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Developing a Question, Hypothesis, Thesis Teacher Resources
Find teacher approved Developing a Question, Hypothesis, Thesis educational resource ideas and activities
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After reading on the topic of their paper, high schoolers work in pairs to assess how to write powerful, precise thesis statements. The introduction contains three statements: a universal statement, a bridge statement, and a thesis statement. The lesson is designed for research projects, but it could translate well to any essay that involves stating a claim or argument.
Your middle schoolers can become stronger writers with a lesson covering the basics. They compose effective thesis statements and introductions, discuss different ways to capture a reader's attention, and compare a poorly written introduction to a well written one.
Young writers compare writing a paper to building a barn. They write a thesis statement using parallel construction and use transitions to hold the paper (walls of the barn) together. A barn raising video link is included; great for visual learners!
A good thesis is hard to craft. Model for your writers how to develop and refine thesis statements with a series of slides that discuss the purpose and format of this all-important sentence. Viewers following along as the process is presented and can examine sample statements.
At 32 slides, one would think this presentation on thesis statements is a bit too long, but it is the most important component of a well-written essay! Help your developing writers craft concise, interesting theses with this PowerPoint. Some common mistakes are introduced (using the first person, unclear language, stating a fact, etc.), and your class has to brainstorm how to fix it. Several slides of practice are included to ensure your kids walk away with a better sense of how to write an effective thesis statement.
While the focus of this activity is on writing about tornadoes, any topic could be substituted. The activity provides a well-thought out overview of the writing process. Learners come up with a thesis statement, supporting details, and a conclusion for a five-paragraph essay.
Whether introducing or reviewing the format of the five-paragraph essay, your class members will benefit from color-coded slides that define and model the various parts of the essay. Although a complete essay is not included, the outline and the model sentences could be used to craft a complete essay about the Assyrians.
How do you choose a research topic? This helpful graphic organizer is provided to aid middle and high schoolers in organizing their initial thoughts and choosing a topic. They have to narrow their topic by culture, time frame, event, etc., and brainstorm sources they can look at first.
Ninth graders discover the world of Shakespeare. For this Elizabethan England lesson, 9th graders research authoritative Web sites and develop thesis statements that they support in MLA documented essays. Students also evaluate their own writing and create PowerPoint presentations to accompany their essays.
What are the characteristics of a good purpose statement for a speech? Of a thesis statement? After considering the characteristics of good and bad opening statements, viewers identify the best example in a series of models.