The Thesis Statement - What is it?
• The Thesis statement is the
central, controlling idea of a
paper.
• It is a statement that someone
wants to discuss or prove.
• It commits a writer to:
– stay within the bounds of his
main idea
– support it with either concrete
evidence or sound logic
– follow a predicated order and
emphasis in organizing his essay
For example, if a writer’s thesis
statement is…
The typical Hemingway hero is a wounded man,
both physically and emotionally.
…he has committed himself to show
through factual support how
Hemingway’s hero is wounded.
• Should not discuss Hemingway’s
writing style, his portrayal of minor
characters, or any other subjects
unless they directly help him to better
discuss the wounded hero.
The second part of his thesis (“both
physically and emotionally”) further
guides discussion of the writer’s main idea:
1. First he must show how the
hero is wounded physically
and
• he must show it through
specific examples taken from
Hemingway’s work, not just tell
about it in general, abstract
statements.
Second…
2. …he must show
how the hero is
emotionally
wounded
• again using
specific evidence
from Hemingway’s
writings.
All this is necessary to fulfill what his thesis promised.
Summary: Thesis provides outline
• Because the thesis
statement is the whole
essay summed up in one
sentence, it must be very
carefully thought out and
structured.
• A carefully constructed
thesis will provide an
outline for the writer to
follow as he writes his
essay and for the reader
as he later reads it.
II. How do you Write One?
The following are some
guidelines for writing a good
thesis statement:
1. A thesis statement must first
be restricted enough to allow
for adequate development
within the limited space of
the essay. It must be
FOCUSED by NARROWING
the topic.
For example:
The Brigham Young University campus has many
interesting features for a visitor to study.
• This thesis statement is much TOO BROAD or TOO
GENERAL.
• “interesting features” could cover hundreds of pages to
describing the landscape, architecture, exhibits, etc.
• In trying to cover all these ideas in one short paper he
would only describe a few features of the campus in a
general way.
But, consider this:
The Brigham Young University Law School is an
interesting building, both in its architectural
design and its technological features.
• This thesis statement is more RESTRICTED and
focused.
• focuses on one building on the campus and
• restricts itself to 2 main features of that building.
• Do-able in some detail, even in a short paper.
2) A thesis statement must be an assertion or
statement that requires factual or otherwise
acceptable support as evidence
For example:
Marnie Ellison, a second
semester freshman, wore a long
plaid skirt to the debate meet.
• This statement is a simple,
specific fact.
• It requires no support and thus
has no need for further
development.
• Statements like this are “deadend statements.” They
require no further
development or support.
But, consider this instead:
Experience has led members of the
debate team to believe that their dress
at meets not only affects their
performance but the way that others
perceive them.
• This thesis statement is an assertion
or opinion.
• Factual support is necessary to
answer such questions as, “Why?”,
“What makes them think so?”, or
“What are some examples?”
• The reader must be given enough
information to convince him that
there are some valid reasons to
believe this.
3) A thesis statement should be unified – that is, it
should express a SINGLE, strong central idea on
which the paper will focus
For Example:
One of the major presidential campaign
issues this year is the national economy
and many of the candidates are
criticizing foreign policy in order to
weaken the current president.
• This thesis statement commits the
writer to discuss two completely
different aspects of the presidential
campaign.
• If he does this, the essay will be
disunified, since it will discuss two
different topics rather than one main
point.
But, consider this instead:
One of the major presidential campaign
issues this year is the national economy
– both on the federal level and on the
individual family level.
• This thesis statement is unified.
• It focuses solely on the issue of the
national economy, even though there
are two parts to the discussion – the
federal and family levels.
• If the thesis contains other ideas
besides the central one, they must
always be secondary or subordinate.
Also consider the following:
Although the teacher structures a course and
directs learning, a student must listen, question,
and apply what he has learned before any real
learning will take place.
• This thesis statement contains two important
ideas – the responsibilities of the teacher and
the responsibilities of the student in the
learning process. However, both of these
ideas will not be discussed equally in the
essay.
• The structure of the thesis signals to the
reader that the first idea is subordinate to
the second;
• that is, it is only there to provide a
background for the central idea of the essay,
the responsibility of the student to learn.
A thesis statement should, if possible,
indicate the structure or organization of
the essay.
Consider the following thesis:
Although some might not believe it, there are
advantages to living in my hometown in British
Columbia.
• This thesis statement does not give the
reader a clear idea of what will be discussed
in the essay, or how it will be presented.
• He only knows that the essay will first briefly
discuss why some people might not believe
that there are advantages (a rather abstract,
foggy topic), then focus on the advantages of
living in that town. We don’t even know the
name of the town!
The overall essay outline would
probably look something like this:
I. Reasons for disbelief
II. Advantages
…. Not much of an
essay, eh?
However, consider the following
thesis:
Although some would find the
extreme weather unbearable, I
enjoy the rural setting, outdoor
leisure activities, and friendly people
of my B.C. hometown of Prince
George.
• This thesis statement not only
gives the overall focus (some
attention to a specific
disadvantage, with the main
emphasis on three specific
advantages), but it structures the
essay into three main points of
development for a 5-6 paragraph
essay.
The reader can expect this essay to be
structured something like this:
I.
(Although) unbearable weather
a.
Example
(Three enjoyable points):
II. Rural setting
II.
Support
III. Outdoor Leisure Activities
II.
Support
IV. Friendly people
II. Support
This information can either go in its
own paragraph or be incorporated
throughout the essay to assert the
reasons why the town is enjoyable.
For instance, it could be used in a
topic sentence like this: “Although
some people dislike the intense cold
and snow, they provide the
opportunity for leisure activities like
snowmobiling, skiing, and skating
on frozen ponds.”
To re-cap: the four characteristics of
thesis statements:
Non-thesis statement: This essay is about the
TV show ER (topic).
Non-thesis statement: The TV show ER is set in
a Chicago, in an urban hospital (fact).
Non-thesis statement: The TV show ER is about
emergency room medicine (fact).
Thesis statement: The TV show ER depicts the
world of emergency medicine realistically
and intensely.
• This is a thesis statement because the words
realistically and intensely are value words
that show opinions or judgments.
• The author is making an argument that
someone who has served in a real ER might
strongly disagree with.
BUT EVEN BETTER…
Extended thesis statement (BEST):
The TV show ER depicts emergency medicine
realistically and intensely by showing actual
trauma scenes, injured patients, medical
procedures, and the stressful effects of the
job on doctors and nurses.
• This is an extended thesis statement that is a
great organizational tool because it not only
tells the author’s view of the topic, but also it
provides an overview of the entire essay’s
contents.
• It is focused and unified in that it focuses on
one main idea – that ER depicts emergency
medicine realistically and intensely – and
provides four points for development, which
would make a 5-6 paragraph essay.
One more time…
Non-thesis statement: I am going to
write about the Beatles (topic).
Non-thesis statement: The Beatles were
a musical group of the 1960’s (fact).
Non-thesis statement: The Beatles wrote
their own music and played
instruments (fact).
Thesis statement: The Beatles were the
most influential musical group ever.
• This is a thesis statement because of
the value judgment most influential
and ever. Again, someone may
disagree with this argument.
Here’s what you’re aiming for…
Extended Thesis statement (BEST):
The Beatles were the most
influential musical group ever
because of their lyrics, musical
arrangements, influence on popular
fashion, and influence on politics.
• Again, notice how we get not only
the author’s opinion about the
influence of the Beatles but also an
overview of the rest of the essay’s
contents. It provides 4 points for
development, unity, and focus for
a thorough 5-6 paragraph essay.
III. Where is the Thesis Found?
• near the end of the introduction of the essay, preferably as
the last sentence, as in the following example:
In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen uses letters to allow characters who
are far away to communicate with one another. In that respect, letters
offer a view of everyday life in the nineteenth century England. Even
more important, however, is the letters’ literary purpose. Austen relates
some of the most important information of the narrative through
letters and, by doing so, concisely presents key information about plot.
At the same time, because the action is told through the letter writer’s
point of view, she conveys characters’ attitudes toward events. Finally,
the reactions the letters evoke from their readers give information
about the attitude of the people who read them. The letters Elizabeth
receives contain crucial information that leads to profound changes
in her character—changes that make it possible for her to
acknowledge her love for Darcy and that lead to her marriage.
A note on Introductions…
• Remember that
Introductions provide
important background
information, including the
context for your argument or
assertion (thesis), so that
your reader will understand
better why you are making
the assertion (thesis).
• Without that context, your
thesis will seem to appear
out of nowhere and have less
strength or impact.
Another example…
Claims that the American environmental movement undermines traditional
democratic values are wrong. In fact, the movement emphasizes a
commitment to compromise and a concern for the greater good that
characterize the American democratic tradition. Critics argue that supporters
of the environmental movement threaten fundamental constitutional rights,
such as people’s ability to use their property as they see fit. Critics also
question environmentalists’ use of lobbying to achieve goals, arguing that
these tactics result in disproportionate attention given to environmental
concerns. While it is true that environmentalists often advocate the adoption
of policies that may restrict individual behavior, they do so within legally
sanctioned bounds, recognizing that they are but one player in the
formulation of public policy. By vigorously advocating for more stringent
environmental standards, supporters of the environmental movement seek to
persuade the American population to look beyond individual desires and to
consider the broader impact of individual decisions. In so doing,
environmentalists exhibit values consistent with the American tradition of
civic mindedness, in which collective interests, rather than individual desires,
represent the highest priority.
In closing… please remember…
Do it for Grumpy Cat!