how to write a thesis statement slideshare

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Writing a Thesis Statement for a World Literature Paper--PowerPoint

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

Use the link above or the viewer below to access a PowerPoint workshop on writing a thesis statement for a world literature paper. The file includes notes for instructors who wish to use the PowerPoint in the classroom but is also a useful student resource. See also the Purdue OWL's general resource on thesis statements .

Creating a Thesis

Let’s Get This Paper Rolling!

Introduction


Thesis Statements


After you have brainstormed and you have some main ideas of what you would like to write in your essay, you can begin thinking about writing a thesis statement.

What is a thesis statement?

A thesis statement is a complete sentence that contains one main idea. It is often a point , or idea, you want to argue or support in an essay. A thesis statement that contains subpoints also helps a reader know how the essay will be organized.

The thesis statement explains to a reader the main idea of the essay, and the writer’s opinion on that idea.

The thesis statement comes at the end of the introductory paragraph. This sentence tells the reader that he/she can expect to read in the rest of the essay.

Basics of the Thesis Statement

• A thesis statement is usually one sentence.
• It is placed in the introductory paragraph of an essay- the last sentence.
• A thesis statement is a claim/fact that could be argued.
• The essay will contain evidence and opinions that support the argument.
• It contains sub-points or sub-topics (reasons)

avoid using the first person (I believe, In my opinion, etc.)

• has your opinion

Do Not State the Obvious

In thesis statements, you should avoid using statements like, “This essay will discuss…” or “I am going to write about…”. Try to write a thesis statement that captures your reader’s attention without announcing your main topic and stating the obvious. Look at the example below.

In this essay, I am going to discuss the effects of long-term drug abuse.

Long-term drug use can have disastrous effects on one’s marriage, career, and health.

Subtopics or Subpoints

The large influx of people to California has had major effects on the state.

No subtopics are named in this thesis statement.

The large influx of people to California has had major effects on the ability of the state to provide housing, electricity, and jobs for all residents.

Subtopic #1

Subtopic #2

Subtopic #3

A Thesis Statement States an Opinion or Attitude

Good thesis statements often express a writer’s opinion or attitude on a particular topic. This makes the thesis statement more specific and requires the writer to explain or prove his/her opinion in the essay. Look at the examples below.

Cancun is a popular vacation spot in Mexico.

Cancun is one of the best vacation spots in Mexico because of its comfortable climate, beautiful beaches, and proximity to some well-known archeological sites.

This would not be considered a good thesis statement, because it is only expressing a fact. It does not reflect the writer’s opinion or attitude on Cancun. This thesis statement does not give the writer very much to explain or prove in his/her essay.

This thesis statement is much better because it expresses how the writer feels about Cancun. This thesis statement requires the writer to explain how and why going to Cancun is a good choice for visitors.

Really it is the Main Idea in a Complete Sentence

Since the thesis statement is the main statement for the entire essay, it should express a complete thought and be a complete sentence. The thesis statement is asserting an opinion or idea, so it should not be a question. Look at the examples below to see how they can be made into thesis statements.

The sport of cross-country running.

This is not a complete sentence.

The sport of cross-country running has allowed me to get in better shape, be disciplined, and meet some interesting people.

Thesis Statement

Test Your Thesis Statement- Antithesis

Generating a Antithesis statement will help you:

1) test how “debatable” your working thesis actually is.

2) consider ways of addressing the anticipated objections to your thesis.

3) revise your working thesis into a stronger position.

Working thesis statement:

School uniforms should not be required.

Antithesis statement (or the opposite):

School uniforms should be required.

** Ask yourself why your topic should and should not occur. This will demand more of an explanation from you, making your writing stronger!

• America is well known across the globe for its diversity. People from all over the world migrate to the United States just to be a part of this international society. It is common knowledge that equality and individualism are a part of America’s famous history. This fact is something that most Americans take pride in; however, the individuality of a future America may be at risk due to the education system. A rule that would require students to wear uniforms to school is threatening student individuality. School uniforms should not be required because they discourage individuality, they do not teach students to make responsible decisions , and uniforms teach children that in order to get along everyone must conform to the same standards .

Subpoints in the thesis or nearby help the reader know how the essay will be organized

The thesis statement contains the main idea that controls the content of the essay.

• states the main idea of the essay in a complete sentence, not in a question.
• it is at the end of an introduction.
• states an opinion or attitude on a topic.
• does not just state the topic, by itself.
• lists subtopics/subpoints.

Directions:

1) Find the opinion words in the statement. If there are no opinion words, it is not a thesis statement.

2) Tell if the statement is a good thesis statement.

Although most people believe otherwise, bats are harmless and highly beneficial.

Hate speech should be eliminated for many reasons.

In each of the following slides tell whether the sentence is well written or not well written thesis statement.

• Rap music is the best music ever.
• Although many people find rap music offensive, it has had a positive impact on today’s youth.
• Community service projects include building shelter for the homeless, serving meals to the hungry, providing transportation for the sick, distributing clothes, and a large number of other helpful activities.
• Students should help others who are less fortunate.

Reference management. Clean and simple.

How to write a thesis statement + examples

What is a thesis statement?

Is a thesis statement a question, how do you write a good thesis statement, how do i know if my thesis statement is good, examples of thesis statements, helpful resources on how to write a thesis statement, frequently asked questions about writing a thesis statement, related articles.

A thesis statement is the main argument of your paper or thesis.

The thesis statement is one of the most important elements of any piece of academic writing . It is a brief statement of your paper’s main argument. Essentially, you are stating what you will be writing about.

You can see your thesis statement as an answer to a question. While it also contains the question, it should really give an answer to the question with new information and not just restate or reiterate it.

Your thesis statement is part of your introduction. Learn more about how to write a good thesis introduction in our introduction guide .

A thesis statement is not a question. A statement must be arguable and provable through evidence and analysis. While your thesis might stem from a research question, it should be in the form of a statement.

Tip: A thesis statement is typically 1-2 sentences. For a longer project like a thesis, the statement may be several sentences or a paragraph.

A good thesis statement needs to do the following:

• Condense the main idea of your thesis into one or two sentences.
• Answer your project’s main research question.
• Clearly state your position in relation to the topic .
• Make an argument that requires support or evidence.

Once you have written down a thesis statement, check if it fulfills the following criteria:

• Your statement needs to be provable by evidence. As an argument, a thesis statement needs to be debatable.
• Your statement needs to be precise. Do not give away too much information in the thesis statement and do not load it with unnecessary information.
• Your statement cannot say that one solution is simply right or simply wrong as a matter of fact. You should draw upon verified facts to persuade the reader of your solution, but you cannot just declare something as right or wrong.

As previously mentioned, your thesis statement should answer a question.

If the question is:

What do you think the City of New York should do to reduce traffic congestion?

A good thesis statement restates the question and answers it:

In this paper, I will argue that the City of New York should focus on providing exclusive lanes for public transport and adaptive traffic signals to reduce traffic congestion by the year 2035.

Here is another example. If the question is:

How can we end poverty?

A good thesis statement should give more than one solution to the problem in question:

In this paper, I will argue that introducing universal basic income can help reduce poverty and positively impact the way we work.

• The Writing Center of the University of North Carolina has a list of questions to ask to see if your thesis is strong .

A thesis statement is part of the introduction of your paper. It is usually found in the first or second paragraph to let the reader know your research purpose from the beginning.

In general, a thesis statement should have one or two sentences. But the length really depends on the overall length of your project. Take a look at our guide about the length of thesis statements for more insight on this topic.

Here is a list of Thesis Statement Examples that will help you understand better how to write them.

Every good essay should include a thesis statement as part of its introduction, no matter the academic level. Of course, if you are a high school student you are not expected to have the same type of thesis as a PhD student.

Here is a great YouTube tutorial showing How To Write An Essay: Thesis Statements .

• school Campus Bookshelves
• menu_book Bookshelves
• perm_media Learning Objects
• login Login
• how_to_reg Request Instructor Account
• hub Instructor Commons
• Download Page (PDF)
• Download Full Book (PDF)
• Periodic Table
• Physics Constants
• Scientific Calculator
• Reference & Cite
• Tools expand_more
• Readability

selected template will load here

This action is not available.

1.8: How to Write a Thesis Statement

• Last updated
• Save as PDF
• Page ID 22474

Whether you are writing a short essay or a doctoral dissertation, your thesis statement will arguably be the most difficult sentence to formulate. An effective thesis statement states the purpose of the paper and, therefore, functions to control, assert and structure your entire  argument . Without a sound thesis, your argument may sound weak, lacking in direction, and  uninteresting to the reader.

Start with a question — then make the answer your thesis

Regardless of how complicated the subject is, almost any thesis can be constructed by answering a question.

• Thesis: “Computers allow fourth graders an early advantage in technological and scientific education.”
• Question: “Why is the Mississippi River so important in Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn ?” Thesis: “The river comes to symbolize both division and progress, as it separates our characters and country while still providing the best chance for Huck and Jim to get to know one another.”

Tailor your thesis to the type of paper you’re writing

N ot all essays persuade, and not all essays teach. The goals of your paper will help you find the best thesis.

• Analytical: Breaks down something to better examine and understand it. Ex. “This dynamic between different generations sparks much of the play’s tension, as age becomes a motive for the violence and unrest that rocks King Lear.”

Ensure your thesis is provable

Good Theses Examples:

• “By owning up to the impossible contradictions, embracing them and questioning them, Blake forges his own faith, and is stronger for it. Ultimately, the only way for his poems to have faith is to temporarily lose it.”
• “According to its well-documented beliefs and philosophies, an existential society with no notion of either past or future cannot help but become stagnant.”
• “By reading “Ode to a Nightingale” through a modern deconstructionist lens, we can see how Keats viewed poetry as shifting and subjective, not some rigid form.”

Bad Theses Examples:

• “The wrong people won the American Revolution.” While striking and unique, who is “right” and who is “wrong” is exceptionally hard to prove, and very subjective.
• “The theory of genetic inheritance is the binding theory of every human interaction.” Too complicated and overzealous. The scope of “every human interaction” is just too big
• “Paul Harding’s novel Tinkers is ultimately a cry for help from a clearly depressed author.” Unless you interviewed Harding extensively, or had a lot of real-life sources, you have no way of proving what is fact and what is fiction.”

Get the sound right

Example thesis statements with good statement language include:

• “Because of William the Conqueror’s campaign into England, that nation developed the strength and culture it would need to eventually build the British Empire.”
• “Hemingway significantly changed literature by normalizing simplistic writing and frank tone.”

Know where to place a thesis statement

Because of the role thesis statements play, they appear at the beginning of the paper, usually at the end of the first paragraph or somewhere in the introduction. Although most people look for the thesis at the end of the first paragraph, its location can depend on a number of factors such as how lengthy of an introduction you need before you can introduce your thesis or the length of your paper.

Limit a thesis statement to one or two sentences in length

Thesis statements are clear and to the point, which helps the reader identify the topic and direction of the paper, as well as your position towards the subject.

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

How to Write a Strong Thesis Statement: 4 Steps + Examples

What’s Covered:

What is the purpose of a thesis statement, writing a good thesis statement: 4 steps, common pitfalls to avoid, where to get your essay edited for free.

When you set out to write an essay, there has to be some kind of point to it, right? Otherwise, your essay would just be a big jumble of word salad that makes absolutely no sense. An essay needs a central point that ties into everything else. That main point is called a thesis statement, and it’s the core of any essay or research paper.

You may hear about Master degree candidates writing a thesis, and that is an entire paper–not to be confused with the thesis statement, which is typically one sentence that contains your paper’s focus. 

Read on to learn more about thesis statements and how to write them. We’ve also included some solid examples for you to reference.

Typically the last sentence of your introductory paragraph, the thesis statement serves as the roadmap for your essay. When your reader gets to the thesis statement, they should have a clear outline of your main point, as well as the information you’ll be presenting in order to either prove or support your point. 

The thesis statement should not be confused for a topic sentence , which is the first sentence of every paragraph in your essay. If you need help writing topic sentences, numerous resources are available. Topic sentences should go along with your thesis statement, though.

Since the thesis statement is the most important sentence of your entire essay or paper, it’s imperative that you get this part right. Otherwise, your paper will not have a good flow and will seem disjointed. That’s why it’s vital not to rush through developing one. It’s a methodical process with steps that you need to follow in order to create the best thesis statement possible.

Step 1: Decide what kind of paper you’re writing

When you’re assigned an essay, there are several different types you may get. Argumentative essays are designed to get the reader to agree with you on a topic. Informative or expository essays present information to the reader. Analytical essays offer up a point and then expand on it by analyzing relevant information. Thesis statements can look and sound different based on the type of paper you’re writing. For example:

• Argumentative: The United States needs a viable third political party to decrease bipartisanship, increase options, and help reduce corruption in government.
• Informative: The Libertarian party has thrown off elections before by gaining enough support in states to get on the ballot and by taking away crucial votes from candidates.
• Analytical: An analysis of past presidential elections shows that while third party votes may have been the minority, they did affect the outcome of the elections in 2020, 2016, and beyond.

Step 2: Figure out what point you want to make

Once you know what type of paper you’re writing, you then need to figure out the point you want to make with your thesis statement, and subsequently, your paper. In other words, you need to decide to answer a question about something, such as:

• What impact did reality TV have on American society?
• How has the musical Hamilton affected perception of American history?
• Why do I want to major in [chosen major here]?

If you have an argumentative essay, then you will be writing about an opinion. To make it easier, you may want to choose an opinion that you feel passionate about so that you’re writing about something that interests you. For example, if you have an interest in preserving the environment, you may want to choose a topic that relates to that. 

If you’re writing your college essay and they ask why you want to attend that school, you may want to have a main point and back it up with information, something along the lines of:

“Attending Harvard University would benefit me both academically and professionally, as it would give me a strong knowledge base upon which to build my career, develop my network, and hopefully give me an advantage in my chosen field.”

Step 3: Determine what information you’ll use to back up your point

Once you have the point you want to make, you need to figure out how you plan to back it up throughout the rest of your essay. Without this information, it will be hard to either prove or argue the main point of your thesis statement. If you decide to write about the Hamilton example, you may decide to address any falsehoods that the writer put into the musical, such as:

“The musical Hamilton, while accurate in many ways, leaves out key parts of American history, presents a nationalist view of founding fathers, and downplays the racism of the times.”

Once you’ve written your initial working thesis statement, you’ll then need to get information to back that up. For example, the musical completely leaves out Benjamin Franklin, portrays the founding fathers in a nationalist way that is too complimentary, and shows Hamilton as a staunch abolitionist despite the fact that his family likely did own slaves. 

Step 4: Revise and refine your thesis statement before you start writing

Read through your thesis statement several times before you begin to compose your full essay. You need to make sure the statement is ironclad, since it is the foundation of the entire paper. Edit it or have a peer review it for you to make sure everything makes sense and that you feel like you can truly write a paper on the topic. Once you’ve done that, you can then begin writing your paper.

When writing a thesis statement, there are some common pitfalls you should avoid so that your paper can be as solid as possible. Make sure you always edit the thesis statement before you do anything else. You also want to ensure that the thesis statement is clear and concise. Don’t make your reader hunt for your point. Finally, put your thesis statement at the end of the first paragraph and have your introduction flow toward that statement. Your reader will expect to find your statement in its traditional spot.

If you’re having trouble getting started, or need some guidance on your essay, there are tools available that can help you. CollegeVine offers a free peer essay review tool where one of your peers can read through your essay and provide you with valuable feedback. Getting essay feedback from a peer can help you wow your instructor or college admissions officer with an impactful essay that effectively illustrates your point.

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer.

To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to  upgrade your browser .

Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link.

• We're Hiring!
• Help Center

Writing the Good Thesis & Dissertation.pptx

Related Papers

Serafin Talisayon

Scientific Research Publishing: Creative Education

Dr. Qais Faryadi

I have already discussed the PhD introduction and literature review in detail. In this paper, I discuss the PhD methodology, results and how to write a stunning conclusion for your thesis. The main objective of this paper is to help PhD candidates to understand what is a PhD methodology and guide them in writing a systematic and meaningful PhD methodology, results and conclusion. The methodology used in this research is a descriptive method as it deliberates and defines the various parts of PhD methodology, results and conclusion writing process and elucidates the "how to do" in a very unpretentious and understanding manner. As thus, this paper summarises the various steps of thesis methodology, results and conclusion writing to pilot the PhD students. This road map is a useful guidance especially for students of social science studies. Additionally, in this paper, methodology writing techniques , procedures and important strategies are enlightened in a simple manner. This paper adopts a "how-to approach" when discussing a variety of relevant topics such as introduction, formulation of the methodology, variables , research design process, types of sampling, data collection process, interviews, questionnaires, data analysis techniques and so on. Results and conclusions are also discussed in detail, so that PhD candidates can follow the guide clearly. This paper has 5 parts such as Introduction, Literature reviews, Methodology, Results and Conclusion. As such, I discuss Methodology, Results and Conclusion as the final assessment of the PhD thesis writing process.

Abdilahi Adam Mohamoud

Otolaryngology online

Balasubramanian Thiagarajan

This book has been authored with PhD scholars in mind. The author believes that this would be a good starting point for these scholars. The following chapters have been included: Chapters: 1. Introduction to Thesis Writing 2. Choosing a Topic and Developing a Thesis Statement 3. Conducting Literature Review 4. Methodology and Data Collection 5. Writing the Introduction and Background of Your Thesis 6. Presenting Your Findings and Analysis 7. Writing the Discussion and Conclusion of Your Thesis 8. Formatting and Structuring Your Thesis 9. Referencing and Citations 10. Defending Your Thesis: Preparing for the Viva Voce 11. Revising and Editing Your Thesis 12. Time Management and Staying on Track 13. Overcoming Writer's Block and Staying Motivated 14. Using Technology and Tools to Enhance Your Thesis Writing Process 15. Publishing Your Thesis and Next Steps. 16. Data visualization 17. Statistical tools This book also contains tips about choosing an ideal thesis topic. It also warns the student about the various pitfalls involved in choosing a research topic. The topic on referencing citations would be very useful for even a novice researcher. This book also introduces the researcher to the myriad of software tools that are available to the scholar. Using these software tools would make the life of the researcher that much easier.

David Kritz

This book aims to guide researchers, academicians and PhD candidates especially Social Science Researchers on how todo research systematically. Research is a premeditated investigation using scientific methodology (quantitative, qualitative,) to solve a serious problem (not ordinary problem), thus creating additional (new) knowledge. Research is also regarded as an inquiry of reality about something by testing a hypothesis, answering questions, generating new queries, finding solutions, and creating new knowledge. This book guides you how to effectively structure your research from the proposal till VIVA presentation. Although research designs may differ from one discipline to another, a general road map should include the following: Ø Topic of research Ø Research problem, questions and hypotheses Ø Review of current literature Ø Theoretical framework or methodology experimental, observation and so Ø Data collection and testing if any Ø Data analysis Ø Results Ø Discussions and Applications Ø Conclusion Ø References

Robertus Willy

Althea Amor Galdo

shweta iyer

Literature writing is a skill that every PhD candidate must procure to communicate his or her research findings clearly. The main objective of this paper is to facilitate the literature writing process so that PhD candidates under- stand what PhD literature is and are able to write their PhD literature cor- rectly and scientifically. The methodology used in this research is a descrip- tive method as it deliberates and defines the various parts of literature writing process and elucidates the how to do of it in a very unpretentious and under- standing language. As thus, this paper summarizes the various steps of litera- ture writing to pilot the PhD students so that the task of PhD literature writ- ing process becomes adaptable and less discouraging. This research is a useful roadmap especially for students of the social science studies. Additionally, in this paper, literature writing techniques, procedures and important strategies are enlightened in a simple manner. This paper adopts a how-to approach when discussing a variety of relevant topics, such as literature review intro- duction, types of literature review, advantages of literature reviews, objective of literature review, literature review template, and important check lists about literature review are discussed. This paper has 5 parts, such as Intro- duction, Literature Review, Methodology, Results and Conclusion. The lit- erature review chapter is discussed in this paper. I will discuss the rest as a se- ries in the future. Keywords Thesis Writing Process, Literature Review, PhD, Social Science, Research Methodology

Loading Preview

Sorry, preview is currently unavailable. You can download the paper by clicking the button above.

RELATED PAPERS

sari wahyuni siregar

International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences

Dr. C Chinnusamy

Cindy Duanti S

Paola Penagos Mosquera

Shahtaj Khan

Polymer Chemistry

Kelly Velonia

Dr Sunita Bharatwal

PsycTESTS Dataset

Eliza Peterson

Korean Journal of Clinical Oncology

Chang-Hee Kim

Somnath Chattopadhyay

Patricia Winter

Prenatal Diagnosis

Voula Velissariou

wigghy sugesthi

Jose Guillermo Berrios Davila

Constantin Megelea

Proceedings of the International Symposium “Nanoscience and Quantum Physics 2012” (nanoPHYS’12)

Cynthia Diaz

Windy Maharani

agus priyanto

Daniel Cunningham

Dewi Marhaningsih

saeed parsa

Motif akademi halkbilim dergisi

Gültekin ŞENER

RELATED TOPICS

•   We're Hiring!
•   Help Center
• Find new research papers in:
• Health Sciences
• Earth Sciences
• Cognitive Science
• Mathematics
• Computer Science
• Academia ©2024

• Skip to Content
• Skip to Main Navigation
• Skip to Search

Indiana University Bloomington Indiana University Bloomington IU Bloomington

• Mission, Vision, and Inclusive Language Statement
• Locations & Hours
• Undergraduate Employment
• Graduate Employment
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Newsletter Archive
• Support WTS
• Schedule an Appointment
• Online Tutoring
• Before your Appointment
• WTS Policies
• Group Tutoring
• Students Referred by Instructors
• Paid External Editing Services
• Writing Guides
• Scholarly Write-in
• Dissertation Writing Groups
• Journal Article Writing Groups
• Early Career Graduate Student Writing Workshop
• Workshops for Graduate Students
• Teaching Resources
• Syllabus Information
• Course-specific Tutoring
• Nominate a Peer Tutor
• Tutoring Feedback
• Schedule Appointment
• Campus Writing Program

Writing Tutorial Services

How to write a thesis statement, what is a thesis statement.

Almost all of us—even if we don’t do it consciously—look early in an essay for a one- or two-sentence condensation of the argument or analysis that is to follow. We refer to that condensation as a thesis statement.

Why Should Your Essay Contain a Thesis Statement?

• to test your ideas by distilling them into a sentence or two
• to better organize and develop your argument
• to provide your reader with a “guide” to your argument

In general, your thesis statement will accomplish these goals if you think of the thesis as the answer to the question your paper explores.

How Can You Write a Good Thesis Statement?

Here are some helpful hints to get you started. You can either scroll down or select a link to a specific topic.

How to Generate a Thesis Statement if the Topic is Assigned How to Generate a Thesis Statement if the Topic is not Assigned How to Tell a Strong Thesis Statement from a Weak One

How to Generate a Thesis Statement if the Topic is Assigned

Almost all assignments, no matter how complicated, can be reduced to a single question. Your first step, then, is to distill the assignment into a specific question. For example, if your assignment is, “Write a report to the local school board explaining the potential benefits of using computers in a fourth-grade class,” turn the request into a question like, “What are the potential benefits of using computers in a fourth-grade class?” After you’ve chosen the question your essay will answer, compose one or two complete sentences answering that question.

Q: “What are the potential benefits of using computers in a fourth-grade class?” A: “The potential benefits of using computers in a fourth-grade class are . . .”

A: “Using computers in a fourth-grade class promises to improve . . .”

The answer to the question is the thesis statement for the essay.

[ Back to top ]

How to Generate a Thesis Statement if the Topic is not Assigned

Even if your assignment doesn’t ask a specific question, your thesis statement still needs to answer a question about the issue you’d like to explore. In this situation, your job is to figure out what question you’d like to write about.

A good thesis statement will usually include the following four attributes:

• take on a subject upon which reasonable people could disagree
• deal with a subject that can be adequately treated given the nature of the assignment
• express one main idea
• assert your conclusions about a subject

Let’s see how to generate a thesis statement for a social policy paper.

Brainstorm the topic . Let’s say that your class focuses upon the problems posed by changes in the dietary habits of Americans. You find that you are interested in the amount of sugar Americans consume.

You start out with a thesis statement like this:

Sugar consumption.

This fragment isn’t a thesis statement. Instead, it simply indicates a general subject. Furthermore, your reader doesn’t know what you want to say about sugar consumption.

Narrow the topic . Your readings about the topic, however, have led you to the conclusion that elementary school children are consuming far more sugar than is healthy.

You change your thesis to look like this:

Reducing sugar consumption by elementary school children.

This fragment not only announces your subject, but it focuses on one segment of the population: elementary school children. Furthermore, it raises a subject upon which reasonable people could disagree, because while most people might agree that children consume more sugar than they used to, not everyone would agree on what should be done or who should do it. You should note that this fragment is not a thesis statement because your reader doesn’t know your conclusions on the topic.

Take a position on the topic. After reflecting on the topic a little while longer, you decide that what you really want to say about this topic is that something should be done to reduce the amount of sugar these children consume.

You revise your thesis statement to look like this:

More attention should be paid to the food and beverage choices available to elementary school children.

This statement asserts your position, but the terms more attention and food and beverage choices are vague.

Use specific language . You decide to explain what you mean about food and beverage choices , so you write:

Experts estimate that half of elementary school children consume nine times the recommended daily allowance of sugar.

This statement is specific, but it isn’t a thesis. It merely reports a statistic instead of making an assertion.

Make an assertion based on clearly stated support. You finally revise your thesis statement one more time to look like this:

Because half of all American elementary school children consume nine times the recommended daily allowance of sugar, schools should be required to replace the beverages in soda machines with healthy alternatives.

Notice how the thesis answers the question, “What should be done to reduce sugar consumption by children, and who should do it?” When you started thinking about the paper, you may not have had a specific question in mind, but as you became more involved in the topic, your ideas became more specific. Your thesis changed to reflect your new insights.

How to Tell a Strong Thesis Statement from a Weak One

1. a strong thesis statement takes some sort of stand..

Remember that your thesis needs to show your conclusions about a subject. For example, if you are writing a paper for a class on fitness, you might be asked to choose a popular weight-loss product to evaluate. Here are two thesis statements:

There are some negative and positive aspects to the Banana Herb Tea Supplement.

This is a weak thesis statement. First, it fails to take a stand. Second, the phrase negative and positive aspects is vague.

Because Banana Herb Tea Supplement promotes rapid weight loss that results in the loss of muscle and lean body mass, it poses a potential danger to customers.

This is a strong thesis because it takes a stand, and because it's specific.

2. A strong thesis statement justifies discussion.

Your thesis should indicate the point of the discussion. If your assignment is to write a paper on kinship systems, using your own family as an example, you might come up with either of these two thesis statements:

My family is an extended family.

This is a weak thesis because it merely states an observation. Your reader won’t be able to tell the point of the statement, and will probably stop reading.

While most American families would view consanguineal marriage as a threat to the nuclear family structure, many Iranian families, like my own, believe that these marriages help reinforce kinship ties in an extended family.

This is a strong thesis because it shows how your experience contradicts a widely-accepted view. A good strategy for creating a strong thesis is to show that the topic is controversial. Readers will be interested in reading the rest of the essay to see how you support your point.

3. A strong thesis statement expresses one main idea.

Readers need to be able to see that your paper has one main point. If your thesis statement expresses more than one idea, then you might confuse your readers about the subject of your paper. For example:

Companies need to exploit the marketing potential of the Internet, and Web pages can provide both advertising and customer support.

This is a weak thesis statement because the reader can’t decide whether the paper is about marketing on the Internet or Web pages. To revise the thesis, the relationship between the two ideas needs to become more clear. One way to revise the thesis would be to write:

Because the Internet is filled with tremendous marketing potential, companies should exploit this potential by using Web pages that offer both advertising and customer support.

This is a strong thesis because it shows that the two ideas are related. Hint: a great many clear and engaging thesis statements contain words like because , since , so , although , unless , and however .

4. A strong thesis statement is specific.

A thesis statement should show exactly what your paper will be about, and will help you keep your paper to a manageable topic. For example, if you're writing a seven-to-ten page paper on hunger, you might say:

World hunger has many causes and effects.

This is a weak thesis statement for two major reasons. First, world hunger can’t be discussed thoroughly in seven to ten pages. Second, many causes and effects is vague. You should be able to identify specific causes and effects. A revised thesis might look like this:

Hunger persists in Glandelinia because jobs are scarce and farming in the infertile soil is rarely profitable.

This is a strong thesis statement because it narrows the subject to a more specific and manageable topic, and it also identifies the specific causes for the existence of hunger.

Produced by Writing Tutorial Services, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN

Writing Tutorial Services social media channels

Writing a Thesis Statement

Jan 03, 2020

561 likes | 785 Views

Writing a Thesis Statement. What to Do Before Writing. Before writing a thesis statement, the writer must be aware of his or her audience and purpose . You must begin with a topic question. You must form an opinion and state it clearly. Do not be wishy-washy.

Share Presentation

• thesis statement
• thesis statements
• bad thesis statements
• term thesis statement hundreds

Presentation Transcript

What to Do Before Writing • Before writing a thesis statement, the writer must be aware of his or her audience and purpose. • You must begin with a topic question. • You must form an opinion and state it clearly. Do not be wishy-washy. • Be sure you have approached your evidence fairly, without bias. • Consider both sides of a controversial issue. • Once you've established the topic question, a clear position, and objectivity, you're ready to write a thesis statement.

What Is a Thesis Statement? • You have heard the term thesis statement hundreds of times but do you really know what it is? A thesis statement: • Presents your opinions or thoughts on a subject or an issue. You cannot write an essay without one. • Must contain a subject + an opinion. • Answers the topic question (the one you created or the one presented to you by the instructor).

Every paper you write should have a main point, a main idea, or central message. The argument(s) you make in your paper should reflect this main idea. The sentence that captures your position on this main idea is what we call a thesis statement.

TIP: A thesis statement should never contain the following: in my opinion, I think, I believe, etc. Tell them that the entire thesis represents what they believe. • However, it may be helpful to begin your thesis statement rough draft with in my opinion, I believe, or I think to make sure they are expressing their thoughts or opinion on a specific subject or issue. When writing the final draft, simply eliminate those phrases.

How long does it need to be? • A thesis statement focuses your ideas into one or two sentences. It should present the topic of your paper and also make a comment about your position in relation to the topic. • Your thesis statement should tell your reader what the paper is about and also help guide your writing and keep your argument focused. (However, it is not an announcement. You never write: This essay is about….)

Writing a Good Thesis Statement • It is important to understand the difference between good and bad thesis statements. • A good thesis statement is short and simple: it should be no longer than one sentence, regardless of essay length. • Good Example: Success is a result of doing the right things consistently. • Bad Example:In a world full of success gurus and books about success, it becomes ever so more important to delineate the one trait that ultimately determines success: doing the right things consistently.

A good thesis statement is limited to one main idea. • Good example: The key to successful dieting is focusing on a specific goal. • Bad example: The key to successful dieting is focusing on a specific goal, which is also the key to successfully running a business and coaching a football team.

A good thesis statement is a declarative sentence with no qualifiers (might, maybe, perhaps, etc.): • Good example: Lebron James' ability to score, pass, and rebound make him the league's most valuable player. • Bad example:Does Lebron James' ability to score, pass, and rebound make him the league's most valuable player? • Bad Example:Lebron James' ability to score, pass, and rebound just might make him the league's most valuable player.

Evaluating the Work • When you have completed your thesis statement is valuable to evaluate your writing. Use the following questions to analyze your thesis statement: • Have you answered the question or merely restated it? The following examples are based on this question: Does Romeo's prior feelings for Rosaline diminish the credibility of his love for Juliet? • Good example: Romeo's prior feelings for Rosaline diminish the credibility of his love for Juliet. • Bad example:This essay examines whether or not Romeo's prior feelings for Rosaline diminishes his love for Juliet.

Have you tried to argue both sides of the case? It is important to acknowledge the other side and address the other position. That does not, however, excuse you from choosing a side. • Good example:Juliet was not the first woman to capture Romeo's fancy; she was, however, the one who affected him the most. • Bad example:Romeo loved Juliet with all his heart, but he loved Rosaline too; It could be argued they were both his favorite.

Have you prejudged the issue by using loaded language? Immature writers manipulate readers through emotionally-charged language. • Bad example:Immature, whiny, male-pig Romeo, a male harlot, ruined precious Juliet whom he loved no more than Rosaline.

Sample Thesis Statements • Not just empty stories for kids, fairy tales shed light on the psychology of young children. • Because our planet's health may depend upon biological diversity, we should save the whales. • If the government takes over industry in Kenya, the industry will become more efficient. • When you read the above statements, is it clear what the essay will show/prove/explain/persuade?

Bad - Good - Great • The North and South fought the Civil War for many reasons, some of which were the same and some different. • While both sides fought the Civil War over the issue of slavery, the North fought for moral reasons while the South fought to preserve its own institutions. • While both Northerners and Southerners believed they fought against tyranny and oppression, Northerners focused on the oppression of slaves while Southerners defended their own right to self-government.

Can you pick out the thesis statements in the following introductory paragraphs? • Hugh MacLennan once wrote that, “Happiness is the word which always comes to my mind when I think of the St. John River. The St. John is intimate and very beautiful.” Although MacLennan wrote this in 1961, the sentiment behind this quote is still very much connected to the St. John River, specifically regarding the happiness it continues to bring to those lucky enough to live by its banks and tourists who are wise enough to explore its beauty. This river is the hub of Fredericton and is why Fredericton is referred to as “Atlantic Canada’s Riverfront Capital”. As such, much of what Fredericton has to offer is connected to this picturesque waterway, and a vacation centered on the river is one the whole family is sure to enjoy.

I am a movie fanatic. When friends want to know what picture won the Oscar in 2000 or who played the Ironman in The Avengers, they ask me. My friends, though, have stopped asking me if I want to go out to the movies. This is because I have decided that the idea of going to the movie theater to see a movie is overrated, so I have quit going. The problems in getting to the theater, the theater itself, and the behavior of some patrons are all reasons why I often wait for a movie to show up on Netflix.

In “A Rose for Emily”, William Faulkner’s use of imagery sets a tone for the general theme of the story, death. A rose to most is seen as an object of beauty, with such a sweet smell. In this story, we see Emily much like the rose, an object of beauty and desire that soon begins to wither and die. Faulkner, through great use of imagery, paints a vivid picture of a dying rose, Miss Emily.

Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, could spend one million dollars per day, every day, seven days a week and would not run out of money until he was 311 years old! Most would agree that he has reached a point of financial security. In fact, it would be almost impossible to figure out how one could spend one million dollars per day. For most Americans, finding an occupation that is satisfying, earning enough money to live comfortably, and figuring out a realistic blend between work and leisure are three essential factors in beginning one’s career.

Stephen King, creator of such stories as Carrie and Pet Cemetery, stated that the Edgar Allan Poe stories he read as a child gave him the inspiration and instruction he needed to become the writer that he is. Poe, as does Stephen King, fills the reader's imagination with the images that he wishes the reader to see, hear, and feel. His use of vivid, concrete visual imagery to present both static and dynamic settings and to describe people is part of his technique.Poe's short story "The Tell-Tale Heart" is a story about a young man who kills an old man who cares for him, dismembers the corpse, then goes mad when he thinks he hears the old man's heart beating beneath the floor boards under his feet as he sits and discusses the old man's absence with the police. In "The Tell-Tale Heart," a careful reader can observe Poe's skillful manipulation of the senses.

After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York's World Trade Towers and the Pentagon, the debate surrounding racial profiling in airports intensified. Many people believed that profiling was the best way to identify possible terrorists, but many others worried about violations of civil liberties. While some airports began to target passengers based solely on their Middle Eastern origins, others instituted random searches instead neither of these techniques seems likely to eliminate terrorism. Now many experts in the government and in airport security are recommending the use of a national ID card or Safe Traveler Card. If every US citizen had such a card, airlines could screen for terrorists more effectively than they do now and avoid procedures that single out individuals solely on the basis of race.

When a cell phone goes off in a classroom or at a concert, we are irritated, but at least our lives are not endangered. When we are on the road, however, irresponsible cell phone users are more than irritating: They are putting our lives at risk. Many of us have witnessed drivers so distracted by dialing and chatting that they resemble drunk drivers, weaving between lanes, for example, or nearly running down pedestrians in crosswalks. A number of bills to regulate use of cell phones on the road have been introduced in state legislatures, and the time has come to push for their passage. Regulation is needed because drivers using phones are seriously impaired and because laws on negligent and reckless driving are not sufficient to punish offenders.

Practice Writing a Thesis Statement • Home phones • Hockey • Justin Bieber

Our Thesis Statement Activity • Now that we’ve learned about Thesis Statements and practiced creating our own it is no time to prepare one for our persuasive essay on Fritz Haber. • Individually, you will write a thesis statement for the story. You will compare your statements to your groups and discuss what statement is best. Work on your groups statement and be prepared to share it with the class.

Now that you have a working thesis statement it is up to you to develop an introductory paragraph to start the essay about Fritz Haber. Along with the introductory paragraph you will be responsible for 3 paragraphs that will serve as the body of your essay. After the body paragraph you will also be responsible for a strong concluding statement.

• More by User

Writing a Strong Thesis Statement

Writing a Strong Thesis Statement. The Three “P’s”. A good thesis statement includes three “P’s.” It is a… Three- P ronged P arallel P review …of your essay. Example of a Thesis with the Three “P’s”.

420 views • 8 slides

Writing a Thesis Statement. What is a thesis statement?. The thesis is NOT a topic, but rather it’s what you want to say about your topic. The thesis is the main idea or the position you are taking.

309 views • 14 slides

Writing a Thesis Statement. Writing A Thesis Statement 1. A thesis statement is a road map for your essay; it tells the reader what you will be writing about without saying "I will be writing about..." 

2.21k views • 10 slides

Writing a Thesis Statement. What is a Thesis Statement?. A sentence that presents your thoughts or opinions on a subject The basis for any essay A sentence containing a subject + an opinion An answer to a topic question

486 views • 16 slides

English 2. Writing a Thesis Statement. Purpose of a thesis statement. The thesis of a paper is considered to be the most important part of the pre-writing process for the following reasons: It provides the focus for the paper It restricts or narrows the topic

336 views • 13 slides

Writing a Thesis Statement. Subject + opinion= thesis. What is a thesis statement?. Tells the reader how you will interpret the subject in discussion A road map for the paper; tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper

204 views • 7 slides

Writing a Thesis Statement. A crash-course in writing thesis statements. . Warm Up . On a sheet of notebook paper, use a Circle Map to define the American Dream. Your frames of reference are: The Declaration of Independence “I Have a Dream” speech Modern Concepts of the American Dream

219 views • 10 slides

Writing a thesis statement

Writing a thesis statement. What Are You Trying to Prove in Your Paper?. What is a Thesis Statement?. The thesis statement is “the main idea” of your paper. It is one sentence that tells the reader what you want them to get from your paper. Thesis Continued.

267 views • 12 slides

Writing a Thesis Statement. A Thesis Statement…. States exactly what you plan to write and research Declares what you believe and what you intend to prove . It is an interpretation or argument explaining the significance of this information.

196 views • 6 slides

WRITING A THESIS STATEMENT

WRITING A THESIS STATEMENT. Research paper. What is a thesis statement?. A one-sentence statement identifying the main idea , topic and purpose of your research paper. Tells the readers what they will encounter in your paper. It is the last sentence in your introductory paragraph.

210 views • 8 slides

Writing a Strong Thesis statement

Writing a Strong Thesis statement. Remember : Your thesis needs to take a stand on something and argue a certain point. Example : You are asked to write a paper about Cancun, Mexico as a vacation spot. 1. Cancun is a popular vacation spot in Mexico.

229 views • 7 slides

Writing a Thesis Statement. A thesis is…. The main idea of your essay Arguable, defendable, supportable The sum of your claims A map of your essay The last sentence of your introductory paragraph (or the entire introductory paragraph for a timed essay). Examples:.

157 views • 3 slides

Writing a Strong Thesis Statement. What is a strong thesis?. Requirement #1 on AP rubric Early in the essay (1 st paragraph) The central idea around which your paper is built One- to two-sentence answer to the question asked

170 views • 5 slides

Writing a Good Thesis Statement

Writing a Good Thesis Statement. STEP 1 Begin with a Point or Thesis. Understanding Thesis Statements. A good thesis statement does two things in an essay: It tells the reader the essay’s topic. It presents the writer’s ATTITUDE, OPINION, IDEA, OR POINT about that topic. Examples :

282 views • 6 slides

Writing a Thesis Statement. Carwile Fall 2010 9 th Grade Research: An Author’s Life and Motivation for Writing. What a thesis is…. A thesis statement is a sentence that tells the reader of an essay what the writing will be about. It typically answers a given prompt.

463 views • 10 slides

Writing a thesis statement. History and Language Arts Informational Essay. What it is and Why You Need it. A Thesis Statement is…. A Thesis Statement is needed because….

280 views • 13 slides

Writing a Thesis Statement. What is it?. For most student work, it's a one- or two- sentence statement that explicitly outlines the purpose or point of your paper. It is generally a complex, compound sentence. What does it do?.

251 views • 17 slides

Writing a Thesis Statement. A thesis statement in an essay is … a sentence that clearly identifies the purpose of the paper and previews its main ideas.

243 views • 23 slides

Writing a Thesis Statement. Subject + Opinion = Thesis statement. “Subject”. Character from The Crucible. “OPINIONS”. your thoughts about that character’s personality traits. Putting it Together.

87 views • 8 slides

103 views • 6 slides

Writing a thesis statement Tips on Writing Your Thesis Statement

Writing a thesis statement Tips on Writing Your Thesis Statement. What is a Thesis. A thesis statement is your answer to a question.

107 views • 7 slides