In seven-ish easy steps…
 The
thesis statement is essentially choosing a side.
 Each side WANTS to win the argument
 BUT THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE! (That is a lot funnier
if you have seen/read the Highlander series.)
 The only way to win is to make an argument, and
prove you are correct using evidence and logic.
(Evidence and logic are sort of the plays from the
game/play book… here is the goal, here is what to
do to meet that goal…)
 Be
Specific
 …but Not Too Specific
 Have ONE Main Idea
 Take a Side
 Tell the Reader What to Expect
 Address the Thesis MULTIPLE Times in the
Paper USING EVIDENCE
 Make an Argument/Be a LITTLE Controversial
 Using
vague terms such as “some,” “people,”
“seems,” “probably,” etc. does not show
evidence of having read the material.
 If the thesis statement can be applied to
subjects other than the specific areas about
which are being written—make it more
specific.
 By
the time the reader gets to the thesis
statement, they have already read the
introduction paragraph. The thesis does not
need to restate that information (title of the
book, explanation of characters, etc.)
 The


thesis should have ONE core purpose.
Meaning, that if the papers states something
“could be one way or another,” or “Some of the
time…” Too many ideas have probably been
incorporated into the thesis.
If the paper uses terms like “and” or “in addition
to,” etc. Too many ideas have probably been
incorporated into the thesis.
 Here
is the problem: If there are too many
“main ideas” running through the paper, the
paper will never ultimately prove/defend all
those ideas. The ideas will end up as half
completed arguments.
 OR the ideas will end up adequately
defending one part of the thesis, while
ignoring the rest.

In which case, the paper should have been about
the defendable argument in the first place.
 It
is OK to have a “one-sided” opinion when
writing a thesis statement. The reader will
understand that you may not fully be against
the other side.
 If a side is not chosen, the paper will not
have a point. Nor will it have ONE main
idea. (See previous slides.)

A player will not play for multiple teams during
one game.
 The
paper should let the reader know what
the topic will be.
 THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE ENTIRE
PAPER SHOULD BE OUTLINED IN THE THESIS
STATEMENT.
 It DOES mean that as the reader is reading
the evidence and analysis, they know what
points are being made/defended.
 Secret:
Thesis statements are NEEDY, and
desperate for attention!

Meaning, the essay needs to mention it OFTEN.
 Tie

EVERY point made back to the Thesis statement.
Try to do this without being too repetitive in
word/phrase choice.

Tip: If a word or phrase for a specific purpose (introducing an
argument, for example)is used more than two or three times
in the paper – go back and reword
 If
the thesis statement is something with which
everyone (or a large majority) agree, then it has
defeated the purpose of writing the paper. (There
is no “game” to that.)
 If the thesis is arguable, or a little controversial,
and the evidence PROVES that the analysis is
correct, the reader has learned something new.
(Or, at the very least, proved the thesis to be
correct.)
 If
the paper is TOO controversial, no one will
want to read it… much less acknowledge the
points it makes…
 Also, being TOO controversial often becomes
abrasive and rude… which is NOT part of
Academic Tone!
A
solid thesis statement means that you have
a head start in the game. With it, you can
write a strong paper.
 STRONG
PAPERS WIN GAMES (or at least good
grades…), CHILDREN!