Formulating a Thesis
The first step in finding a thesis is to read the assignment carefully to make sure
that you understand it. If you are unclear about any portion of it, talk to the
instructor. Once you fully understand the assignment, you are ready to think about
a thesis.
What is a Thesis?
A thesis is a one- to two- sentence summary of the argument or analysis you’ll be
presenting in your paper. A thesis statement gives papers a focus that can guide
both the writer and the reader, and it should go beyond the obvious – the more
specific, provocative and interesting, the better.
How to Generate a Thesis Statement if the Topic is Assigned
Almost all assignments can be reduced to a single question – once you discover
the specific question posed in the assignment, a complete sentence that answers
this question can become your thesis.
Example: If your assignment is “Write a report to the local school board explaining
the potential benefits of using computers in a fourth-grade class”, turn the request
into a question – “What are the potential benefits of using computers in a fourth
grade class?” Once you’ve chosen the question your essay will answer, compose
one to two sentences that answer this question: “The potential benefits of using
computers in a fourth-grade class are…” or “Using computers in a fourth-grade
class promises to improve…”
How to Generate a Thesis Statement if the Topic is Not
Assigned
Even if your assignment doesn’t ask a specific question, your thesis statement still
needs to answer a question about the issue you’d like to explore. In this situation,
your job is to figure out what question you’d like to write about.
Five Signs of a Strong Thesis:
1. A strong thesis takes a stand.
2. A strong thesis justifies discussion: go beyond stating an observation.
3. A strong thesis expresses one main idea.
4. A strong thesis statement is specific.
5. A strong thesis statement is well-supported by the essay – all topic sentences
should reflect aspects of the thesis, and all body paragraphs should support the
argument posed in the thesis.
Writing a “Roadmap” Thesis
*Thanks to Ed Menta
A roadmap thesis guides a reader through your essay by laying out the subject
you will be discussing, making an assertion, and then listing the main points
supporting your argument in the order they will be presented in your essay. These
main points will then become the subject of the topic sentences in your body
paragraph.
Example:
“Amiri Baraka’s play Dutchman, named to echo the myth of the Flying Dutchman,
uses the story’s themes of eternal wandering, a cursed vessel, and damnation to
reinterpret modern racial conflict.”
Subject: Amiri Baraka’s Dutchman
Assertion: Baraka chose his title based on the myth of the Flying Dutchman,
taking themes from this myth and using them in the play to make a point about the
insidious nature of racism.
Main points: The themes taken from the Flying Dutchman are 1. eternal
wandering, 2. a cursed vessel, and 3. damnation. The topic sentences in the
body paragraphs will then make an assertion about the use of eternal wandering,
a cursed vessel, and damnation within Dutchman in that order.
Sources used in this handout:
http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/thesis_statement.shtml
http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/NSHS/Library/ResearchTools/WriteThesis.htm