Thesis Statements
•Definition
of a Thesis Statement
•How
to Construct a Strong Thesis
Statement
•How
to Tell a Strong Thesis Statement
from a Weak One
What is a Thesis Statement?

What is a thesis statement?

Most important sentence in your paper

formulates
The single sentence that ___________,
________,
and / or _________
states
sums up the topic of your
essay and your approach to the topic

purpose
Lets readers know your ___________

prove through
Answers: What am I trying to ________
the research / points in my paper?
Four Characteristics of Strong
Thesis Statements

1. A strong thesis statement takes
some sort of stand.


2. A strong thesis statement justifies
discussion.


A thesis must show your conclusions about a
topic.
Your thesis should indicate the point of the
discussion.
(Quoted Source: Writing Tutorial Services, Indiana University- current and
following slide)
Four Characteristics of Strong
Thesis Statements

3. A strong thesis statement expresses
one main idea.


Readers need to be able to see that your paper
has one main point. If your thesis statement
expresses more than one idea, then you might
confuse your readers about the subject of your
paper.
4. A strong thesis statement is specific.

A thesis statement should show exactly what your
paper will be about, and will help you keep your
paper to a manageable topic.
Thesis Statements Should:

Be provable
________

What does this mean??



Thesis statements should not contain pre-established
facts
______.
Why?
Thesis statements should present information and
“take” or approach to the information.
your ________________
Even though you don’t say, “________”
I think or
I believe your thesis is your
“________,”
__________
based on the ________
opinion
research and
___________
conclusions you’ve made as you’ve __________
prepared for
your paper.
Thesis Statements Should:

Take your essay’s purpose and audience into
account

Contain action verbs, strong adjectives, and
specific, illustrative vocabulary


is “___,”
are “_____,”
have etc.
Avoid- “___,”
many ways or other vague,
Avoid- “___________”
generalized statements
Ideas for
Stronger Verbs…

Instead of “is / are” use _________________


__________________
Instead of “have” use ___________________


Or _________________
Or ________________
___________________
Instead of “show” use___________________

Or ________________
___________________
Constructing a Strong Thesis
Statement


How do you write a good thesis
statement?
Magic Formula:
Specific Topic
________________+
______________
+
Active Verb
Point You are Proving (your approach)
_________________________________
= Strong Thesis Statement
Formula Example for Literature
Specific Topic + Active Verb + Point You are
Proving (your approach) = Strong Thesis
Statement
Even though it was written more than two
thousand years ago, Homer’s epic The
Odyssey + presents + a hero that today’s
audiences can respect.= Strong Thesis
Statement
Let’s Observe and Reflect…




Literature Example: Even though it was
written more than two thousand years ago,
Homer’s epic The Odyssey + presents + a
hero that today’s audiences can respect.=
Strong Thesis Statement
What do you notice about this thesis
statement?
How does it differ from past thesis
construction ideas you may have learned?
Is anything missing?
Formula Example for Science
Specific Topic + Active Verb + Point You are
Proving (your approach) = Strong Thesis
Statement
Nuclear power + provides + the cleanest
source of energy to meet the demands of the
twenty-first century. =Strong Thesis
Statement
Two Different Approaches

There are two ways to construct a strong
thesis statement (and include your supporting
details).

Using the same magic formula, you can
construct:

Three Pronged Thesis
A _______

A _____
Two Part Thesis
aka. “the fork”
aka. “the knife and
the fork”
A Three Pronged Thesis



This is the common ______
PSSA approach to writing
thesis statements.
Your thesis includes your ______,
topic your
approach to the topic and the
___________________,
three aspects / main points you will use to
_______________________
prove and discuss your topic in the body of your
essay.
You may have more or less than 3 points
depending on the size of your essay.
A Three Pronged Thesis
Example for Literature:

3

Literary contemporaries William Shakespeare
and Ben Jonson exhibit 1 similar styles of
language, 2 character development, and
plot execution. = Strong Thesis!
Topic + active verb + 3 prongs / main points /
the approach that you use to prove your topic
= strong thesis
A Three Pronged Thesis
Example for Science:
Because it 1 emits no greenhouse gasses,
2 causes no atmospheric pollution, and
3 harms no water or aquatic life, Nuclear
power + provides + the cleanest source of
energy to meet the demands of the twentyfirst century. =Strong Thesis Statement

3 prongs / main points + Topic + active verb
+ the approach that you use to prove your
topic = strong thesis
A Two Part Thesis


As you grow as a writer, you should expand into
the two part thesis approach.
Here, you state your thesis and approach to topic
in one sentence.


This is actually the true definition of a thesis
statement… one sentence with topic and approach.
Following your “thesis sentence” you must then
details statement.
write a “_______”
You will put forth the main points of your
paper (3 aspects / topics) in the
“ ______”
details statement.

A Two Part Thesis
Example for Social Studies

THESIS- When compared, the United States
and the Philippines exhibit similar governing
characteristics.

DETAILS STATEMENT- Their federal
branches, formal legal systems, and rules of
cultural decorum correspond.

Examine how the same formula is used. The thesis is clear, so
are the 3 points that will help prove the thesis.
A Two Part Thesis
Example for Science

THESIS- Nuclear power provides the
cleanest source of energy to meet the
demands of the twenty-first century.

DETAILS STATEMENT- It emits no
greenhouse gasses, causes no atmospheric
pollution, and harms no water or aquatic life.

Examine how the same formula is used. The thesis is clear, so
are the 3 points that will help prove the thesis.
A Two Part Thesis
Example for Literature

THESIS- Literary contemporaries William
Shakespeare and Ben Jonson possess
similar writing styles.

DETAILS STATEMENT- They exhibit
comparable word usage, character
development, and plot execution.
Let’s Practice: Craft your own thesis
Topic Ideas (Whatever you
like/know about)







Sports stars
Musicians
Songs
Video games
Novels
Movies
Actors/actresses
Remember that your thesis
must prove something!




Similarities?
Differences?
Commonalities?
Something else?
-Circle the type of thesis you wrote
-Provide an outline for an essay that uses that
thesis
Works Cited

Four Characteristics of Strong Thesis
Statements (Quotations)


Writing Tutorial Services, Indiana University,
Bloomington, IN
Parallel Structure Quotations and Examples

The Purdue OWL Family of Sites. The Writing
Lab and OWL at Purdue and Purdue University.
26 Aug. 2005. Web. 18 Aug. 2009.
Independent Thesis Practice

Directions: Please identify the errors and
correct the following thesis statements using
the information provided and the notes you
took in class.



You are allowed to add your own information.
Make sure to be specific.
Write your answers directly on this handout in the
spaces provided.
Remember to look out for:







Vague, weak verbs- use action verbs
Vague, weak, or generalized language
Missing points (3 aspects the paper will cover)
Incorrect format- Use of “I” or “This essay is about…”
Lack of parallel structure / Inconsistent ordering within the 3prong list
 (keep your nouns, adjectives, etc. in similar form)
Facts- remember a thesis needs to be provable, not an already
proven fact
 (facts go in the body of your essay)
Disorganized approaches to the topic
 remember to stay focused and organized
#1: Correct this thesis statement
using the 3 Pronged approach.

Shakespeare influenced his culture in many
ways. (*Create your own 3 points)


What’s Wrong? _______________________
Your Revised Thesis: ______________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
BETTER
 Shakespeare
influenced his
culture by creating new words,
writing many plays, and raising
the bar for playwrights.
#2: Correct this thesis statement
using the 3 Pronged approach.

I think that public safety education represents
the best way to save lives during an
earthquake.


What’s Wrong? _______________________
Your Revised Thesis: ______________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
BETTER
 Emergency
action plans, prior
safety training, and clear lines of
communication represent the best
ways to save lives during and
earthquake.
#3: Correct this thesis statement
using the 3 Pronged approach.

In high school, teachers assign homework.


What’s Wrong? _______________________
Your Revised Thesis: ______________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
BETTER:
In high school, teachers assign
homework so that students
practice the skill taught,
demonstrate the skill without
guidance, and gain a better
understanding of the material.
#4: Correct this thesis statement
using the 3 Pronged approach.

Irony is shown in the following three stories,
“The Most Dangerous Game,” “The
Interlopers,” and “The Necklace” through
character development.


What’s Wrong? _______________________
Your Revised Thesis: ______________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
BETTER

The short stories “The Most
Dangerous Game,” “The Interlopers,”
and “The Necklace” employ irony to
enhance character development.
#5. Correct this thesis statement
using the two part thesis approach.

Chocolate cake is easy to bake in three
steps. First you add eggs to the batter.


What’s Wrong? _______________________
Your Revised Thesis: ______________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
BETTER
Chocolate
cake bakes
easily in three steps.
One must buy, combine,
and cook the ingredients.
#6. Correct this thesis statement
using the two part thesis approach.

This essay is about China’s economy. China
has many important natural resources.


What’s Wrong? _______________________
Your Revised Thesis: ______________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
BETTER
 China’s
natural resources set
the groundwork for its growing
economy. Coal, iron ore, and
petroleum provide the most
lucrative opportunities for
growth.
#7. Correct this thesis statement
using the two part thesis approach.

Wind energy is an alternative to fossil fuels.


What’s Wrong? _______________________
Your Revised Thesis: ______________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
BETTER

FOR WIND ENERGY

Wind energy constitutes a viable
option to combat the nation’s
dependence on fossil fuels. It
represents a clean, sustainable, and
easily harnessed natural resource.
BETTER

AGAINST WIND ENERGY

Though an alternative source of energy,
wind technology does not offer a viable
solution to curbing the nation’s
dependence on fossil fuels. Its
overwhelming cost, threat to natural
wildlife, and large carbon footprint
eliminate wind technology as a potential
option.