STEP 1: A Basic Thesis Statement without an essay map

TOPIC + VERB + PRECISE OPINION

Topic Highly competitive team sports

This is your idea, usually expressed in one word or one short phrase. Make sure your idea is a limited subject.

Verb

can be

This is usually some form of the verb to be: am, is, are, was, were. Action verbs will work as well.

Precise Opinion

psychologically damaging to young children.

Your clearly stated opinion; omit all 1st person references from your opinion as they are unnecessary. For example, you need not write "I think" or "I feel." Since this is your essay, the reader will assume that the information presented is what you think or feel.

Eliminating 1st person pronouns also decreases the likelihood that you will write an announcement.

Examples

1. Highly competitive team sports (Topic) can be (Verb) psychologically damaging to young children (Precise Opinion).

2. Children (Topic) often do (Verb) humorous things (Precise Opinion).

3. Heavy rush hour traffic (Topic) brings out (Verb) the worst in many drivers (Precise Opinion).

See the next page for Step 2.