HOW TO WRITE POWERFUL THESIS STATEMENTS Copyright 2012 Dianne Mason 1

Do Now Complete the following sentence frame: I find it __________________ to write thesis statements because __________________. 2

A thesis statement allows both the writer and the reader to find their way through a labyrinth of ideas by following a thread of thought. In short, it is a sentence or two in your introduction that contains the focus of your essay and tells your reader what the essay is going to be about. 3 Definition

Your thesis statement should guide the reader from the introductory paragraph, through the supporting paragraphs, to the conclusion paragraph. 4 A Guiding Light

A Thesis Statement Is Not a Subject. “The two most famous generals of the Civil War” is not a thesis statement. 5

A Thesis Statement Is N ot a Question. “Was Robert E. Lee a better general than Ulysses S. Grant?” is not a thesis statement. 6

A Thesis Statement Is Not a Statement of Fact. A fact is something true or indisputable; something that exists or happens. 7

Facts Many Americans are overweight. Nowadays, many movies and video games are violent. Some people doubt that global warming is real. Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant are two famous Civil War generals. 8

A Thesis Statement Is Not a Statement of Intent. A statement of intent announces what the reader intends to say (the goal) and is not a claim. 9

Statements of Intent I am going to explain the importance of a father in a daughter’s life. My essay will discuss whether performance enhancing drugs should be allowed in professional sports. The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast Generals Grant and Lee. 10

What Is a Thesis Statement? A claim: an assertion of the truth of something A one or two sentence summary of a paper’s main point An unproved statement which is assumed by you to be true and from which a conclusion can be drawn 11

A Thesis Statement Is Adequately Focused. It is not too broad. It is not too narrow. 12

Examples of Thesis Statements That Are Too Broad. Video games today have many advantages over the first generation ones. There is too much money in politics. The lifestyle of women today is very different from that of women during the American Revolution. 13

A Thesis Statement Must Be Well- supported. No matter how well-constructed and thoughtful your thesis statement is, it is only effective when supported by evidence. You must have adequate information, examples, details, and details to convince your reader that you know what you’re talking about. 14

In Conclusion: 6 Traits of an Effective Thesis 1.It states a claim that can be argued against. 2.It is focused. 3.It contains a clear main point. 4.It may provide a blueprint for the essay. 5.It contains precise wording. 6.It must be well-supported. 15

Effective Literary Thesis Statements The thesis may focus on an analysis of one of the elements of fiction, drama, poetry or nonfiction as expressed in the work: character, plot, structure, idea, theme, symbol, style, imagery, tone, etc. Example: In “A Worn Path,” Eudora Welty creates a fictional character in Phoenix Jackson whose determination, faith, and cunning illustrate the indomitable human spirit. Note that the work, author, and character to be analyzed are identified in this thesis statement. The thesis relies on a strong verb (creates). It also identifies the element of fiction that the writer will explore (character) and the characteristics the writer will analyze and discuss (determination, faith, cunning). 16

Other Examples of Strong Literary Thesis Statements The character of the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet serves as a foil to young Juliet, delights us with her warmth and earthy wit, and helps realize the tragic catastrophe. The works of ecstatic love poets Rumi, Hafiz, and Kabir use symbols such as a lover’s longing and the Tavern of Ruin to illustrate the human soul’s desire to connect with God. 17

Your Turn Regents Holden is _________(adjective) at the beginning of Catcher because he believes _________________(explanation of his view on innocence), but the reader sees him transform and become ____________ (adjective) because he realizes (explanation of his changed view of innocence) Honors: Holden is _________(adjective) at the beginning of Catcher because he believes _________________(explanation of his view on innocence in relation to Phoebe), but the reader sees him transform and become ____________ (adjective) because he realizes (explanation of his changed view of innocence in relation to Phoebe) 18 Take 5 minutes and contemplate some ideas that you can plug into the following thesis statement sentence frames. Also, be sure to have some scenes in mind to back up your points. Honors students are expected to think outside the “depressed” framework.

Post-Discussion Now that you’ve had a chance to hear some ideas, draft a WORKING THESIS. This means that your thesis might change as you write your essay, and that’s ok. You can always go back and edit your thesis. Make sure to note some key scenes you’re going to analyze to prove your point. 19

Workshopping Thesis Statements In groups, we’re going to work on our thesis statements. Each person will share his/her thesis statement and the scene he/she is considering for support, and the group will evaluate whether it meets the following criteria: It can be argued against It is focused It argues a clear, main point It includes precise wording (no simple words like "thing," "you," "bad," "good," etc.) It is well supported (is that the right scene?) 20