5b
Grade 11
Week 2 · thesis workshop
Class 5b · Fri 11 Sep

Your first thesis statement

Workshop: from topic to debatable thesis · Workshop 1.1 point 1 of the syllabus · preview of week 3.
Repaso · 2 min

What is a thesis?

It is
A debatable claim that sums up your argument.
It is not
A question, a fact, or a topic.
Where it goes
At the end of the first paragraph, after However.
Test: if someone can say «I disagree», it is a thesis.
The key idea

From topic to thesis in four steps

1 · Topic
Artificial Intelligence in high school education.
A topic. It says nothing.
2 · Question
Should AI be used in high school classrooms?
Now there is something to decide.
3 · Position
Yes, but with limits.
Your answer.
4 · Thesis
Although AI can personalise learning, high schools should limit it to a support tool, because critical thinking must remain human.
Claim + concession + reason. Debatable.
The formula of a strong thesis

Although X, Y because Z

PieceFunctionExample
Although Xconcedes what the other side saysAlthough video games can be addictive,
Yyour clear claimthey should be part of the school curriculum
because Zyour main reasonbecause they develop problem-solving skills.
With although you show intellectual maturity: you acknowledge the other side before arguing. Reading 2 of the syllabus says so.
True or false

True or false?

"Social media is popular among teenagers."
TRUE
FALSE
"Although social media connects people, schools should teach digital detox because attention is a skill."
TRUE
FALSE
"Should Colombia invest more in science?"
TRUE
FALSE
"Colombia should invest more in science because innovation creates jobs."
TRUE
FALSE
Order the sentence

Build the thesis

schools
to
should
is
tool
support
high
powerful
limit
a
Although
it
AI
Fill in the gap

Complete the thesis

critical thinking
should
because
Although
  technology is useful, students ___ read printed books too, ___ deep reading builds ___.
Taller · cuatro tesis · 12 min

Write four theses

Topics
1. The role of AI in high school education (the one from the syllabus).
2. Video games and learning.
3. Social media and mental health.
4. Your career: why it is the right one for you.
Rule
Each thesis: Although X, Y because Z.
It must be debatable: someone could disagree.
Maximum 30 words.
Number 4 is the thesis of your term essay.
Share · is it debatable? · 5 minutes

Read your thesis. Does anyone disagree?

Read your thesis 4 standing up. The class raises a hand if they could disagree. If nobody does, it is not a thesis: it is a fact. Rewrite it.
Phrase to disagree politely: I see your point, but I disagree because…
Level up · coach tip

Test your thesis with «so what?»

After writing a thesis, ask «so what?». If the answer is «nothing, it is obvious», you have a fact, not a thesis. If the answer starts an argument, you have a thesis. Repeat until someone in the room could reasonably disagree.
Level up · reading · Anatomy of a Weak Thesis

Most weak theses fail in one of three predictable ways. The first is the disguised fact: «Social media is popular among teenagers» describes reality; nobody argues with it. The second is the question in disguise: «Should schools ban phones?» invites a thesis but is not one. The third, and most common among strong students, is the overloaded thesis: a forty-word sentence with four claims, none of them defended. A strong thesis makes one debatable claim, concedes the opposing view, and names the main reason: «Although phones distract students, schools should not ban them because they are the only research tool many families can afford». Notice that the concession is not a weakness; it is what makes the claim credible.

Level up · reading · 1 of 2

Which thesis has the «overloaded» problem?

A«Phones are popular»
B«Should schools ban phones?»
CA forty-word sentence with four claims
D«Although X, Y because Z»
Level up · reading · 2 of 2

Why is the concession important, according to the text?

AIt makes the sentence longer
BIt shows the writer is unsure
CIt makes the claim more credible
DIt replaces the reason
Match

Match the word with its meaning

disguised
overloaded
concede
credible
afford
predictable
easy to foresee
have enough money for
believable
carrying too much
admit a point of the other side
hidden as something else
Fill in the gap

Complete each sentence

should
debatable
concession
fact
Although
because
  phones distract students, schools should not ban them.
Schools should not ban phones   they are a research tool.
«Social media is popular» is a  , not a thesis.
A strong thesis is  : someone could disagree.
The   makes the claim credible.
Schools   teach digital responsibility instead.
Order the sentence

Put the sentence in order

replace
human
Although
helps
it
should
AI
not
is
learning
because
teachers
students
After learning

The essentials

Topic → question → position → thesis. Although X, Y because Z. If nobody can argue it, it is not a thesis.
Week 3: anatomy of a solid academic thesis, analysis of model essays and the Thesis Defense Duel. Bring your four theses.
Class score
0/24