Thesis Statements!

A thesis is the main idea of your paper. It is contained in a thesis statement.

So, just what the heck IS a thesis statement, anyway?

A thesis statement is a sentence that answers these questions for your readers: What is the subject of this essay? What is the writer’s opinion on this subject? What is the writer’s purpose in this essay?

Everything you write in your paper should support your thesis!!!!

But what happens if I change my thesis as I revise my paper?

A working thesis may change as you revise and redraft what you write. This is okay. You are not locked into your original idea if you think of something better.

Guidelines for Writing Effective Thesis Statements

Clearly define your opinion. Make sure your readers know what you think.

Have only ONE main idea. This is not as easy as it sounds.

High school athletes shouldn’t have to maintain a certain grade-point average to participate in school sports, and the value of sports is often worth the lower academic average.

Two Theses: High school athletes shouldn’t have to maintain a certain grade-point average to participate in school sports. The value of sports is often worth the lower academic average.

To improve, pick one: High school athletes shouldn’t have to maintain a certain grade-point average to participate in school sports.

To improve, pick one: For some students, participation in sports may be more valuable than achieving a high grade- point average.

Say something worthwhile.

If you write it well, any subject can be made interesting. But some subjects are more predictable and boring than others.

Sometimes you are asked to write about yourself in an essay; after all, you are the world’s greatest expert on you.

The problem with this is that not all topics you generate this way will interest others as the subject is just too personal.

In this case you need to UNIVERSALIZE the thesis so that others can get into it.

The six children in my family have completely different personalities. This might be true, but would anyone outside your family and friends really care?

Universalize the Thesis: Birth order can influence children’s personalities in startling ways. You can use the same examples from the last thesis, but now others are more likely to buy into it.

Limit the thesis to fit the assignment.

State the thesis in specific terms.

Living away from home in an apartment for the first time can teach you many things about taking care of yourself.

More Specific: By living in an apartment, college freshmen can learn valuable lessons in financial planning and time management.

The thesis should be easily recognizable as the main idea. Ideally the thesis statement should show up in the first or second paragraph.