BUILDING A STRONG THESIS STATEMENT:  TEST YOURSELF

The Hints

1. Discuss the influence that advertising has had on your life of the lives of your friends. 
   
   Hint: Note the word OR.  Choose to talk about advertising effects on you or on your friends, but not both. 

2. How does a person make a good first impression in an interview? Discuss.
   
   Hint: Note that you don't list all the steps to make a good impression in your thesis statement. Just write a general statement that answers the question and use your topic sentences to state the ways to make a good impression.  

3. It has been said that computers are taking over our lives. Do you agree or disagree? Explain.
   
   Hint: You can always narrow or direct the question. An essay about how you're being affected by your computer could be easier to write than an essay about computers taking over the lives of everyone. 

4. Discuss the influence that a relative (other than a parent) has had in your life. 
   
   Hint: Make sure you read the question carefully so you don't write about a parent.  In addition, don't list the ways in the thesis; write a general statement and save the ways for your topic sentences.  

5. If you could influence the way products are advertised in the United States, what recommendations, if any, would you make? Discuss.
   
   Hint: When you choose a hypothetical question, begin your thesis with if. 

6. How has the women's movement affected relationships between men and women? Discuss.
   
   Hint: You should narrow the topic.  This is waaaaaaaay too broad!