Sample Thesis Statement Process

Audience =

• H.S. English Teachers

Tentative “Thesis” Idea =

• I think they should assign it to their English classes, probably grades 10-12.

Main Ideas =

• ( + ) A collection of short stories / H.S. students like short stories / teachers could pick-and-choose stories to assign / some stories work together with similar characters, etc.
• ( + ) The book has some good teenage characters that students might be able to relate to
• ( + ) It is a book set in the upper Midwest / it is familiar territory for readers / students might be able to relate to the setting, the seasons, the events and actions
• ( + ) The book illustrates “good writing” / the stories are very focused / the descriptions of characters and places are well written / good examples of language use
   
• ( - ) Some stories do move slowly and might lose H.S. readers
• ( - ) Students in the District #11 area might not be too familiar with Polish and Jewish people and customs

Tentative Thesis Statement =

• I think that high school English teachers should assign Anthony Bukoski’s book, Time Between Trains, to their classes.

Tentative Thesis Statements with “Forecast” =

• I think that high school English teachers should assign Anthony Bukoski’s book, Time Between Trains, to their classes because high-school students like short stories, they will be able to relate to some of the teenage characters, they will find the setting familiar, and the language and descriptions in the book are well done.
   
• I think that high school English teachers should assign Anthony Bukoski’s book, Time Between Trains, to their classes because high-school students like short stories, they will be able to relate to some of the teenage characters, they will find the setting familiar, and the language and descriptions in the book are well done; however, students might also find some parts of the book “slow” and they might not be able to relate to the Polish and Jewish references.
   
• Even though high school students might find some parts of Anthony Bukoski’s book, Time Between Trains, to be slow, and they might be unfamiliar with Polish and Jewish characters and customs, I still believe that high school English teachers should assign the book to their classes because high-school students like short stories, they will be able to relate to some of the teenage characters, they will find the setting familiar, and the language and descriptions in the book are well done.