Alexander College Writing & Learning Centre

 What is a thesis statement?

 A condensation of your argument into a single sentence.  The answer to the main question you are addressing.

Thesis statements should:  Be direct (focused): it should tell the readers exactly what your paper is about in 1 or 2 sentences.

Thesis statements should:  Be direct (focused): it should tell the readers exactly what your paper is about in 1 or 2 sentences.  Be limited in scope: You should be able to make your case within the limits of your paper.

Thesis statements should:  Be direct (focused): it should tell the readers exactly what your paper is about in 1 or 2 sentences.  Be limited in scope: You should be able to make your case within the limits of your paper.  Be arguable: express a position that readers may agree or disagree with.

 Thesis statements should:  Be direct (focused): it should tell the readers exactly what your paper is about in 1 or 2 sentences.  Be limited in scope: You should be able to make your case within the limits of your paper.  Be arguable – express a position that is readers may agree or disagree with.  Be supportable – there is evidence that supports your claims

Thesis statements should not: Be just an observation – “There is a lot of traffic in Vancouver.”

Thesis statements should not: Be simply an observation – “There is a lot of traffic in Vancouver.” Be the title – “Vancouver traffic problems.”

Thesis statements should not: Be simply an observation – “There is a lot of traffic in Vancouver” Be the title – “Vancouver traffic problems” Ask a question – “What do you think about Vancouver’s traffic?”

Let’s look at one example, using the topic: Vancouver traffic. Vancouver is beautiful, but there are too many cars, and it’s expensive. Is this a good thesis statement?

Vancouver is beautiful, but there are too many cars, and it’s expensive. Direct (focused)? Is this paper arguing Vancouver is beautiful, there are too many cars here, or is it a paper about Vancouver’s cost of living? Limited? What is this paper arguing? Arguable? Does this thesis indicate an essay that presents a view the readers may agree or disagree with? Supportable ? Parts of this may be supportable, but not until the thesis is narrowed down.

Let’s use the same topic and see if we can come up with a better thesis statement: The high volume of traffic in Vancouver has a negative impact on air quality in the region, therefore rapid transit service in the region should be increased in order to reduce traffic volume and improve air quality. Is this a good thesis statement?

The high volume of traffic in Vancouver has a negative impact on air quality in the region, therefore rapid transit service in the region should be increased in order to reduce traffic volume and improve air quality. Is it Direct?  Improving air quality is the main focus of this essay. Limited?  This paper is limited to the air quality in the Greater Vancouver region, as it is affected by traffic volume Arguable?  There is a great deal of debate about how to improve air quality in high traffic regions. Supportable ?  This thesis argues that improving rapid transit will contribute to improving air quality & there are studies to support this claim.

Now you have some idea of what a thesis statement should look like... How do you write a thesis statement for your paper?

Step ONE:  Think of a question you want to answer about your topic  Be specific  Don’t ask a question that is too general or too broad  This will help you narrow the focus of your thesis statement  It will also help you to write a paper that is not too general.

Avoid Broad Questions Should euthanasia be made legal? “Euthanasia” can be a very broad term, so you would need to define what you mean by euthanasia Under what circumstances it should be legal? Who it would be legal for? Where are you talking about? Canada? China? U.S.A? The Netherlands? Belgium? What is the best argument for/against this?

Step ONE: Sample Questions o How does the author use foreshadowing in this novel? (English) o What affect does a high value Canadian dollar have on our economy? (Economics) o What is the chief weakness of Act Utilitarianism as a normative moral theory? (Philosophy)

Step TWO:  Brainstorm some general points that express possible ways to answer your question  This is where your research can help you  Use reliable sources of information to help you come up with the best answer to your question.  Note: use English sources from the College’s data base and libraries.

Step TWO: Sample Answers  How does the author use foreshadowing in this novel? (English)  Foreshadowing creates suspense  It keeps readers interested in the story  It gives readers clues about what might happen next

Step TWO: Sample Answers  What affect does a high value Canadian dollar have on our economy? (Economics)  Some claim the higher petro-dollar value makes it difficult for Canadian manufacturers to compete in world markets.  Manufacturers responded to economic downturn by reducing their dependence on exports  They have used the higher dollar to purchase more foreign inputs for their businesses  Manufacturers have led the recovering since  There have been winners and losers

Step TWO: Sample Answers  What is the chief weakness of Act Utilitarianism as a normative moral theory? (Philosophy)  Utilitarianism identifies happiness as the only intrinsic good  Happiness cannot be objectively valued  This makes morality subjective rather than objective

Step THREE:  Take the question and your best answer(s) [up to 3 points] and write a combination sentence that tells the reader what your paper is about.

Step THREE:  Note that how you answer your question will also depend on what type of paper you are writing.  If you are writing a position/argument paper, then your thesis statement will identify what position you are taking.  If you are analyzing or explaining research, then your thesis statement will identify the main conclusion of your analysis or research.

Sample Thesis Statements: o This is a sample of an English essay assignment that asks for a Critical Analysis of a novel : o The author uses foreshadowing as an effective tool to keep readers interested by creating suspense that keeps them guessing until the very end of the story.

Sample Thesis Statements: o This thesis statement is for an Expository essay – an essay that explains something or presents facts to readers : o While there have been winners and losers in Canada’s economy, manufacturers have led the economic recovery since 2008 by reducing their dependence on exports and taking advantage of Canada’s higher dollar value to purchase more foreign inputs for their businesses.

Sample Thesis Statements:  This thesis statement is for an Argumentative or Position essay o Act Utilitarianism chief weakness as a normative moral theory lies in its reliance on happiness as the only intrinsic good. Since happiness cannot be objectively evaluated, this would make act utilitarianism a subjective moral theory.

Important Things to Remember 1. Think of your thesis statement as the “Organizing Idea” for your entire essay. As you are writing, keep checking that your essay is including information and arguments that are supporting your thesis. This will help you keep your essay focussed.

Important Things to Remember 2. Your thesis statement creates “Reader Expectations”.  If your thesis says that the author uses foreshadowing to create suspense, then your readers are going to expect an essay that demonstrates how the author does that and why it’s an effective way of writing.

Important Things to Remember 3. Thesis statements are not “cast in stone”.  If you change your mind about your position or you discover there isn’t any reliable research that supports your thesis, it is okay to change your thesis statement.