Three Point Thesis
Look at this example of a thesis statement:
Television commercials are better crafted than most television programming.
This statement guides the writer, reminding him that his essay must examine both commercials
and programming, that the essay must focus on craft, and that it must show the superiority of
commercials. This statement also restricts the writer, reminding him that his essay will not
discuss distantly related ideas like content, or scheduling, or audience response.
When the thesis statement appears in the final version of the essay, it guides the reader. The
statement promises the reader that the essay will prove the superior craft of commercials, and
that it will not drift off into a discussion of newscasters' hairstyles.
Now that first version of the thesis statement can be further refined, to give still more guidance
to the writer, to better clarify the restrictions on the essay, and to make a more exact promise
to the reader.
Television commercials are better crafted than most television programming in their video
techniques, in their audio techniques, and in their use of language.
In this second version, the thesis statement compels the writer (and promises the reader) to
discuss video techniques, audio techniques, and language in commercials and programming. It
further restricts the essay, eliminating discussion of such other "craft" issues as acting and
directing.
Because this second version of the thesis statement previews the way the essay will be
developed, it is called a previewing thesis statement (pretty clever, huh?).
All right then--the thesis statement is a single sentence expressing the main idea of the essay,
guiding and restricting the writer, and also guiding the reader, promising that the essay will
explore certain ideas and not other ideas. And a previewing thesis statement offers more
guidance, more restrictions, and clearer promises than a non-previewing thesis statement.
Note that strong thesis statements do more than name topics and subtopics, though--they also
express the writer's position, or attitude, or angle, and often the writer's tone.
Now, add the qualifier to make it A.P. fabulous!
Television commercials are more advanced than television programming because they are
crafted using superior video techniques, enhanced audio techniques, and superb manipulation
of language.
Ta-da. You are now focused and ready to write.
Some of this handout was taken from
http://faculty.southwest.tn.edu/jfriedlander/thesis_outline_5-paragraph_theme.htm