Unit 37: Writing Multi-Paragraph Essays

Day 2 of 30

Thesis statements: what makes a good thesis

6-8English Language Arts

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Learning Objective

Students will explore thesis statements and what makes a good thesis through guided practice and application.

Today's Lesson

In this lesson, we'll explore thesis statements: what makes a good thesis. Strong literacy skills open doors to learning in all subjects.

Asking and answering questions about a text builds deep comprehension. Key question types: Who? (identifies people/characters), What? (identifies events, objects, actions), Where? (identifies place or setting), When? (identifies time), Why? (identifies reasons and causes), How? (identifies methods or processes). Before reading, preview questions to know what to look for. During reading, pause to answer questions mentally. After reading, re-check your answers against the text. Being able to answer these questions proves true understanding—not just word recognition.

As you work through today's material, pay attention to the examples and try to identify the patterns or strategies being used. This will help you apply these concepts to new problems.

Take notes on key points and make connections to what you've already learned in previous lessons.

Key Terms
Reading

The process of decoding and comprehending written text

Writing

The process of composing text to communicate ideas

Activities
Instructions
1. Read the provided text focusing on thesis statements: what makes a good thesis. 2. Annotate key concepts and unfamiliar vocabulary. 3. Discuss observations with a partner. 4. Complete the guided questions.
Materials Needed
  • Text passage
  • Notebook
  • Highlighter

Teaching Tip

For advanced learners: Encourage deeper analysis and real-world connections. Consider extension activities that allow students to apply thesis statements: what makes a good thesis to novel situations.

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