2. Writing the Thesis Statement

3. What is it? for most student work, it's a one- or two- sentence statement that explicitly outlines the purpose or point of your paper. It is generally a complex, compound sentence

4. What does it do? it should point toward the development or course of argument the reader can expect your argument to take

5. Where does it go? because the rest of the paper will support or back up your thesis, a thesis is normally placed at or near the end of the introductory paragraph.

6. What does it contain? The thesis sentence must contain an arguable point. A thesis sentence must not simply make an observation -- for example, "Writer X seems in his novel Y to be obsessed with lipstick." Rather, it must assert a point that is arguable: “Writer X uses lipstick to point to his novel's larger theme: the masking and unmasking of the self."

7. What it determines The thesis sentence must control the entire argument. Your thesis sentence determines what you are required to say in a paper. It also determines what you cannot say. Every paragraph in your paper exists in order to support your thesis. Accordingly, if one of your paragraphs seems irrelevant to your thesis you have two choices: get rid of the paragraph, or rewrite your thesis.

8. Is it fixed in concrete? Imagine that as you are writing your paper you stumble across the new idea that lipstick is used in Writer X's novel not only to mask the self, but also to signal when the self is in crisis. This observation is a good one; do you really want to throw it away? Or do you want to rewrite your thesis so that it accommodates this new idea?

9. A contract Understand that you don't have a third option: you can't simply stick the idea in without preparing the reader for it in your thesis. The thesis is like a contract between you and your reader. If you introduce ideas that the reader isn't prepared for, you've violated that contract.

10. It provides structure for your paper The thesis sentence should provide a structure for your argument. A good thesis not only signals to the reader what your argument is, but how your argument will be presented. In other words, your thesis sentence should either directly or indirectly suggest the structure of your argument to your reader. Say, for example, that you are going to argue that "Writer X explores the masking and unmasking of the self in three curious ways: A, B, and C.” In this case, the reader understands that you are going to have three important points to cover, and that these points will appear in a certain order.

11. Other Attributes it takes a side on a topic rather than simply announcing that the paper is about a topic (the title should have already told your reader your topic). Don't tell readers about something; tell them what about something. Answer the questions "how?" or "why?” it is sufficiently narrow and specific that your supporting points are necessary and sufficient, not arbitrary; paper length and number of supporting points are good guides here.

12. More Attributes it argues one main point and doesn't squeeze three different theses for three different papers into one sentence; And most importantly, it passes The "So What?" Test.

13. An Equation thesis statements are basically made up of your topic and a specific assertion about that topic, therefore, THESIS = TOPIC + SPECIFIC ASSERTION

14. The four “shoulds” of a thesis statement:

15. a good thesis statement should take a stand - don't be afraid to have an opinion; if after your research, your opinion changes, all the better - means you have been thinking; you can write a new thesis statement!

16. a good thesis statement should justify discussion - don't leave your readers saying to themselves "So what" or "duh?" or "like what's your point?"

17. a good thesis statement should express one main idea or a clear relationship between two specific ideas linked by words like "because," "since," "so," "although," "unless," or "however."

18. Example Poor: Stephen King writes readable books. Good: Stephen King’s books are so good because they are about normal people who get into supernatural situations.

19. What is not a thesis statement? 4A thesis is never a question; it could be the answer to a question. 4A thesis is not an announcement of purpose. 4A thesis is not simply a topic. 4A thesis is not a fact.

20. 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.

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

22. 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!

23. 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!

24. 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!

25. 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!

26. Determine whether the following is a good or poor thesis statement I had squash, tomatoes, and corn in my garden last year. Poor A thesis statement is not too narrow!

27. Determine whether the following is a good or poor thesis statement Vegetable gardening can be a frustrating hobby. Yes, a thesis statement reflects a position!

28. Determine whether the following is a good or poor thesis statement Honesty and trust in the classroom. Poor A thesis statement is not just a topic!

29. Determine whether the following is a good or poor thesis statement Honesty and trust play an important role in successful teacher-student relationships. Yes, a thesis statement reflects a position!

30. 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!

31. 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!

32. 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!

33. A good thesis statement should be restricted to a specific and manageable topic - readers are more likely to reward a paper that does a small task well than a paper that takes on an unrealistic task and fails

34. Topic Sentences

35. What we’ve learnt so far… Macro level: exposition structure – Introduction (background, thesis statement) – Body (at least 3 arguments) – Conclusion (restatement of thesis)

36. Micro level (paragraph structure) – Argument = point + elaboration – Typically, 1 argument corresponds to 1 paragraph – Use top-level structure to organise these paragraphs

37. Topic Sentences Apart from relating the paragraph to the essay thesis, a topic sentence: – Makes a claim – Defines the scope of the paragraph

38. Topic sentence analysis [Insert topic sentence]. The first is the wear-and-tear hypothesis that suggests the body eventually succumbs to the environmental insults of life. The second is the notion that we have an internal clock which is genetically programmed to run down. Supporters of the wear-and-tear theory maintain that the very practice of breathing causes us to age because inhaled oxygen produces toxic by-products. Advocates of the internal clock theory believe that individual cells are told to stop dividing and thus eventually to die by, for example, hormones produced by the brain or by their own genes.

39. Topic sentence analysis My Biology professor gave an interesting lecture on Thursday. The first is the wear-and-tear hypothesis that suggests the body eventually succumbs to the environmental insults of life. The second is the notion that we have an internal clock which is genetically programmed to run down. Supporters of the wear-and- tear theory maintain that the very practice of breathing causes us to age because inhaled oxygen produces toxic by-products. Advocates of the internal clock theory believe that individual cells are told to stop dividing and thus eventually to die by, for example, hormones produced by the brain or by their own genes.

40. Topic sentence analysis We all must die some day. The first is the wear-and- tear hypothesis that suggests the body eventually succumbs to the environmental insults of life. The second is the notion that we have an internal clock which is genetically programmed to run down. Supporters of the wear-and-tear theory maintain that the very practice of breathing causes us to age because inhaled oxygen produces toxic by-products. Advocates of the internal clock theory believe that individual cells are told to stop dividing and thus eventually to die by, for example, hormones produced by the brain or by their own genes.

41. Topic sentence analysis Some scientists believe that humans contain an internal time clock which forces them eventually to die. The first is the wear-and-tear hypothesis that suggests the body eventually succumbs to the environmental insults of life. The second is the notion that we have an internal clock which is genetically programmed to run down. Supporters of the wear-and- tear theory maintain that the very practice of breathing causes us to age because inhaled oxygen produces toxic by-products. Advocates of the internal clock theory believe that individual cells are told to stop dividing and thus eventually to die by, for example, hormones produced by the brain or by their own genes.

42. Topic sentence analysis There are two broad theories concerning what triggers a human’s inevitable decline to death. The first is the wear-and-tear hypothesis that suggests the body eventually succumbs to the environmental insults of life. The second is the notion that we have an internal clock which is genetically programmed to run down. Supporters of the wear-and-tear theory maintain that the very practice of breathing causes us to age because inhaled oxygen produces toxic by-products. Advocates of the internal clock theory believe that individual cells are told to stop dividing and thus eventually to die by, for example, hormones produced by the brain or by their own genes.

43. Topic sentence analysis [Insert topic sentence]. The strictest military discipline imaginable is still looser than that prevailing in the average assembly-line. The soldier, at worst, is still able to exercise the highest conceivable functions of freedom -- that is, he or she is permitted to steal and to kill. No discipline prevailing in peace gives him or her anything remotely resembling this. The soldier is, in war, in the position of a free adult; in peace he or she is almost always in the position of a child. In war all things are excused by success, even violations of discipline. In peace, speaking generally, success is inconceivable except as a function of discipline.

44. Topic sentence analysis Soldiers need discipline. The strictest military discipline imaginable is still looser than that prevailing in the average assembly-line. The soldier, at worst, is still able to exercise the highest conceivable functions of freedom -- that is, he or she is permitted to steal and to kill. No discipline prevailing in peace gives him or her anything remotely resembling this. The soldier is, in war, in the position of a free adult; in peace he or she is almost always in the position of a child. In war all things are excused by success, even violations of discipline. In peace, speaking generally, success is inconceivable except as a function of discipline.

45. Topic sentence analysis Although soldiers are not always disciplined, they serve an important social function in wartime. The strictest military discipline imaginable is still looser than that prevailing in the average assembly-line. The soldier, at worst, is still able to exercise the highest conceivable functions of freedom -- that is, he or she is permitted to steal and to kill. No discipline prevailing in peace gives him or her anything remotely resembling this. The soldier is, in war, in the position of a free adult; in peace he or she is almost always in the position of a child. In war all things are excused by success, even violations of discipline. In peace, speaking generally, success is inconceivable except as a function of discipline.

46. Topic sentence analysis We commonly look on the discipline of war as more rigid than any other forms of discipline necessary in times of peace, but this is a misconception. The strictest military discipline imaginable is still looser than that prevailing in the average assembly-line. The soldier, at worst, is still able to exercise the highest conceivable functions of freedom -- that is, he or she is permitted to steal and to kill. No discipline prevailing in peace gives him or her anything remotely resembling this. The soldier is, in war, in the position of a free adult; in peace he or she is almost always in the position of a child. In war all things are excused by success, even violations of discipline. In peace, speaking generally, success is inconceivable except as a function of discipline.

47. Write a topic sentence [Insert your topic sentence]. In Montreal, a flashing red traffic light instructs drivers to careen even more wildly through intersections heavily populated with pedestrians and oncoming vehicles. In startling contrast, an amber light in Calgary warns drivers to scream to a halt on the off chance that there might be a pedestrian within 500 metres who might consider crossing at some unspecified time within the current day. In my home town in New Brunswick, finally, traffic lights (along with painted lines and posted speed limits) do not apply to tractors, all terrain vehicles, or pickup trucks, which together account for most vehicles on the road. In fact, were any observant Canadian dropped from an alien space vessel at an unspecified intersection anywhere in this vast land, he or she could almost certainly orient him-or-herself according to the surrounding traffic patterns.

48. Write a topic sentence Although the interpretation of traffic signals may seem highly standardised, close observation reveals regional differences across Canada. In Montreal, a flashing red traffic light instructs drivers to careen even more wildly through intersections heavily populated with pedestrians and oncoming vehicles. In startling contrast, an amber light in Calgary warns drivers to scream to a halt on the off chance that there might be a pedestrian within 500 metres who might consider crossing at some unspecified time within the current day. In my home town in New Brunswick, finally, traffic lights (along with painted lines and posted speed limits) do not apply to tractors, all terrain vehicles, or pickup trucks, which together account for most vehicles on the road. In fact, were any observant Canadian dropped from an alien space vessel at an unspecified intersection anywhere in this vast land, he or she could almost certainly orient him-or-herself according to the surrounding traffic patterns.