AP Writing Gateway Page
Literature Exam
Writing Prompts:
Composition Exam
Writing Prompts
Essays for analysis
THESIS STATEMENTS AND TOPIC SENTENCES
Thesis statements are:
- argumentative
- text-rooted
- sensitive to the surprising, the ironic, the unexpected, the problematical
When drafting a thesis, ask:
- Why?
- How?
- What's surprising?
- What's unexpected?
- What's causing a problem?
Thoughts on Thesis Statements from College Professors:
"Five Ways of Looking at a Thesis," by Professor Simpson at Grinell College (Iowa)
"Getting an A on an English Paper," by Professor Lynch at Rutgers
"Writing A Thesis," by Professor Barsanti at Penn