Cathlena Martin

Thesis Statememt

Fall 2007
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101.04 Schedule
101.13 Schedule
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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 help you better organize and develop your argument
· to provide your reader with a "guide" to your argument

How to Generate a Thesis Statement
In your thesis statement, you present your answer or proposed solution to a question about the issue you’re exploring. Thus, your job is to figure out what question you’re attempting to answer.

A good thesis statement will usually accomplish the following four tasks:
· address a subject upon which reasonable people could disagree
· limit the subject to a range that can be adequately treated within the given assignment
· express one main idea
· assert your position on the subject

Here’s an example of a thesis statement:
Because half of all crack babies are likely to grow up in homes lacking good cognitive and emotional stimulation, the federal government should finance programs to supplement parental care for crack kids.

In generating your thesis, you may find it useful to proceed through the following steps:
1. Brainstorm the topic.
2. Narrow the topic.
3. Take a position on the topic.
4. Use specific language.
5. Make an assertion based on clearly stated support.

How to Tell a Strong Thesis Sentence from a Weak One:

1. A strong thesis takes some sort of stand.
Remember that your thesis needs to show your position on the subject.

2. A strong thesis justifies discussion.
Your thesis should indicate the point of the discussion. 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 expresses one main idea.
Readers need to be able to see that your paper has one main point. If your thesis expresses more than one idea, you might confuse your readers about the subject of your paper. Hint: a great many clear and engaging thesis statements contain words like "because," "since," "so," "although," "unless," and "however" to indicate the relationships between its ideas.

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.

How to Write a Thesis Statement - Worksheet

First answer the following questions about your topic:

1. What general topic do you want to write about?

2. Can you narrow the topic to a more specific aspect of the subject?

3. Can you make a controversial assertion about the subject you’ve chosen?

4. Where do you stand on this subject?

Condense your answers to the above questions into one positional thesis statement.

Now examine your thesis and check it against these points:

1. Does it express your stand on the issue?

2. Does it prompt discussion?

3. Have you clearly expressed just one idea, or have you made clear the relationships among the ideas in your thesis statement?

4. Is the language of your thesis specific?

5. Can you revise it to make it clearer, more succinct, more engaging?

6. Does your thesis statement suggest WHY you take the stance you do?

Write your revised thesis statement.