Your Thesis Statement:
The Only Sentence Worth More
Than A Thousand Words
Setting the ToneYour Introduction Paragraph
Think of your introduction paragraph as a
funnel:
First, grab you readers attention with a general
statement about your topic .
End your introduction with a strong statement/
claim that tells your reader what you intend to
prove to the m about your topic.
Then, give your reader a brief explanation (2 - 5
sentences) of what you will be explaining
about your topic.
• Today’s Focus - Your THESIS
First, let’s look at
what a Thesis Statement
is N O T !
" A boat is not a hull, sails, masts
and rigging.
That is what a boat NEEDS.
What a boat is......is FREEDOM!!”
Captain Jack Sparrow
Si m ilarly,
• A T H ESIS is N OT your T O P I C.
TOPIC
Your topic tells your reader what you are
talking about.
For E x ample:
– “I will compare marijua n a usage over the last 5
years.”
This is not a thesis, it is only “A Topic”.
Your Thesis Statement is NOT Your Topic!
Your thesis tells your reader your position on
your topic.
For Example:
– “Marijuana usage has decreased over the past
five years due to the successful ‘War on Drugs’”.
This is a Successful Thesis Statement
Surprisingly, your thesis should be an arguable
OPINION - NOT A FACT!
– WHY?
• Because that is what makes your paper interesting to
your reader!
• Your thesis should always be a statement that
demands PROOF!
– If not, what will you do for the ne x t 2 - 1 0 pages???
Your Thesis Statement is NOT A Fact About Your
Topic!
You spend the rest of your paper CONVINCING your
reader of why YO U R OPINION is TRUE !
Your thesis prepares your
reader for the facts that will
prove your opinion about
your topic to be true - it can
not be a fact itself.
Your Thesis
Should Take A
STAND!
I DO N ’ T WA N T YO U R FACTS!!
(YET)
Your Thesis Statement is NOT A Fact About Your
Topic!
“Eagles have very keen eye sight in order to see
their prey from high altitudes.”
So what?
NOT a
fact!!!!
No facts!
Don’t
state a
fact!
“Because of the eagle's keen vision
and ability to soar high above all other birds,
it is the ideal symbol for America.”
Now, that is a strong thesis!
What a Thesis Statement
is …
It is the sentence that answers
your readers biggest question:
What on Earth
Is Your Point?
By telling your reader your point in
the first paragraph, you set the tone
and make sure they are not
frustrated and confused for the rest
of your essay.
Now That You Know What A Thesis Statement
Is,
Let’s Look At What Makes A Strong Thesis
Statement…
Which of the following is TRUE about
your THESIS STATEMENT?
1. It Tells your Reader Your Topic
2. It Tells the Reader a Fact About Your Topic
3. It Tells the Reader your Point
Requirements For a Strong
Thesis:
• It should not be TOO BROAD!
• It should not be TOO NARROW!
• It should not be TOO VAGUE!
A Strong Thesis Should Not Be Too Broad!
You may find yourself drowning in information,
unable to prove your point!
Let’s Look At An Example
“The death penalty should be banned
in the United States.”
• That would definitely leave you drowning:
• TOO BROAD!
“The death penalty in Virginia has
been ineffective in deterring crime
and should be replaced with more
efforts to reform criminals and not
murder them.”
• Much Better!
• That definitely is an opinion narrow enough to be
proven in a college essay!
A Strong Thesis Should Not Be
Too Narrow Either!
You may find
Yourself trying to stretch the small amount of
information that you find to fit your essay!
If your thesis is too specific for you...
Example:
“In Pirates of the Caribbean, Dead Man’s Chest,
the sword designed by Will for the
Commodore represents the passing down of
a legacy.”
• Though this may be interesting, it would take
some tugging to stretch it into an entire
essay!
“In Pirates of the Caribbean, Dead Man’s Chest,
the sword designed by Will for the
Commodore foreshadows the conflicts the
movie will reveal about their relationship
with each other and with the Governor's
daughter.”
• That looks like a thesis statement you
wouldn’t have to stretch for!
A Strong Thesis Should Not Be Vague!
You may find your
reader
Dazed and Confused
if your claim is not specific or clear enough.
“Getting rid of welfare in the United States is a
horrible idea.”
• The word HORRIB L E is hard to define! It
m akes this thesis Too V A G U E!
“If the United States were to get rid of welfare,
it would aggravate an already severe
homeless problem, cause a rise in crime, and
remove the only safety net that our country
has in place.”
• To Fi x It:
Define the term “ horrible idea” for your
reader.
• It is easier to write a thesis statement that
explains what you have found in your
research, than to find research that explains
what you have written in your thesis!
• You want the opinion that your thesis states
to be provable by facts that you have
gathered. If you gather the facts first, you
K N OW that it can be proven!
• What would my reader want to know about
my topic?
• What is the most important thought that I
have about my topic?
• What will be the point of my paper?