1. Thesis Statements

2. Thesis The thesis statement is the most important sentence in your entire essay/research paper. All other statements and concepts must be directly connected to it. The thesis will function as a roadmap for your paper, showing the readers what you have to say and how you will support your ideas.

3. Elements of a Thesis Statement You should tailor your thesis to the specific assignment, but typically, a good thesis will 1. State an Assertion 2. Set Limits on the Topic 3. Indicate Organization

4. State an Assertion Your thesis should set forth the main idea of the paper. Take a stand; don’t just state a fact or an observation. Make sure your argument can be adequately supported. OBSERVATION: The gun control debate has many sides. ARGUMENT: The United States needs stricter gun control laws.

5. Set the Limits on the Topic Your thesis should clearly introduce the single, main argument of the paper and all of the major supporting points, showing the paper’s scope. VAGUE: Gun control is beneficial to society. SPECIFIC: Congress should pass stricter gun control laws because such laws would reduce accidental shootings and violent crimes.

6. Indicate Organization In your thesis, the major points should be listed in the same order as they are discussed in the paper.

7. Indicate Organization THESIS: Congress should pass stricter, more specific gun control laws that will prevent both accidental shootings and violent crimes. OUTLINE: I. Introduction II. In the past, Congress has passed vague, lenient gun control laws.

8. Indicate Organization III.Accidental shootings could be prevented by better gun safety laws. IV.Crime would decrease if people with a history of violence could not legally buy a gun. V.Conclusion

9. How to Write a Thesis Statement Traditionally, a thesis is –No longer than one or possibly two sentences –Found at the end (last sentence of the introduction)

10. How to Write a Thesis Statement Form your thesis by –Asking what you want to prove and how you intend to prove it. –Combining the argument and main supporting points from your outline into one sentence.

11. How to Write a Thesis Statement A thesis should answer these questions: –What am I trying to say? –What are the main ideas and major points of my paper?