The Thesis Statement

What is it?

The main idea?

Then how is it different from a title? An announcement? A statement of fact?

Not a title, right? Kenyas many challenges is not a thesis.

Not an announcement My paper is about the many challenges facing Kenya today wouldnt be a very good thesis.

Not a statement of fact, right? Kenyas capital is Nairobi wouldnt be a good thesis sentence either.

So if its not a statement of fact, a title, or an announcement, what is it?

Thesis Definition One or two sentence distillation of the entire paper that is argumentative (i.e., has a point of view), provides the main idea of the paper, hints at the audience and the structure. (yes, that should be in your notes!)

Thats a lot! Indeed it is a lot for one sentence to do. Thats why many thesis statements are long and complicated compound/complex sentences with dependent clauses. Rarely will you be able to write a thesis as a simple sentence.

Labor Intensive Thats also why the thesis is the most fussed-over, written and re-written (and re-re-written) sentence of the whole paper. Its carrying a lot of baggage.

Break it down! Lets break down our definition of a thesis and look at its component parts (often known as analyzing).

…distillation of the entire paper… Think Marks Moms gravy.

…argumentative (i.e., has a point of view),… Hardest part of this to get. Even if the paper is not an argument, the thesis does take a point of view. A long established fact doesnt NEED a thesis. In fact, lets get rid of that troublesome term and just say that it has a point of view Think about the Duh Test

hook This argumentative nature is sometimes called a hook or anorganizing principle Its a way of looking at the information youve collected.

Gun control is an issue today. (not argumentativemy niece would say a-duh!) Gun control is the single most divisive issue in American politics today. (argumentative; has a point of view. A reasonable person could disagree with me and say that it was Obamacare, not gun control.)

People have different views about abortion. (DOESNT have a point of view; my niece would say, A-duh, Unckie Mark Viewpoints regarding abortion tend to line up along religious lines (HAS a point of view; a reasonable person could disagree with this thesis…they could state that views line up along gender lines, or even region)

The abortion debate is heated. (No POV. Kaitlyn says, A- duh, Unkie Mark) The abortion debate in the United States is so passionate because it involves a clash of our two most basic beliefs respect for life and self- (HAS a POV…a reasonable person could disagree and say that other aspects of itwomens right to control their own bodies is what makes the debate so passionate.)

….hints at the audience…. Think shorthand term. Dont put your whole audience profile in the thesis. Thatll make the thesis twenty pages long!

…hints at...the structure…

Sample Thesis Statements Look at the following and tell me whether or not they make strong thesis statements. If they dont make a strong thesis, which one of our rules do they violate?

My paper is about the Chicago Cubs.

The Chicago Cubs chances this year

The Chicago Cubs havent won a World Series since 1908.

The Cubs are loved by many baseball fans, despite not having won a championship in over one hundred years.

The Cubs will be better this year.

Long suffering Chicago baseball fans will be pleased to learn that the Cubs will be better this year.

Long suffering Chicago baseball fans will be pleased to learn that the Cubs will be better this year because of the maturation of key young players, some intriguing free agent acquisitions, and because Rick Renteria will be more comfortable as the teams manager than was his predecessor, Dale Sevum.

This is a lot of work! Isnt there a way to make this easier?

What, like Thesis Lite? Maybe. Take out a pen and a clean sheet of paper.

1 Write down a short hand expression for the every day, run of the mill, not too bright people who know a LITTLE about youre the controversy over your topic (but not what you know)

2 Pick one of the following terms Think Believe Assert Posit Maintain

3 Think of the common way #1 thinks about the controversy surrounding your topic (not what youve come to think about it since youve done all this research).

4 Shorthand way of referring to those REALLY in the know about your controversy.

5 The controversy that youre working on.

6 Your slant on the controversy. Your hook, organizing principle or POV

7 Sub topic one

8 Sub topic two

9 Subtopic three.

10 Apply Thesis-O-Matic

Although most(1) (2) (3), (4) know that (5) is actually (6) because of (7), (8), and (9).

Although most casual baseball fans believe the home run is the best part of the game, true students of Americas pastime know that the low scoring pitchers duel is actually the most exciting contest in all of sports because of the importance of the bullpen, the significance of team speed and defense, and central role of managerial strategy plays in determining the outcome.

Lets break it down

Normal, everyday, run of the mill knuckleheads Although most casual baseball fans believe the home run is the best part of the game, true students of Americas pastime know that the low scoring pitchers duel is actually the most exciting contest in all of sports because of the importance of the bullpen, the significance of team speed and defense, and central role of managerial strategy plays in determining the outcome. (normal, everyday run of the mill knuckleheads)

What those knuckleheads think Although most casual baseball fans believe the home run is the best part of the game, true students of Americas pastime know that the low scoring pitchers duel is actually the most exciting contest in all of sports because of the importance of the bullpen, the significance of team speed and defense, and central role of managerial strategy plays in determining the outcome.

Shorthand expression for your audience Although most casual baseball fans believe the home run is the best part of the game, true students of Americas pastime know that the low scoring pitchers duel is actually the most exciting contest in all of sports because of the importance of the bullpen, the significance of team speed and defense, and central role of managerial strategy plays in determining the outcome.

Topic Although most casual baseball fans believe the home run is the best part of the game, true students of Americas pastime know that the low scoring pitchers duel is actually the most exciting contest in all of sports because of the importance of the bullpen, the significance of team speed and defense, and central role of managerial strategy plays in determining the outcome. Topic

POV on Topic (argumentative) Although most casual baseball fans believe the home run is the best part of the game, true students of Americas pastime know that the low scoring pitchers duel is actually the most exciting contest in all of sports because of the importance of the bullpen, the significance of team speed and defense, and central role of managerial strategy plays in determining the outcome. POV

Subtopic One Although most casual baseball fans believe the home run is the best part of the game, true students of Americas pastime know that the low scoring pitchers duel is actually the most exciting contest in all of sports because of the importance of the bullpen, the significance of team speed and defense, and central role of managerial strategy plays in determining the outcome. Subtopic one

Subtopic Two Although most casual baseball fans believe the home run is the best part of the game, true students of Americas pastime know that the low scoring pitchers duel is actually the most exciting contest in all of sports because of the importance of the bullpen, the significance of team speed and defense, and central role of managerial strategy plays in determining the outcome.

Subtopic Three Although most casual baseball fans believe the home run is the best part of the game, true students of Americas pastime know that the low scoring pitchers duel is actually the most exciting contest in all of sports because of the importance of the bullpen, the significance of team speed and defense, and central role of managerial strategy plays in determining the outcome.

Although most (shorthand for every day, run of the mill knuckleheads) (pick one: think/believe/posit/maintain/assert) (common way of thinking about your focused topic), (short hand and complimentary way of referring to your audience) know that (Focused Topic) is actually (your slant on things; your point of view toward your topic argumentative attitude) because of (sub topic one), (subtopic two), and (subtopic three).