Thesis statements in APA papers 2

Click on the sentence that would work well as the thesis statement for a research paper from five to ten pages long. Remember that a thesis should be a central idea that requires supporting evidence; it should be of adequate scope for a five-to-ten-page paper; and it should be sharply focused.

For help with this exercise, see Thesis statements.

Example

1 of 10

Question

undefined.  
◯ More than one million school-aged children in the United States are educated primarily at home.
◯ Homeschooling is effective only when the correct social, emotional, and educational circumstances exist for both parent and child.
Thesis statements in APA papers 2 – 1

2 of 10

Question

undefined.  
◯ One way to ensure the early detection, effective treatment, and ultimate reduction of childhood mental health problems is to professionalize the child care industry.
◯ If we as a society don’t do something to meet the mental health needs of very young children, we will all pay the price in the long run.
Thesis statements in APA papers 2 – 2

3 of 10

Question

undefined.  
◯ In 1997, the National Gambling Impact Study Commission found that the prevalence of pathological gambling was twice as likely to occur within 50 miles of a gambling facility.
◯ In Connecticut, where casino gambling and the state lottery contributed more than half a billion dollars a year to the state’s revenue, more money should be spent on programs that can prevent and treat gambling addiction.
Thesis statements in APA papers 2 – 3

4 of 10

Question

undefined.  
◯ Although it has been criticized, the resource dilution model—the theory that the number of siblings a child has can influence his or her chances for intellectual development—offers the most likely explanation for why this causal relationship may exist.
◯ It is largely undisputed that children with no siblings are more likely to score higher on cognitive skills tests than children with multiple siblings.
Thesis statements in APA papers 2 – 4

5 of 10

Question

undefined.  
◯ Given the possible link between suicide rates and antidepressant medications in children and teenagers, physicians should more closely monitor first-time users of these drugs.
◯ Psychotherapy alone may be the right course of action for some depressed children, yet others may benefit more from a combination of therapy and medication.
Thesis statements in APA papers 2 – 5

6 of 10

Question

undefined.  
◯ Most American parents, aware of the reality of teenage sexual activity, favor comprehensive sex education programs rather than abstinence-only programs for their children.
◯ Recent evidence suggests that abstinence-only sex education programs do not decrease the number of teenage pregnancies; in fact, these programs can actually increase the number of sexually transmitted diseases in teens because they do not incorporate a discussion of safe sex.
Thesis statements in APA papers 2 – 6

7 of 10

Question

undefined.  
◯ Although many people believe that the number of suicides increases during times of severe economic crises, there is very little evidence to support this theory.
◯ Since the rate of suicides among Native American youths is more than twice the national average, federal agencies must make suicide prevention in our Native communities a top priority.
Thesis statements in APA papers 2 – 7

8 of 10

Question

undefined.  
◯ The pressure put on schools and educators for their students to perform well on standardized tests has resulted in higher scores but has not increased students’ long-term ability to achieve.
◯ Proponents of the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) point to its emphasis on teacher accountability, its focus on quality education for all children, and its provision for school choice; but critics charge that NCLB is underfunded, narrowly focuses on three subject areas, and ultimately has lowered overall education standards.
Thesis statements in APA papers 2 – 8

9 of 10

Question

undefined.  
◯ Merit-based pay schemes base teacher salaries on performance, as most private-sector companies do, rather than on seniority, as most public school districts do.
◯ As can be seen in the success of many charter schools, merit-based pay schemes for teachers are one way to bring about improved student performance.
Thesis statements in APA papers 2 – 9

10 of 10

Question

undefined.  
◯ Considering the enormous debt this country owes to its military personnel and their families, the government should support programs that help reduce domestic violence in military homes, where rates of child abuse and spousal abuse are above the national average.
◯ Domestic violence and substance abuse are much more prevalent in military families than in civilian families, especially during times of war.
Thesis statements in APA papers 2 – 10