have their friends or they make enough money selling drugs or from stealing.

**14.5 - Response to the Casey Anthony Trial** Using the thesis guidelines above and the two articles you found about the Casey Anthony trial, write a one paragraph response to the trial. Prompt: Do you think Casey Anthony murdered her daughter?

In 5-7 sentences, using evidence from the articles you linked and from your own opinion of the trial. Include a compound thesis statement!

Although the direct evidence couldn't be gathered, the remaining evidence they do have is enough in many peoples eyes to convict Casey Anthony for murdering her daughter. Who dodesn't report their child missing for thirty days? Who parties the day after her child goes missing? According to Casey's mother, Casey's trunk smelt like a dead body and cloroforme residue was found in the car and was also found on the body of the baby girl.

**14.6 - Memory and Study Skills** How do you remember information? How do you study?

I self-study, I study by asking my self questions about things I just learned, however sometimes I like to study by repeating what I am trying to learn and eventually I will begin to memorize the information.

**14.7 - Memory Statements** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Copy the following statements into your virtual notebook. Put them in the order with the top one being the one that most relates to you, and list through the last one which least relates to you.

//<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">6. “I remember every word the teacher says in class, but I have trouble remembering information from what I read.” // //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2. “I remember the information when I’m studying, but I forget it the day of the test.” // //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">5. “I remember things I read in the textbook, but I can’t seem to remember what the teacher talks about in class.” // //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">7. “I’m just so bored with what we have to learn. I can’t remember things if they’re not interesting to me.” // //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">1. “I just can’t remember anything when I take tests.” // //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2. “I remember the information when I’m studying, but I forget it the day of the test.” // //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">3. “I can’t even remember information while I am studying, much less during the test.” // //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">4. “My memory is so bad that I can’t even remember three pieces of information!” // [] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">media type="custom" key="10177243"