The Thesis Statement

What is a thesis statement? It is an arguable statement. It is a complete sentence that expresses your position/opinion on a given topic. It narrows down your topic to a specific, single focus of investigation. It establishes a direction for the entire paper. It is usually stated in your introduction.

What is not a thesis statement? A thesis is never a question; it could be the answer to a question. A thesis is not an announcement of purpose. A thesis is not simply a topic. A thesis is not a fact.

Analytical Thesis Statement An analytical paper breaks down a text(s) into its component parts, evaluates the data, and presents this breakdown and evaluation to the audience as an argument. In other words, “I believe this text is saying … and here’s how I know and here’s why you should believe it too.”

Writing a Thesis A thesis has two parts Topic: the main subject to be discussed in the essay Opinion: what the writer thinks about the main subject to be discussed (the topic) Topic: Community College Students Opinion: Work diligently to pass class, to transfer to universities, and to earn four-year degrees. Thesis: Community college students work diligently to pass class, to transfer to universities, and to earn four-year degrees.

Critical Literary Analysis For a critical literary analysis, your thesis statement will typically include the title(s) of the work(s) you will discuss in your paper and the author(s) of those works, as well as what it is that you will argue about those works.

How do I arrive at my thesis? A thesis is the result of a lengthy thinking process. Formulating a thesis is not the first thing you do after reading an essay assignment. Before you develop an argument on any topic, you have to collect and organize evidence, look for possible relationships between known facts (such as surprising contrasts or similarities), and think about the significance of these relationships.

How do I arrive at a thesis? Once you do this thinking, you will probably have a "working thesis," a basic or main idea, an argument that you think you can support with evidence but that may need adjustment along the way.

How do I know if my thesis is strong? Do I answer the question? In this case, the question is “what do YOU think your text(s) is saying and how is it saying it?”

How do I know if my thesis is strong? Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? If your thesis simply states facts that no one would, or even could, disagree with, it's possible that you are simply providing a summary, rather than making an argument.

How do I know if my thesis is strong? Is my thesis statement specific enough? Thesis statements that are too vague often do not have a strong argument. If your thesis contains words like "good" or "successful," see if you could be more specific: why is something "good"; what specifically makes something "successful"?

How do I know if my thesis is strong? Does my essay support my thesis specifically and without wandering? If your thesis and the body of your essay do not seem to go together, one of them has to change. It's OK to change your working thesis to reflect things you have figured out in the course of writing your paper. Remember, always reassess and revise your writing as necessary.

Determine whether the following is a good or poor thesis statement What causes violence in children? Poor A thesis statement is not a question!

Determine whether the following is a good or poor thesis statement The purpose of my paper is to identify the causes of violence. Poor A thesis is not an announcement of purpose!

Determine whether the following is a good or poor thesis statement The education system in the United States. Poor A thesis statement is not just a topic!

Determine whether the following is a good or poor thesis statement Teen pregnancy can be reduced with good education, parental support, and birth control. Yes, a thesis statement reflects a position!

Determine whether the following is a good or poor thesis statement I would like to discuss how teachers and students can develop better relationships. Poor A thesis is not an announcement of purpose!

Determine whether the following is a good or poor thesis statement Advertising has bad effects on all of society. Poor A thesis statement is not too broad!

Determine whether the following is a good or poor thesis statement What can be done to reduce violence in schools? Who is to blame-- the parents, the schools, or society in general? Poor A thesis statement is not a question!

Determine whether the following is a good or poor thesis statement Toy ads on television teach children to be greedy, competitive, and snobbish. Yes, a thesis statement reflects a position!

Sample literary thesis statement Sinclair Lewis’ 1922 novel Babbitt relies upon the author’s use of satire to critique the ignorance, mediocrity and conformity of the American middle class.

Sample literary thesis statement In the characters of Daisy, Tom, and Gatsby himself, Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby depicts a corrupted version of the traditional American Dream.

Let’s Practice Essay Prompt: How did realist writers portray social issues and the struggles of ordinary people? Step 1-Choose a writer Step 2-Choose a social issues they portrayed in a particular selection Step 3-State your position on how the writer portrayed that issue