What About That Thesis Statement?
An effective thesis should
o make a definable, arguable claim
o be as clear and specific as possible
A thesis is never
o a question
o a list
o a "human condition" statement
o a dictionary definition
o a famous quotation
o confrontational, vague, or combative
The Writing Center at Harvard University and Pogreba
Another element of an effective thesis statement is tension.
Examples of thesis statements with tension:
Question
What effect has the telephone had on our culture?
Thesis without tension
The invention of the telephone has brought many
advantages to the culture.
Thesis with tension
Although the telephone has brought many
advantages to the culture, it may also have contributed to the
increase of violence in the culture.
*****
Question
Do reservations serve a useful role in contemporary Native
American culture?
Thesis without tension
Reservations have good points and bad points.
Thesis with tension
Although Wilson Real Bird believes that reservations are
necessary for Native Americans to preserve their heritage, the
continuation of reservations actually degrades Native American
culture.
The Allyn and Bacon Guide to Writing
Question
In many works of literature, past events can affect, positively or
negatively, the present activities, attitudes, or values of a
character. Choose a novel or play in which a character must
contend with some aspect of the past, either personal or societal.
Then write an essay in which you show how the character's
relationship to the past contributes to the meaning of the work
as a whole.
Ineffective thesis
Past events affect Nekhlyudov’s present attitude, values, and activities
in many ways.
Effective thesis
Nekhlyudov's struggle to reconcile his past relations with
Maslova not only motivates his growth as a character, but also
shows Tolstoy's belief in the possibility of human redemption
through the power of love.
Mr. Pogreba’s AP class, 2008