Thesis Statements and How to Create Them in Your Writing

What is a thesis? A thesis is a complete sentence that demonstrates the “take away value” of your writing. It answers the question readers may be asking themselves: “So what?”

Answers to these questions will lead you to the thesis or the main idea. Why will your readers care about your topic and your writing? What do you want your readers to take away from your writing? Why are you the best person to write about this topic in this way at this time?

An effective thesis statement demands proof or demonstration. It is never a question, but it is often the answer to a question.

A thesis statement . . . Uses specific, objective language Identifies the topic States your purpose, intention, or attitude toward the topic May suggest the arrangement or organization of the ideas to come

Writers commonly revise their thesis statements. Don’t expect to think of a perfect thesis at the beginning. Plan to create a “working thesis” that you can use as you revise your sloppy copy into a draft. A working thesis need not be elegant or formal; it just needs to get you started.

THESIS 1 My instructor has an attendance policy. My instructor should change her attendance policy because it is unreasonable, inflexible, and unfair.

THESIS 2 Some children show violent behavior. Conflict-resolution courses should be taught to help prevent violence in schools.

THESIS 3 Social networking sites such as Facebook can cause problems. College students should be careful of what they put on their Facebook pages because prospective employees routinely check them.

Some strategies that can help you create a working thesis: Reword the topic question into a statement. Use “I” statements. Writing from your own viewpoint can help you figure out what you are trying to say. If first person is not appropriate for your audience, you can edit the wording later.

More Strategies Choose a sentence from the last paragraph of your sloppy copy. Writers often figure out what they want to say as they are writing. Choose any sentence from your sloppy copy that meets the criteria. You just need something to get you started; you can change your working thesis as you write.

Use a fill-in-the-blank sentence. “Although many people think ____, in reality, ____ because ____.” “_____ is the most significant _____ because _____.” “______ illuminates the role of ______ in people’s lives by showing us how _______, _____, and _____.”

More fill-in-the-blanks “Although many reasons have been suggested for _____, they all boil down to _____.” “_____ is true for these reasons: _____, _____, _____, and _____. “X has argued that _____, but Y’s position is stronger because _____.” “The more important effects of _____ went beyond those of _____.”

Remember that a thesis statement helps to shape the rest of your paper. Different thesis statements lead to different papers. If you find that your paper does not match your working thesis, you will need to change one to fit the other.

Any Questions? If there are no questions….then LET’S PRACTICE

Topic choices Is Google making us stupid? Why or why not? Guidance and counselling courses Information is Powerlessness How does the writing you do in college differ from the writing you did in high school? What are some of the fears that you have about sharing your work with others? Does Patriotism matter? Is multitasking a good or a bad habit? Explain.

EXAMPLE 1 Google making is not stupid because it is helpful, you can go on different sites to help you learn more. Google is very beneficial to us because it informs and assists Google is a major search engine which does not make us stupid because it helps In giving us factual information, communicating with others, and educational games.

EXAMPLE 2 Google is making us stupid because it doesn’t allows us to think , and is readily available in the palm of our hands. The use of google does not makes use stupid, because it is easy to relate to, it gives relevant information and keeps us up to date with what is going on in the world. Although google sometimes provides wrong data, new generations learn a great deal of historical, scientifical and environmental information from it

Example 3 Guidance and counselling courses is a necessary part of the social work curriculum because it teaches students how to cope with stress, deal with depression and to face anxiety. It I mandatory for all secondary level schools to have guidance and counselling courses because it help students to deal with peer pressure and to have a healthy personality.

Example 4 Guidance and counselling courses are advantageous for young people to better understand themselves to make good life choices and also to help people suffering from depression and stress. Guidance and counselling courses are essential in order to help those in need of psychological help while simultaneously creating jobs and improving the well being of others.

If you want to help people as a future career, you’ll have to take guidance and counselling courses to know the best strategies and practices for proving care. Guidance and counselling courses are beneficial because it allows us to examine ourselves, and mold us to become a better individual in the future.

Example 5 Students who struggles in subjects they don’t understand should look for guidiance and counselling. Guidance and counselling courses are very beneficial because it decreases stress, it makes you more independent in your daily life.