CAB Instruction

EQ: What makes a good thesis?

For starters: Are these Strong Thesis Statements?

1. My essay is about the lesson on greed in Midas. 
2. The myth, Midas, has a great lesson about disaster, greed and people!
3. While greed is universally known to lead to disaster, Midas is one Greek myth that shows the painful effects of greed on the individual, the family, and society. (Note the parallel structure.)

How do you write a STRONG Thesis Statement?
      *In this case, strong means clear and specific.

1st -Figure out the prompt question.
         
2nd - Answer the question.  
  The "Assert" section is the most basic part of your answer.

       Contest
                   Although the Greek heroes were often demigods and quite selfish,
          Assert
                   they do have some major similarities with the typical modern hero
          Because
                    because they share the traits of self-sacrifice, loyalty and courage.

Example: Practice Prompt: What is the best advice for a young teen about fighting?

3rd - Check it.

• Did I take a debatable position? No Summary!!!
• Is my thesis specific enough? Avoid general words. For example, if you contain words like "good" or "successful," then state what makes it good or specifically what the standard for success is.
• Does it pass the "So What?" test? If not, you may need to clarify, connect your ideas to a larger issue, or narrow your topic down somehow. 
• Does my thesis match my body paragraphs? If the topics of your body paragraphs do not match your thesis, then one of them has to change. It is ok to change your thesis. This often happens as your write and think more deeply about a topic. For this reason, many people write the introduction to the essay last. 

For more help, go to this website.
For more practice, go to this website.