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Thesis StatementsTo inform

To Persuade

To Entertain

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Purpose > Central Idea (Thesis)

Specific Purpose States Goal of Essay

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Specific Purpose States Goal of Essay

Central Idea Tells what essay discusses in detail

Purpose > Central Idea (Thesis)

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Specific Purpose: States Goal of Essay

To inform the audience about the dangers of keeping handguns in the home.

To persuade the audience that legislation to control handgun ownership is needed .

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Concise Statement of Specific Purpose Confusing: To persuade the audience that by

controlling gun ownership innocent people will not be hurt or killed because it is too easy to obtain a gun.

Clear: To persuade the audience that controlling handgun ownership is needed.

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Central Idea or Thesis: Tells what essay discusses in detail

It is dangerous to keep handguns in the home because innocent people can be injured or killed.

Handgun legislation is needed to limit ownership of handguns because too many innocent people are hurt or killed everyday.

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Specific Purpose > Central Idea/Thesis SP: To inform the audience about the dangers

of keeping handguns in the home.

CI: It is dangerous to keep handguns in the home because innocent people can be injured or killed.

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Specific Purpose > Central Idea/Thesis SP: To persuade the audience to support

legislation that controls handgun ownership.

CI: Handgun legislation is needed to limit ownership of handguns because too many innocent people are hurt or killed everyday.

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Specific Purpose > Central Idea/Thesis

To inform the audience why learning the Heimlich Maneuver is important.

The Heimlich Maneuver saves lives and reduces serious injury.

The Heimlich Maneuver is a simple and easy-to-learn technique that saves lives.

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Tying Major Ideas TogetherGeneral Purpose Specific Purpose Central Idea/Thesis

To inform To inform the audience about the dangers of handguns

Handguns kill and seriously injure more people than all other personal weapons combined.

To persuade To persuade the audience that a ban on selling handguns is needed.

Banning handguns will save lives and improve public safety.

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Writing the Thesis

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Central Ideas/Thesis Statements Paying college athletes a salary makes sense.

Because college athletes involved in sports such as football and basketball generate millions of dollars in revenue for the schools, the NCAA should allow such athletes to receive a $300 monthly salary as part of the their scholarship.

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Central Ideas/Thesis Statements Many problems with fad diets have been

identified.

Although fad diets produce quick weight loss, they can lead to serious health problems by creating deficiencies in vitamins and minerals and by breaking down muscle tissue as well as fat.

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Central Ideas/Thesis Statements How does indoor soccer differ from outdoor

soccer?

Played on a smaller, enclosed field that resembles a hockey rink with artificial turf, indoor soccer involves faster action, more scoring, and different strategies than outdoor soccer.

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Central Ideas/Thesis Statements Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula is an awesome

place for a vacation.

Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula has many attractions for vacationers, including a warm climate, excellent food, and extensive Mayan ruins.