Guided Practice 3.3 B1:Developing Thesis Statements

Instructions

Practice identifying thesis statements by choosing which is the better thesis statement in each of the pairs below. Remember, a thesis statement is a form of opinion, not simply a fact. A thesis statement takes a position, and the multi-paragraph composition explains or defends the position.

1 a. Dolphins are mammals.

   b. Dolphins are the smartest mammals in the ocean.

2. a. Arson is a hideous crime, as it harms people and homes.

    b. The arsonist started the fire in the basement.

3 a. Schools should enforce strict dress codes to help eliminate discrepancy between social classes.

   b. Some schools have strict dress codes.

4. Write a thesis statement for each of the following topics. Make sure that each of your answers takes a position (good or bad for example) about the topic.

Rap Music

Snowboarding

Hybrid (fuel/battery combination) automobiles