The Thesis Statement

What is a thesis?  The thesis statement is one of the (if not the) most important parts of your paper.  It should be introduced in the first paragraph and serve as the focus of your analytic argument.  The thesis is the thread (a strong one!) that ties together your interpretations of all the significant moments, patterns, developments, changes, and/or contradictions that you will develop in the body of your paper.  Think of the thesis statement as a contract between you (the writer) and the reader. The thesis makes certain promises to your reader; it then becomes your job to fulfill that promise using specific details or analysis.  The thesis statement is one of the (if not the) most important parts of your paper.  It should be introduced in the first paragraph and serve as the focus of your analytic argument.  The thesis is the thread (a strong one!) that ties together your interpretations of all the significant moments, patterns, developments, changes, and/or contradictions that you will develop in the body of your paper.  Think of the thesis statement as a contract between you (the writer) and the reader. The thesis makes certain promises to your reader; it then becomes your job to fulfill that promise using specific details or analysis.

Working vs. Definitive Thesis  A working thesis is often valuable in the early stages of the writing process in that it guides your inquiry into your subject, suggesting questions, problems, and strategies.  The best definitive theses, however, generally come late in the writing process. Hence, the writing process is not simply a means of codifying what you already know; it is a means of pushing beyond the commonplace, of exhausting the obvious, and of discovering what it is you ultimately want to say.  A working thesis is often valuable in the early stages of the writing process in that it guides your inquiry into your subject, suggesting questions, problems, and strategies.  The best definitive theses, however, generally come late in the writing process. Hence, the writing process is not simply a means of codifying what you already know; it is a means of pushing beyond the commonplace, of exhausting the obvious, and of discovering what it is you ultimately want to say.

What’ the difference between a good thesis and a junky thesis??

Junky Thesis Statements  The plot summary thesis: The Confederate soldiers gave up their weapons after General Lee surrendered to General Grant.  The plot summary thesis: The Confederate soldiers gave up their weapons after General Lee surrendered to General Grant.

It’s Junky!  Proving the universal: The U.S. Civil War was a conflict between the North and the South.  Proving the universal: The U.S. Civil War was a conflict between the North and the South.

Junky. Junky. Junky.  The overly general thesis: The U.S. Civil War demonstrated that war could be very bloody.  The overly general thesis: The U.S. Civil War demonstrated that war could be very bloody.

Junk.  The clich é thesis: The U.S. Civil War proved that war is hell.  The clich é thesis: The U.S. Civil War proved that war is hell.

This is hurt too.  The list thesis:  The death of civilians, the destruction of cities, and the devastation of country-sides showed the extent to which the U.S. Civil War severely damaged the entire nation.  [Nothing technically wrong with this thesis, but it ’ s really boring! This is a great place to start with a thesis statement; then expand and/or finesse the what? how? and why? components.]  The list thesis:  The death of civilians, the destruction of cities, and the devastation of country-sides showed the extent to which the U.S. Civil War severely damaged the entire nation.  [Nothing technically wrong with this thesis, but it ’ s really boring! This is a great place to start with a thesis statement; then expand and/or finesse the what? how? and why? components.]

Why is this junky?  The North and South fought the Civil War for many reasons, some of which were the same and some different.

 How can you improve it?  "What reasons? How are they the same? How are they different?" Ask yourself these same questions and begin to compare Northern and Southern attitudes. Now, push your comparison toward an interpretation-why did one side think slavery was right and the other side think it was wrong?  How can you improve it?  "What reasons? How are they the same? How are they different?" Ask yourself these same questions and begin to compare Northern and Southern attitudes. Now, push your comparison toward an interpretation-why did one side think slavery was right and the other side think it was wrong?

How is this?  While both sides fought the Civil War over the issue of slavery, the North fought for moral reasons while the South fought to preserve its own institutions.

Junk or No Junk?  While both Northerners and Southerners believed they fought against tyranny and oppression, Northerners focused on the oppression of slaves while Southerners defended their own rights to property and self- government.

So what makes a good thesis?  Your thesis should include three components: WHAT, HOW, and WHY  WHAT - claim about event or historical topic  HOW -the events, ideas, sources, etc. that you choose to prove your claim  WHY- the significance of your idea in terms of understanding the history/narrative as a whole (answers the dreaded “ so what? ” question)  Your thesis should include three components: WHAT, HOW, and WHY  WHAT - claim about event or historical topic  HOW -the events, ideas, sources, etc. that you choose to prove your claim  WHY- the significance of your idea in terms of understanding the history/narrative as a whole (answers the dreaded “ so what? ” question)