1. Thesis Statements

2. What is a Thesis Statement?
A Thesis statement is a sentence containing the central and controlling idea of the essay (similar to the topic sentence of a paragraph) but it is a broader statement as it is for the entire essay.

3. Important Points 1. A thesis statement should be a complete sentence
2. A thesis statement should be a complete thought
3. A thesis statement should not usually be a question
4. A thesis statement expresses an opinion / attitude – not just an announcement the topic
5. A thesis statement should not express a fact – they cannot be argued with
6. A thesis statement should express one idea towards the topic

4. Is this a Thesis statement?
“My fear of the dark”
Not a thesis statement
Why not?
Not a complete sentence!
How can it be made into a thesis statement?
“My fear of the dark has made my life miserable”

5. Is this a Thesis statement?
“I am going to discuss the effects of radiation”
Not a thesis statement
Why not?
Should not just announce the subject to be discussed!
How can it be made into a thesis statement?
“The effects of radiation are often unpredictable”

6. Is this a Thesis statement?
“Cows produce milk”
Not a thesis statement
Why not?
Should express an opinion, not a fact!
How can it be made into a thesis statement?
“The milk cows produce is not always fit for human consumption”

7. Is this a Thesis statement?
“There are many advantages and disadvantages of going to college”
Not a thesis statement
Why not?
Not an arguable point!
How can it be made into a thesis statement?
“The advantages of going to college outweigh the disadvantages”

8. Is this a Thesis statement?
“Going to college in the Midwest can be fun, and I have found that living in a suburb of a large city is the best place to live while at college”
Not a thesis statement
Why not?
Should only express one idea about the topic!
How can it be made into a thesis statement?
“Going to college in the Midwest can be fun”

9. Practice

10. Strong; Fact; Weak (No Clear Opinion)?
The top government official in my country is the prime minister. F
Some people prefer digital cameras, while others like traditional cameras. W
India became an independent country in 1947. F
To be a successful student, good study habits are more important than intelligence. S
There are several advantages of owning a car, but there are also many disadvantages. W

11. Strong; Fact; Weak (No Clear Opinion)?
Half of the families in my country own a house. F
Using public transport would be one of the best ways to solve the traffic and pollution problems in cities around the world. S
While travelling, staying in a hotel offers more comfort, but sleeping in a tent is less expensive. W
Classical music concerts are very popular in my country. F
In order to create a successful advertisement, it is necessary to consider three issues: who should be targeted, where the advert should be placed, and what type of advert should be made. S