1. Facts, opinions, and arguable thesis statements Captain Jack Sparrow by flickr user xrrr (Simon Greig) (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) http://www.flickr.com/photos/xrrr/408989152/in/photostream/

2. The purpose of a thesis statement Is to communicate the main idea of your essay However:The main idea or issue should be significant enough so that most of your readers do not ask, “So what?”

3. In an Opinion or Argument essay, the thesis statement must be arguable and include your position or point of view.

4. Here is an example of a thesis statement that includes an opinion but would not lend itself to developing an academic argument:Johnny Depp is the best actor in the world.

5. Here is an example of an arguable thesis statement that can be supported with research, facts, and evidence: Year-round schools will give students the opportunity to learn without forgetting during the summer break; test scores and student achievement will rise if more school districts convert to a year-round academic calendar.

6. Fact or Opinion A fact…can be proven to be true. An opinion…is someone’s feelings about a topic or an issue.

7. When developing a thesis… Your position should be supported by Reliable Facts Credible Evidence Valid Research Statistics Expert testimony

8. Arrrgh! Don’t make your essay walk the plank…. Develop a meaningful and arguable thesis statement Support it with valid evidence Distinguish facts from opinions Remember the difference between an academic argument and chit-chat between swashbucklers!