In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Your thesis is the theory you’re attempting to prove. Choose something that is debatable, and be as specific as possible. For example, instead of saying, “Pollution is bad for the environment,” which is not debatable, say, “To reduce pollution, the government should tax car owners more heavily.”  Try not to be combative or confrontational in your thesis. Don’t use words like stupid or evil, which can quickly alienate the people you’re trying to convince. It may also be helpful to present both sides of the argument in a neutral and objective way early in your presentation. Seek out a librarian at your local library and ask them to help you find books and journals that relate to your research. If you are putting together an assignment for a class, your teacher may be able to provide sources, as well. You can also do much of your research online, but you’ll need to be careful about which sites you’re using. Some are more reliable than others.  Government or university websites, peer-reviewed journals, well-known news publications, or documentaries are good places to start. In general, social media posts, personal websites, and collaborative websites where anyone can make changes are not reliable sources to cite. These are, however, a good place to gain a basic understanding of a topic. They might also cite more reliable sources that you can use. Avoid sources that are trying to sell you something, since their claims may not be completely honest. Research an opposing viewpoint so that you can anticipate the arguments someone else will make against your thesis. This will also help you prepare for your response to the counterargument. Try imagining what someone who disagreed with you would say. For example, if you’re arguing for taxing drivers in order to reduce pollution, research the ways in which taxes can have a negative impact on society.
Summary: Select your thesis. Find reliable sources that support your thesis. Find reliable sources that support the counterargument.

Before you deep clean your floor, sweep any specks of dust, crumbs, and garbage that might be on the floor. Last of all, take out the trash. You should do this last because while you are cleaning you will undoubtedly find things you will want to throw away. Wash the trash can with soap and water. Replace the bag with a new one.
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One-sentence summary -- Sweep the floor with a broom and dustpan. Take out the trash.

Q: Talking for a long time can seem like a lecture to your teen, so try not to make lengthy comments or offer extensive advice to your teen. Instead, try to keep your comments short and to the point. For example, if your teen wants to know why they can’t have a later curfew, you might say something like, “I know that you enjoy spending time with your friends, but 10pm is the curfew that we agreed on because you have obligations in the morning, and because I worry about you driving late at night. We can discuss a later curfew in a few months, but right now I think we should stick with the curfew that we agreed on.” Finding ways to help your teen see themselves as part of a team may also help to improve communication. You can create a team narrative by telling stories about an injustice or major obstacle that someone in your family overcame, such as coming back from a job loss or standing up to someone. You can also use projects to get your teen to engage with the family. For example, you can involve your teen in redecorating the family room, putting together a scrapbook, or planning a family vacation. While it is not a good idea to follow your teen’s every move on social media, you may be able to use social media to connect with your teen now and then. For example, you might share a news story that you know would be interesting to your teen on your teen’s Facebook wall, or respond to an Instagram photo that your teen posted. Find out what social media outlets your teen uses most often and look for occasional opportunities to engage with your teen through these outlets.  Don’t involve yourself in online conversations that your teen is having with her friends. Don’t use social media as a way to spy on your teen. Teens are in transition from childhood to adulthood and they require more privacy than they once did. When you talk with your teen, avoid prying into your teen’s personal life, especially if your teen seems reluctant to share something.  For example, if your teen goes on a date, don’t request a play-by-play description of the evening. You might simply say something like, “They seemed like a nice person. I hope you had a fun evening.”
A: Keep comments brief. Create a team narrative. Use technology to engage your teen. Respect your teen’s privacy.

Problem: Article: The messages you tell yourself determine your perception of yourself, as well as your ability to accomplish your goals. If your inner dialogue is negative, you may become the greatest obstacle to your own success. Look for the following types of statements:  “I’m not good enough.” “Everyone knows I don’t belong here.” “I’ll probably just fail again.” “Everyone else is ahead of me/doing better than I am.” “I waited too long/wasted too much time.” Notice when your inner voice feeds you negative messages. When this happens, replace that thought with a positive message. Over time, the negative messages should diminish. As an example, you might notice this negative thought: “I’ll never be able to finish a race that long.” You could replace that with, “Everyone starts somewhere. If I work hard, train smart, and stick to it, I can accomplish my goal.” It’s normal to have fears, but they can hold you back if they’re left unchecked. You need to figure out what you’re afraid of so you can confront it. Question the reasons behind your fears, then face them head on to challenge their truth. Ask yourself questions like these:  What am I afraid will happen? What in my past has made me afraid to put myself out there? Why do I think I will fail? What will happen if I fail? How can I overcome my fear? Trying to suppress your feelings won’t make them go away. Instead, they’ll just bubble beneath the surface waiting to explode. Let your emotions come and acknowledge how you feel. Then, release them. For example, you may notice you feel sad about losing a competition. Say to yourself, “I’m sad right now because I really wanted to win.” Allow this feeling to pass. Don’t let someone else’s life become your measuring stick for yours. You’ll always come up short because you only see the highlights in their life, not the daily struggles. No one’s journey is the same as yours, so you can only compare yourself to you.  Use the past version of you as your measuring stick. As long as you’re improving upon yesterday, you’re on the right track! For example, don't compare your life to what you see posted on social media. People usually post only their best moments and may even misrepresent how well they're doing. It's not a fair comparison!
Summary:
Confront your inner dialogue that holds you back. Counter negative inner dialogue with positive self-talk. Determine the source of your fears about failure or success. Acknowledge your feelings without letting them control you. Stop comparing yourself to others.