1. 1 Practical Skills: Thesis Statements Sarah Prince, PhD Writing Center Instructor

2. 22 Objectives Define the purpose of a thesis statement and discuss its importance in academic writing Identify elements of a strong thesis statementIdentify strategies to write a strong thesis statementApply strategies by reviewing and writing thesis statements

3. 33 A thesis statement: What is it and why does it matter? A concise, specific, and arguable sentence or two that explains your paper’s main argument or purpose Appears at or toward the end of a paper’s introduction Definition Keeps writer on topic Sets readers’ expectations for what to expect in the rest of the paper Answers the question: “Why are you telling me this?” Importance

4. 44 When do I need a thesis? Almost all assignments, no matter how brief (1-2 pages) or long (a research paper) will require some sort of thesis. Thesis statements are necessary for brief responses, discussion posts, short essays, long essays, research papers, dissertations, etc. Instructors may not always explicitly state that a thesis is required; however, the assumption is that you will include a thesis to guide readers through your writing.

5. 55 How do I get ideas for 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. Collect and organize evidence Look for relationships between evidence Think about the significance of these relationships Assess your opinion based on these relationships

6. 66 What should my thesis include? The WHAT, HOW, WHY, TEST The claim itself What: What is your specific claim? The events, ideas, sources, details etc. that you choose to prove your claim How: How are you going to prove your claim? WHY—the significance of your idea in terms of understanding your position as a whole (answers the dreaded “so what?” question) Why: Why is your claim significant?

7. 77 Why What, How, and Why Thesis Success The FCC has the right to limit the content that appears on The Real World in cases where the show depicts overtly sexist images of men and women. A failure to address such issues would suggest that U.S. society approves of such views. A failure to address such issues would suggest that U.S. society approves of such views. The FCC has the right to limit the content that appears on The Real World in cases where the show depicts overtly sexist images of men and women. A failure to address such issues would suggest that U.S. society approves of such views. Original Thesis StatementAnswers: the What, How, and Why

8. 88 Thesis Statement: Practice Exercises Read each passage. Determine if thesis is specific, concise, and arguable. Determine if thesis passes the what, how, why test. If thesis needs improvement based on your answers to these questions, rewrite thesis. Post revised thesis statements into the chat box.

9. 99 Thesis Statement Practice Although they might find cheaper prices at large chain stores outside of town, residents who shop at smaller neighborhood stores support their local communities in important ways. Is the thesis concise (at most 1-2 sentences)? Is the thesis specific, providing narrow and focused details? Is the thesis arguable, meaning could someone disagree? Does the thesis answer the WHAT question by providing a specific claim? Does the thesis answer the HOW question by providing specific ways the author will prove the thesis? Does the thesis answer the WHY question by explaining why this topic is important?

10. 10 Thesis Statement Practice support their local communities in important ways Although they might find cheaper prices at large chain stores outside of town, residents who shop at smaller neighborhood stores support their local communities in important ways. Is the thesis concise (at most 1-2 sentences)? Yes Is the thesis specific, providing narrow and focused details? Sort of Is the thesis arguable, meaning could someone disagree? Yes Does the thesis answer the WHAT question by providing a specific claim? Yes Does the thesis answer the HOW question by providing specific ways the author will prove the thesis? No Does the thesis answer the WHY question by explaining why this topic is important? Sort of

11. 11 Thesis Statement Practice: Revised Thesis Although they might find cheaper prices at large chain stores outside of town, residents who shop at smaller neighborhood stores can support their local communities in economic, political, and cultural ways. build a better sense of community but also provide lasting economic benefits to their towns Despite cheaper prices at large chain stores outside of town, residents who shop at smaller neighborhood stores not only build a better sense of community but also provide lasting economic benefits to their towns.

12. 12 Thesis Statement Practice I will show that by drawing on an ethical framework informed by a variety of reliable sources, the nurse in the case study is able to evaluate a confusing ethical situation and determine a course of action to avoid potential negative outcomes. Is the thesis concise (at most 1-2 sentences)? Is the thesis specific, providing narrow and focused details? Is the thesis arguable, meaning could someone disagree? Does the thesis answer the WHAT question by providing a specific claim? Does the thesis answer the HOW question by providing specific ways the author will prove the thesis? Does the thesis answer the WHY question by explaining why this topic is important?

13. 13 Thesis Statement Practice avoid potential negative outcomes. I will show that by drawing on an ethical framework informed by a variety of reliable sources, the nurse in the case study is able to evaluate a confusing ethical situation and determine a course of action to avoid potential negative outcomes. Is the thesis concise (at most 1-2 sentences)? No Is the thesis specific, providing narrow and focused details? Yes Is the thesis arguable, meaning could someone disagree? Yes Does the thesis answer the WHAT question by providing a specific claim? Yes Does the thesis answer the HOW question by providing specific ways the author will prove the thesis? Yes Does the thesis answer the WHY question by explaining why this topic is important? Yes

14. 14 Thesis Statement Practice: Revised Thesis avoid potential negative outcomes. By drawing on an ethical framework, the nurse in the case study successfully evaluates a confusing ethical situation and acts to avoid potential negative outcomes. avoid potential medication errors or patient fatalities By drawing on an ethical framework informed by ANA guidelines, the nurse in the case study evaluates a confusing ethical situation and acts to avoid potential medication errors or patient fatalities.

15. 15 Thesis Statement Practice In this paper, I will examine the topic of water management and its importance in U.S. desert states. Imagine you have written this thesis as part of the first draft of a course paper. Your instructor has provided comments on your draft. In his comments, he has asked you to revise your thesis (a) to delete “I will examine” and (b) to provide more specific information about your main argument. Your main argument concerns ways that governors of California, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico are working together to manage limited water resources so that each state can have access to a share. Incorporate some of those details into a revised thesis statement. Write your revised thesis on a piece of paper. Remember: ***Your thesis should pass the WHAT, HOW, WHY test. ***Your thesis should be concise, specific, and arguable

16. 16 Revised Thesis Statement Examples In the desert states of California, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico, governors are working together to manage limited water resources so that each state has access to sufficient water supplies. To ensure their citizens have access to sufficient water supplies, the governors of California, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico are collaborating to share responsibilities of water management.

17. 17 Advertisement Analysis Assignment For this assignment, write a 2-3 page essay detailing the strategy this ad uses to connect to a specific audience. What specific audience is the ad appealing to? What stereotypes about power, race, class, gender, respect, or authority are included in this ad?

18. 18 Thesis Statement Practice: Examples Using stereotypes of class and race, this advertisement targets upper class white women who do not work. Highlighting stereotypical women’s roles, this advertisement sends the message that women cannot relax until the house is clean.

19. 19 For additional help with your thesis… http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/405.htm http://waldenwritingcenter.blogspot.com/2012/0 9/argue-is-not-dirty-word-taking-stand-in.html http://waldenwritingcenter.blogspot.com/2012/0 9/argue-is-not-dirty-word-taking-stand-in.html