1. Thesis Statements
An Introduction

2. A Thesis Statement Should:
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A Thesis Statement Should:
argue a position, or outline information.
When composing your thesis sentence:
make sure your thesis reflects the full scope of your argument.
avoid using a thesis that is too broad or too narrow
argue as conceptually rich a position as you can support. Ask yourself How? and Why? questions to deepen your thesis and make sure you’re on the right track.
make sure your reader can easily identify your thesis sentence.
do not just reword the teacher's question; claim your own position.
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Two Types
Let’s focus on two simple types of thesis statements – the outline and the position
Outline
This type of thesis statement should give a list of what topics will show up in your paper.
For example….
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OUTLINE
“The Ransom of Red Chief,” a short story by O. Henry, is about two bumbling criminals who decide to kidnap a young boy in order to collect a ransom. What they don’t know is that this might be the biggest mistake they’ve ever made. There are two versions of this story, though: the text by O. Henry, and a short film, by Tony Bill. Though they cover the same basic story about the ironic outcome of ‘the perfect crime,’ both versions have large differences. We don’t notice these differences until we look at the characters, the plot, and the conflict.
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The Other Type
POSITION
The thesis statement that takes a position is the one that tells your opinion about a topic. This one doesn’t list anything – it tells me what you think.
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POSITION
“The Ransom of Red Chief,” a short story by O. Henry, is about two bumbling criminals who decide to kidnap a young boy in order to collect a ransom. What they don’t know is that this might be the biggest mistake they’ve ever made. There are two versions of this story, though: the text by O. Henry, and a short film, by Tony Bill. Though they cover the same basic story about the ironic outcome of ‘the perfect crime,’ both versions have large differences. People often say the book is better than the movie, and in this case they’re right – the short story is far better than the movie.
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OR…you could do both
The Ransom of Red Chief,” a short story by O. Henry, is about two bumbling criminals who decide to kidnap a young boy in order to collect a ransom. What they don’t know is that this might be the biggest mistake they’ve ever made. There are two versions of this story, though: the text by O. Henry, and a short film, by Tony Bill. Though they cover the same basic story about the ironic outcome of ‘the perfect crime,’ both versions have large differences. People often say the book is better than the movie, and in this case they’re right – the short story is far better than the movie, because of the differences between the way the characters, the plot, and the conflict are portrayed.
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Example
Why does the caged bird sing? In the
autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, a variety of symbols are expressed that aid in stabilizing her identity. As her childhood unfolds before her eyes, Maya encounters many elements that will follow her throughout her entire life. A passion for books; a love for dancing; and euphoria from the cozy family store in Stamps, Arkansas are milestones in her life. Each of these molds the means of self-discovery, comfort, and self-worth in Maya’s journey.
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9. So…what type is this one?
The life of the typical college student is characterized by time spent studying, attending class, and socializing with peers.
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And this one?
High school graduates should be required to take a year off to pursue community service projects before entering college in order to increase their maturity and global awareness.
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11. Editing Your Thesis Statement
First attempt:
The tarn is a mirror that distorts reality.
Comments:
Incomplete thesis; it needs to be anchored in the story more precisely.
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Second attempt:
The double imagery Poe offers us in the story is exemplified in the tarn. This symbol is suggests that the story is a dream.
Comments:
This attempt still lacks clarity. The ideas are interesting, but they are colliding into each other. The articulation is not coherent yet.
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Third attempt:
Double imagery makes us look twice—everything in this story is not as it appears. The tarn is the source of this idea, as it is the initial image of reflection, of distortion, that sets the reader questioning what follows in the story as dream or reality.
Comments:
This attempt needs work in terms of clarity, but it has improved in complexity and coherence. Sentence structure needs better flow, but the organization of ideas is fine.
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