Easy Steps to a Great
Thesis
A thesis statement can be:
The answer to a question that you
have posed
 The solution for a problem you have
identified
 A statement that takes a position on a
debatable topic
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General Tips about Thesis Statements
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A statement that contains the essay’s topic and point(s)
Gives the reader an idea of what the essay will be about
Usually comes at the end of the introduction
Most thesis statements are only one sentence
Must be a complete sentence
Everything in the essay must support the thesis.
Introduction paragraph should follow this format:
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Attention getter (commonly known as a “hook”)
Introduce the topic
State the thesis
Your introduction paragraph should
follow this format:
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Attention getter (commonly known as a “hook”)
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Introduce the topic
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Geoffrey Chaucer is considered by many to be the “Father of English Poetry.”
If it weren’t for Geoffrey Chaucer, we might all be speaking French today.
It was the year 2017 and nearly everyone I’d graduated from high school with was
dead…well sort of.
Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales is widely respected for its realistic portrayals of
ordinary people and its social commentary.
Geoffrey Chaucer’s characters reveal much about themselves in the tales they tell.
My squad and I were holed up in an abandoned warehouse for the night, and since none of
us was going to get any sleep, we decided to tell stories to pass the time.
State the thesis
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The Pardoner is revealed by the narrator and himself to be as ugly and unattractive on the
inside as he is on the outside.
Chaucer’s disgust at the hypocrisy and corruption of the Church comes through loud and clear
in his “General Prologue.”
As the squad leader I would decide what order the stories would be told in, and there were
only two requirements: the story had to be completely true or entirely false.
What are the Roles of a Thesis?
1. It can assert an argument, explain a topic, and/or
analyze an issue.
2. It is specific in presenting the writer's position.
3. It limits both scope and topic of the paper.
4. It captures the reader's interest and focuses that
interest on the topic.
Kinds of Thesis Statements: Persuasive*
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A persuasive paper makes a claim based on
opinion, evaluation, or interpretation about a topic
and proves this claim with specific evidence.
Persuasive thesis example: High school graduates
should be required to take a year off to pursue
community service projects before entering college
in order to increase their maturity and global
awareness.
*If you have been asked to argue a point or choose a side on an issue, this is likely the
type of thesis you will use.
Kinds of Thesis Statements: Analytical*
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An analytical paper breaks the topic down into
parts, examines each part, and determines how
each part relates to the whole topic.
Analytical thesis example: An analysis of the
college admission process reveals one challenge
facing counselors: accepting students with high test
scores or students with strong extracurricular
backgrounds.
*If you have been asked to analyze a topic, issue, or reading, this is the type of thesis
you should use.
Kinds of Thesis Statements: Expository*
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An expository (explanatory) paper explains
something to the audience.
Expository thesis example: The life of the typical
college student is characterized by time spent
studying, attending class, and socializing with peers.
*If you have been asked to narrate a story or explain a process, this is likely the type of
thesis you will use.
Ways of Constructing Thesis Statements:
The List (Essay Map)
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Contains the essay’s topic,
point, and three supporting
reasons
Example: “To reduce the
number of highway fatalities
[topic and point], our country
needs [purpose=persuasive]
to enforce the national law
that designates twenty-one
as the legal minimum age to
drink, set up check points on
major holidays, and take
away licenses from convicted
drunk drivers [three
reasons].”
Ways of Constructing Thesis Statements:
The Umbrella
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Contains essay’s topic, point, and
alludes to reasons why the reader
should believe you.
Do not directly state the supporting
reasons, but instead allude to them.
Example: “Although thought to be
humane and necessary, animal testing
[topic] for medical and cosmetic
purposes does not live up to it’s
promises [point and reasons].”
Do NOT use language like, “There are
many reasons people don’t like
chocolate ice cream.”
Thesis Don’ts
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Announce your thesis: “In this essay, I am
going to tell you about the Wife of Bath
and how she relates to the tale she tells.”
Confuse your reader: Just make sure that
the topic and point are clear.
Cannot be a fact: Doesn’t allow you to
prove anything because it’s already
factual.
Don’t be vague: Words like “good,”
“bad,” “right,” and “wrong,” don’t convey
specific meaning.
Cannot be a question: “Don’t you think
animal testing is inhumane?”
 Does not give the point of the paper.
 Leaves it open for readers to fill in the
blank.
Creating a Thesis Statement
1. Determine essay’s topic (what you’re talking about)
Example: Pixar’s film Up
2. Determine what kind of paper you are writing and what kind
of thesis statement you need to use: analytical, persuasive, or
expository.
Example: Persuasive=It’s not really a “kid” movie.
3. Determine the way you will construct your thesis: list or
umbrella?
4. Put it all together!
Example: Pixar’s most recent film, Up, should not be considered a “kid”
movie because its character conflicts and main theme of loss are too
complex for children to understand.
Activity: Create Thesis Statements
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Based on the topic below, create an umbrella or list
type thesis statement:
Make sure to include the topic, point, and possibly
reason(s) in each of the statements.
Topic: Being a successful DHS student
Be prepared to share!
Possible Thesis Statements
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List: “Though DHS may offer rigorous courses, each
student can be successful [topic+point] as long as they
study, receive tutoring, and meet with their teachers
[reasons].”
Umbrella: “DHS can be a challenging school, but all
students can be successful [topic+point].”
General Prologue 1
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The character of the Pardoner in Chaucer’s
Canterbury Tales is as ugly and unappealing on the
outside as he is on the inside.
One need only examine the Wife of Bath’s
description by the narrator in the General Prologue
and by herself in the Prologue to her tale to realize
that she is one of Chaucer’s most complex
characters.
General Prologue 2
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One need only look at his depiction of the clergy in
the General Prologue of the Canterbury Tales to
realize that Chaucer believed the Church was full of
hypocrisy and corruption.
Three characters from the General Prologue
especially reinforce Chaucer’s view that the
medieval Church was full of hypocrisy and
corruption: the Pardoner, the Summoner, and the
Monk.
The Pardoner’s Tale 1/2
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The plot, character’s and setting of Chaucer’s “The
Pardoner’s Tale” all work together to reinforce the
idea that money is the root of all evil.
Geoffrey Chaucer’s personification of Death and
use of irony throughout the story make it the most
popular of The Canterbury Tales.
The Wife of Bath’s Tale 1
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If one examines her own experiences and beliefs
with regard to marriage, it is easy to understand
why the Wife of Bath tells such a tale.
One need only examine the Wife of Bath’s
character to realize her tale merely reinforces her
own beliefs about men and marriage.
The Wife of Bath’s tale is merely an extension of
her past experiences with and personal beliefs
about men and marriage.
The Wife of Bath 2
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The Wife of Bath’s Tale uses many of the
characteristics commonly found in fairy tales to
make its point.
The “happily ever after ending” of the Wife of
Bath’s tale isn’t the only fairy tale device she uses in
her story to convey her beliefs about marriage.
Federigo’s Falcon
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Write your own frame story:
Characters – list and briefly describe (who)
Setting – time and place (when and where)
Duration – how many, what order
Situation/Motivation – (why are they telling stories)
WARNING: This is not a prompt for weak or
inexperienced writers!