Thesis Statement
Thesis Statement
-A thesis statement is a sentence that
expresses the main idea(s) of your paper.
Thesis Statement
-It offers your readers a quick and easy-tofollow summary of what the paper will be
discussing and what you as a writer
are setting out to tell them.
Thesis Statement
-A thesis statement generally consists of two
parts: your topic, and then the analysis,
explanation(s), or claim that you're making
about the topic.
Thesis = Topic +
+
+
+
+
Claim
Analysis
Opinion
Stance
Controlling Thought
Thesis Statement
-A thesis statement generally consists of two
parts: your topic, and then the analysis,
explanation(s), or assertion(s) that you're
making about the topic.
Topic: Fear
Thesis: In To Kill a Mockingbird fear of the
unknown drives harmful discrimination.
Thesis Statement
-A thesis statement generally consists of two
parts: your topic, and then the analysis,
explanation(s), or assertion(s) that you're
making about the topic.
Topic: Fear
topic
Thesis: In To Kill a Mockingbird fear of the
unknown drives harmful discrimination.
Thesis Statement
-A thesis statement generally consists of two
parts: your topic, and then the analysis,
explanation(s), or assertion(s) that you're
making about the topic.
Topic: Fear
topic
Thesis: In To Kill a Mockingbird fear of the
unknown drives harmful discrimination.
claim about topic
Thesis Statement
-A thesis statement generally consists of two
parts: your topic, and then the analysis,
explanation(s), or assertion(s) that you're
making about the topic.
Topic: Power of Knowledge
Thesis: The absence of knowledge in Romeo &
Juliet causes the untimely death of young love.
Thesis Statement
-A thesis statement generally consists of two
parts: your topic, and then the analysis,
explanation(s), or assertion(s) that you're
making about the topic.
Topic: Power of Knowledge
topic
Thesis: The absence of knowledge in Romeo &
Juliet causes the untimely death of young love.
Thesis Statement
-A thesis statement generally consists of two
parts: your topic, and then the analysis,
explanation(s), or assertion(s) that you're
making about the topic.
Topic: Power of Knowledge
topic
Thesis: The absence of knowledge in Romeo &
Juliet causes the untimely death of young love.
stance on topic
Thesis Statement
-A thesis statement generally consists of two
parts: your topic, and then the analysis,
explanation(s), or assertion(s) that you're
making about the topic.
Topic: Power of Knowledge
lack of
topic
topic
Thesis: The absence of knowledge in Romeo &
Juliet causes the untimely death of young love.
stance on topic
Thesis Statement
QUICK PRACTICE
Thesis Statement
In both of the previous examples, each topic yields a theme, which can
be developed into a thesis specific to the work to be analyzed.
Topic: Power of Knowledge
Theme: Knowledge aids thoughtful choices.
Thesis: The absence of knowledge in Romeo & Juliet causes the
untimely death of young love.
Topic: Fear
Theme: Fear can cause irrational behavior.
Thesis: In To Kill a Mockingbird fear of the unknown drives harmful
discrimination.
Thesis Statement
-Three of the hallmarks of a strong thesis
statement (aside from a relevant topic) are
precision, unity and restriction.
Thesis Statement
-Precision means that the thesis can have only
one interpretation: yours.
A writer allows the audience to see that his or
her conclusions have been reached after
careful research and well-developed analysis.
Thesis Statement
-Unity means that the thesis expresses only
one idea or one set of related ideas.
While more sophisticated theses require the
linking of several or even many ideas, these
ideas must always have clear and logical
connections that the reader can easily see.
Thesis Statement
-Restriction means that the writer has
included only those ideas which can
reasonably be explored in the space alotted.
Thesis Statement
-Generally, a thesis statement appears at the
end of the introductory paragraph of an essay,
so that readers will have a clear idea of what to
expect as they read.
Thesis Statement
-In thesis statements, you should avoid using
statements like, “This essay will discuss…” or
“I’m going to write about…”. Try to write a
thesis statement that captures your reader’s
attention without announcing your main topic
and stating the obvious.
Thesis Statement
A good thesis statement will:
 take on a subject upon which
reasonable people could disagree
 deal with a subject that can be
adequately treated given the
nature of the assignment
 express one main idea
 assert your conclusions about a subject