Teach your fifth-grader the purpose of the thesis statement. A proper thesis statement functions as a guide to the reader, articulating the main arguments the essay puts forth. Your fifth-grader must already possess the skills to write a developed introduction paragraph, the end of which contains the thesis statement. Once the topic is introduced, the thesis statement ties the introductory information together and presents a synopsis of the arguments to be made in the body paragraphs of the essay.
Your fifth-grader must learn the technique of conceptualization to write a developed thesis statement. Although fifth-graders are not likely to grasp the mental process of conceptualization, it is important for them to combine multiple concepts of the essay into a concise thesis statement. This requires the ability to identify and summarize the elaborated information of the essay. Your fifth-grader must possess proficient reading skills to derive the conceptual intent of the essay from the body paragraphs.
A fifth-grader learns to apply his reading and writing knowledge through extensive practice. First, present your fifth-grader with numerous examples of effective and ineffective thesis statements. This helps the student apply the methods of effective thesis statements, while consciously avoiding ineffective methods. Assign exemplary introduction paragraphs with the thesis statements excluded. Have your fifth-grader thoroughly read each paragraph and develop his own thesis statement for the information. An alternative version of this teaching method is to assign only the body paragraphs as reading, then have the student develop a thesis statement that articulates the main points of each paragraph.
To fully develop the ability to write thesis statements, your fifth-grader must apply her knowledge of thesis statements to her own writing. Assign essay prompts that ask multiple questions concerning the writing subject. These questions work as a guide for the body paragraphs, which helps your fifth-grader properly organize her essay. The student should begin the essay with an introduction and temporary thesis statement, based off the prompt. Once the full essay is written, have your fifth-grader go back and revise her thesis statement so it accurately and succinctly summarizes the overarching points of the essay.