Graphic Organizer for Personal Essay Thesis Development

I’ll be using this with my students tomorrow. Just wanted to share!

The topic I would like to write my personal essay about is: _______________________________

 

 

The big thing I really want to say (or claim) about my topic is: ____________________________

 

 

Here are several thesis statements starters I could use to prove my point about the topic I am writing about:

 

1. Many people think _______________________________________________________________________, but I think _________________________________________________________________________________.

2. I used to think _________________________________________________________________________, but now I think ____________________________________________________________________________.

3. I’ve come to believe that _______________________________________________________________.

Review all three thesis statements you wrote above.

Which one is the clearest? ______        Which one communicates your big idea? ______

Which one do you think you want to use? ______

Rewrite the statement you like the best in the space below:

 

 

The first point I’ll make that proves my thesis to be true is:…

    (State it clearly in a sentence.)

 

 

The second point I’ll make that proves my thesis to be true is:

    (State it clearly in a sentence.)

 

 

The third point I’ll make that proves my thesis to be true is:

    (State it clearly in a sentence.)

 

TO BE COMPLETED BY YOUR WRITING PARTNER:

I, ______________________________, have reviewed _____________________’s Thesis Statement and think that s/he can prove it as it’s written above.