Unit 1: Thesis Statements __________________________________________________________________________________________ What is a thesis statement? - A thesis statement expresses your opinion about a topic. It is the basis of the introductory paragraph of your essay. -tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion. -it is a road map for the paper -A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself. The subject or topic might be World War II; a thesis must then offer a way to understand the war. - Generally, it should be a single sentence that is often placed near the end of your introductory paragraph. - You must be sure you can support the opinion in your thesis with points and research. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thesis Rules - Never be an open-ended question - Take a position or side of the argument - Be supportable with research readily available - Be limited to mentioning only those points you plan to discuss in your essay - Never be so broad that it’s difficult to discuss all relevant information - Only present one specific idea; not multiple ideas ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Limit your thesis by one or more of the following methods: - Time - Space - Causes - Effects - Comparison - Examples - Problem/analysis/solution --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How to Write a Thesis Statement TOPIC + OPINION/ARGUMENT = THESIS STATEMENT A good thesis statement is not general. Examples: General Specific Crime must be stopped. The courts need to hand out stiffer sentences to stop crime. Dickens wrote good novels. Dickens uses the setting of his novels to emphasize the themes. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Understanding Thesis Statements See how a writer starts with a BIG topic and can narrow it to a thesis statement. Subject: Rain forests Topic: The importance of rain forests Research Question: What is the importance of rain forests? Thesis Statement: Rain forests provide the human race with many resources. OR Rain forests are complex living systems that contribute to the balance of life on this planet. Examples Hemingway’s war stories are very good. Hemingway’s war stories helped create a new prose style of writing in three ways. Drug addiction is a big problem. Drug addiction has caused a huge increase in violent crimes. I want to share some thoughts with you about the space program in this essay. The space program is a waste of money for three reasons. Four steps to Arriving at a Thesis Statement 1. Begin with a general topic. Example: Women’s Voting Rights and Suffrage 2. Narrow down the topic to make it more specific. Example: Alice Paul’s role in the Suffrage Movement of the early 20th century. 3. Develop a thesis statement. Example: By taking a non-violent and radical approach, Alice Paul with the National Women’s Party, kept the women’s suffrage movement in the public eye, helping to pass the 19th Amendment. 4. Add a preview to what your body paragraphs will be about or how many you will have. Example: By taking a non-violent and radical approach, Alice Paul with the National Women’s Party, kept the women’s suffrage movement in the public eye in three ways, helping to pass the 19th Amendment. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How do I know if my thesis is strong? Do I answer the question? o Re-read the prompt to check that your argument did not miss the focus of the question. Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? o If not, then you may have presented a summary rather than a thesis. Is my thesis specific enough? o If it is too vague, you may not have a strong enough argument. Rather than use words like ‘good’ or ‘successful’, think about what makes something good or successful. Does my thesis pass the ‘So what?” test? o If a reader’s first response is likely to be ‘So what?” then you need to clarify, forge a relationship, or connect to a larger issue. Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? o If a reader’s first response is “how?” or “why?” your thesis may be too openended and lack guidance for the reader. Thesis Statement Exercise Use this exercise to familiarize yourself with the construction of a good thesis statement. Use the tools described below which will prove that your thesis is acceptable. a) Choose one of the subjects: volunteering success illegal downloading b) Write a belief statement about your topic (ex. I believe that the IELTS tests should be eliminated.) c) Add a fact to the belief statement (ex. I believe that the IELTS tests should be eliminated because they cannot predict success in university.) d) Take yourself out by eliminating “I believe” and you are left with a thesis statement (ex. IELTS tests should be eliminated because they cannot predict success in university.) e) Add a sentence or phrase to preview your body paragraphs (ex. IELTS tests should be eliminated because they cannot predict success in college as they are not a true display of language proficiency, student capability and study habits.) f) Test your thesis: Is it an opinion? Is it debatable? Is it specific? Is it academic?
