Creating a Clear, Complex and Creative
Thesis
What is a thesis statement?
A sentence at the beginning of an essay
that casts JUDGEMENT on an issue and
shows ANALYSIS by the writer.
Sample Question:
Assess the relative importance of THREE
of the following in the American
decision to declare war on Germany in
1917. (1995 AP US Exam)
• German Naval Policy
• American Economic Interests
• Woodrow Wilson’s Idealism
• Allied Propaganda
• America’s Claim to World Power
Clear Thesis Statement
There are many
causes for US entry
into World War I.
This thesis is AT BEST
satisfactory because it
fails to list the major
themes that will be
addressed in the
paper and it does not
attempt to judge the
relative importance.
Practice: For the prompt below,
write a C thesis statement.
Support or refute this proposition: The
daily lives of most Americans have been
affected by the invention of the
computer.
Clear and Complex Statement
Allied propaganda, Wilson’s
idealism, and German naval
policy all played a role in the
US decision to declare war on
Germany.
This thesis is good
because it is clear
and lists the major
themes to be
addressed, but it
still lacks real
judgment.
Practice: For the prompt below,
write a CC thesis statement.
Support or refute this proposition: The
daily lives of most Americans have been
affected by the invention of the
computer.
Clear, Complex and Creative Statement
ALTHOUGH, Allied
propaganda and Wilsonian
idealism played a role in the
US decision to enter World
War I, the German naval
policy was the most
significant factor.
This is and excellent
thesis statement
because it is clear, it
lists the themes to be
addressed, and it
assesses the relative
importance.
Practice: For the prompt below,
write a CCC thesis statement.
Support or refute this proposition: The
daily lives of most Americans have been
affected by the invention of the
computer.
Reflection Question #1:
How would you describe a CCC thesis
to a friend?
Reflection Question #2
Where else could you see yourself
using the CCC method of writing a
thesis? Explain.