Writing 101: Writing a Thesis Statement

Summary

In this video, Mrs. O teaches viewers how to write an expository thesis statement. She explains that an expository essay involves explaining or describing a topic rather than arguing a point. The key to writing a strong thesis is to clearly state the topic and outline the reasons or facts to be discussed in the essay. Mrs. O uses the example of why high school students drop out, brainstorming reasons like lack of support, low self-esteem, and financial obligations. The video provides a step-by-step guide to creating a solid thesis statement, encouraging viewers to try it themselves and share their ideas in the comments.

Takeaways

• 😀 An expository essay is one where you explain or describe a topic.
• 😀 An expository thesis statement should clearly state the topic and list the facts or reasons you will explain in the essay.
• 😀 Expository essays are generally easier to write because they focus on explaining the topic, not persuading or arguing.
• 😀 The key components of an expository thesis include the topic and reasons/facts that will be elaborated upon in the essay.
• 😀 Using a brainstorming method like the bubble map can help organize ideas and find supporting reasons for the thesis statement.
• 😀 The thesis statement for an expository essay typically contains at least one reason, and for a five-paragraph essay, it should include three reasons or facts.
• 😀 The sample prompt for writing an expository thesis is: 'Explain the main reason why you believe high school students drop out of school.'
• 😀 Example reasons why students might drop out of school include lack of support, academic struggles, financial obligations, and low self-esteem.
• 😀 The structure of the thesis can list reasons at the beginning and state the topic at the end for better clarity.
• 😀 When writing a five-paragraph essay, the thesis statement appears in the introduction, followed by body paragraphs each explaining one of the reasons listed in the thesis.

Q & A

What is an expository essay?

An expository essay is a type of essay where the writer explains or describes a specific topic. It is not meant to persuade or argue but to inform or explain in a straightforward manner.

Why is an expository essay considered one of the easiest essays to write?

An expository essay is considered easy because it requires the writer to simply explain a topic, which is a more straightforward process compared to persuasive or argumentative essays that require the writer to argue a point.

What should be included in an expository thesis statement?

An expository thesis statement should include the main topic and at least one reason or fact that will be explained in the essay. For a longer essay, it may include multiple reasons or facts.

What is the primary difference between an expository and a persuasive thesis statement?

An expository thesis statement focuses on explaining a topic with facts or reasons, while a persuasive thesis statement aims to argue a point or persuade the reader to adopt a particular stance.

How did the teacher approach brainstorming reasons for the sample prompt?

The teacher used a bubble map method to brainstorm reasons why high school students drop out. Some of the reasons identified were lack of support, being behind academically, financial obligations, and low self-esteem.

What was the thesis statement the teacher created based on the brainstorming session?

The teacher created the thesis statement: 'Lack of support, low self-esteem, and financial obligations are the main reasons students drop out of high school.'

What is the purpose of structuring a thesis statement with the reasons listed at the beginning?

Listing the reasons at the beginning of the thesis statement helps to clearly outline the main points that will be explained in the essay, making it easier to structure the body paragraphs of the essay.

What is the significance of the three reasons listed in the thesis statement?

The three reasons listed (lack of support, low self-esteem, and financial obligations) serve as the main topics that will be discussed and explained in each body paragraph of the essay.

How does the teacher suggest organizing the body paragraphs in a five-paragraph essay?

In a five-paragraph essay, the teacher suggests organizing the body paragraphs by focusing on each of the three reasons mentioned in the thesis statement, with one body paragraph dedicated to each reason.

What type of activity did the teacher assign to the students after the lesson?

The teacher asked the students to create their own thesis statements using the format provided and share their ideas in the comments, explaining why they believe high school students drop out of school.