Writing a Thesis Statement
Written Commentaries
Oral Presentations
As you take down notes and go
deeper into the research
process, you’ll probably notice
that you are getting closer and
closer to an answer to your
research question.
Furthermore, you’ll probably
observe that some of the
information you’ve researched
can be grouped together.
In order for you to process
with the construction of the
thesis statement, you have to
construct your research
question.
Example:
What are the themes
governing the novel, “The
House of the Spirits?”
Based on Hannah’s initial
research, she found most of
the information she had
gathered from various sources
points useful to the fact that
there are a great number of
themes that can be shown in
several ways.
Thus, she narrowed it down
to:
What will be the theme
governing the role of women
in society in the novel The
House of the Spirits?
What may happen to Hannah
could very well happen to you.
You may realize that your
research question could either
be narrowed, widened or
rephrased.
If this does happen, don’t
worry!
Consult your teacher about
making the necessary
adjustments and continue
with your research.
It is imperative for you to
consult your teacher before
finalizing any changes you
plan to make in the direction
of your research. Otherwise,
you may end up making an
adjustment that will put to
waste all your hard work.
Now Hannah, after consulting
with her teacher, decided to
phrase her research question
as:
What will be the theme
governing the role of women
in society in the way Clara and
Alba are depicted in the novel,
The House of the Spirits?
Now that her answer to her
research question is shaping up,
Hannah can formulate her
thesis statement:
The important role of women
in society is clearly shown in
the novel through Clara’s and
Alba’s characteristics,
decisions and actions.
“A thesis statement has two
primary characteristics: it states
or suggests the paper’s main
topic, and it states or implies the
order in which the ideas appear”
(Sorenson, 1995, p. 14).
1. A thesis statement states or
suggests the paper’s main topic.
The main topic is also called the
CONTROLLING IDEA.
CONTROLLING IDEA:
*The important role of women
in society is clearly shown in
the novel through Clara’s and
Alba’s characteristics,
decisions and actions.
2. A thesis statement states or
implies the order in which the
ideas appear. The supports
therefore dictate the CONTENT
and ORDER of the information in
the body.
SUPPORTS:
The important role of women
in society is clearly shown in
the novel through Clara’s and
Alba’s *characteristics,
decisions and actions.
NOTES ON WRITING A GOOD
THESIS STATEMENT:
1. The controlling idea of a
thesis statement must express
something meaningful.
NOTES ON WRITING A GOOD
THESIS STATEMENT:
WRONG!
There are three parts to the
Godfather series:
Godfather I, Godfather II and
Godfather III.
NOTES ON WRITING A GOOD
THESIS STATEMENT:
BETTER!
Each part of the Godfather
series, Godfather I, Godfather
II and Godfather III,
revolutionized filmmaking in
the United States.
NOTES ON WRITING A GOOD
THESIS STATEMENT:
2. A thesis statement is
expressed in a declarative
sentence. It is never stated as
a question.
NOTES ON WRITING A GOOD
THESIS STATEMENT:
WRONG!
Should abortion be
illegalized?
NOTES ON WRITING A GOOD
THESIS STATEMENT:
BETTER!
Abortion should be illegalized
because it is unsafe and
unsanitary.
NOTES ON WRITING A GOOD
THESIS STATEMENT:
3. A thesis statement should
not be a statement of purpose.
NOTES ON WRITING A GOOD
THESIS STATEMENT:
WRONG!
This paper aims to prove that the
subway will be ineffective in
easing the traffic congestion
because commuting through it is
impractical and inconvenient.
NOTES ON WRITING A GOOD
THESIS STATEMENT:
BETTER!
The subway will be ineffective
in easing traffic congestion
because commuting through it
is impractical and
inconvenient.
NOTES ON WRITING A GOOD
THESIS STATEMENT:
4. A thesis statement should
express divisions in the ideas to
be presented. Furthermore,
beginning research writers
should include at least two
distinct supports for the
controlling idea.
NOTES ON WRITING A GOOD
THESIS STATEMENT:
WRONG!
Breast conservation surgery with
radiation therapy is better than
modified radical mastectomy in
the treatment of women with
breast cancer.
NOTES ON WRITING A GOOD
THESIS STATEMENT:
BETTER!
Breast conservation surgery with radiation
therapy is better than modified radical
mastectomy in the treatment of women
with breast cancer because it is not only
safer and less intrusive, but it is also as
effective as the latter in making the patient
cancer-free.
NOTES ON WRITING A GOOD
THESIS STATEMENT:
5. A thesis statement should be
grammatically correct (most
especially in terms of parallelism)
and formally stated.
NOTES ON WRITING A GOOD
THESIS STATEMENT:
WRONG!
Metrosexual men are considered
extremely influential in society
today because you can see their
positive images and their
tremendously successful.
NOTES ON WRITING A GOOD
THESIS STATEMENT:
BETTER!
Metrosexual men are considered
extremely influential in society
today because of their positive
images and tremendous success.
Now, since you are preparing to
write your thesis statement, it
would be helpful for you to
know some ways by which ideas
can be discussed.
1. Chronological Order
If the focus of your research
involves some kind of timerelationship, you ought to
use the chronological order.
1. Chronological Order
The positive effects of creatine
monohydrate as a bodybuilding
supplement can be observed in
three phases: a decrease in
exercise fatigue, an increase in
muscle mass and a decrease in
body fat.
2. Order of Importance
Sorenson (1995) writes,
“Sometimes, the only way to
arrange a series of details is
according to relative importance.
If you are giving four reasons, put
the most important reason last. It
will remain with the reader
longer.”
2. Order of Importance
The 1986 revolution was brought
about by the desperate condition
of the Philippine society which
was characterized by widespread
poverty, general disillusionment
and prolonged suppression.
3. Comparison-Contrast
Campbell et. Al. (1990) wrote, “The
pattern of comparison-contrast
presents the similarities and/or
differences between two or more
persons, places or things. A logical
development by comparison-contrast
entails discussion of the same
qualities of both subjects (p. 19).”
3. Comparison-Contrast
For example, stating that Michelle Branch
writes her own music while Jennifer
Lopez hails from the Bronx does not
provide a basis for comparison contrast.
The ability of both artists to write music
or the place from which both artists were
born should be instead tackled for their to
be a fair basis for comparison and
contrast.
3. Comparison-Contrast
BLOCK-WRESTLING: staged, thick
plots; BOXING: genuine, usually onedimensional
ALTERNATING-WRESTLING: staged;
BOXING: genuine; WRESTLING: thick plots; BOXING: usually one-dimensional
Source:
Asis, A. Xavier highschool english
book series. (2006). Xavier School:
Philippines.