EDUC 721

Thesis Statement Assignment Instructions – BASED ON THE 2 WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS ATTACHED!!!!!!

The thesis statement is the main point of your composition. Professional papers must contain a thesis statement to test ideas, better organize and develop an argument, and provide the reader with a “guide” to the argument. A strong thesis statement shows more than just an observation, reflects a conclusion about the subject, and justifies a discussion. The thesis statement must express one main idea and be as specific as possible.

Your thesis statement should be measurable, objective, and narrow.

Your research proposal and literature review will be based on your thesis statement. Do not reveal any bias by stating a strong opinion.

·      Incorrectly worded thesis statement: “This research seeks to determine if inclusion has any positive or negative effect on the morale of teachers.”

o   This thesis statement doesn’t have a measurable outcome. There is no way to evaluate all positive AND negative outcomes.

o   This thesis statement doesn’t indicate what population of students. A study cannot look at all grade levels and all disability types.

o   This thesis statement would be very hard to design.

·      Correctly worded thesis statement: “This research seeks to identify patterns in survey data regarding effects on the morale of high school teachers who teach in an inclusive setting.

o   There is a specific population – high school teachers who teach inclusive classes.

o   There is a specific outcome measure – pattern in survey data.

o   This statement lends itself to design.

·      Incorrectly worded thesis statement: “This research seeks to determine if PBIS is effective.”

o   This thesis statement doesn’t have a measureable outcome. Effective in what way?

o   This thesis statement doesn’t indicate what population of students. A study cannot look at all grade levels and all disability types.

o   This thesis statement would be very hard to design.

·      Correctly worded thesis statement: “This research will evaluate the effects of classroom PBIS implementation for students with emotional and behavioral disorders in inclusive second grade classrooms on the rate of office discipline referrals.”

o   There is a specific population – EBD second grade students in inclusive classes.

o   There is a specific outcome measure – office discipline referrals.

o   This statement lends itself to design.

Once you have discovered your topic, that topic must be the subject of all your research.