Lesson Plan: Crafting A SMART thesis statement
Classical Studies
Objective: To help students learn strategies for developing a strong thesis statement by presenting the paradigm of A SMART thesis, a valuable tool in evaluating the different aspects of a complex and strong thesis statement.
Step One: Discuss the basics of a thesis (5-10 minutes)
Class Discussion: Why is a strong thesis statement so important? Brainstorm ideas about what makes a strong vs. weak thesis statement.
Present the Concept of A SMART Thesis Statement (10 minutes)
A SMART thesis statement has the following six attributes:
Alludes to structure: prepares the reader for the type and order of evidence you will discuss
Specific: expresses one main idea with specific language
Manageable: deals with a subject that can be adequately treated given the nature and length of the assignment
Arguable: focuses on a subject about which reasonable people could disagree
Relevant: gets to the heart of the text or topic and is non-obvious
Takes a stand: asserts your conclusions about a subject
Present one strong and one weak thesis. Discuss how these can be evaluated and improved using the SMART thesis statement.
Next Step: Present handout titled A SMART thesis development worksheet. Students should prepare this for next class as they continue researching and honing their thesis statement for next time.
Claudia Filos
Developed at Brandeis University through a grant from the Davis Educational Foundation