The Thesis Sentence
Question: What is a thesis sentence?
Expresses central idea of your essay.
 Previews specific points covered in body
paragraphs
Students who believe that intelligence can grow
are less helpless, fear making mistakes less, and get
higher grades.
Question: What is a thesis sentence?
Topic + Key Points = Thesis sentence
Students who believe they can become smarter
• are less helpless
• fear making mistakes less
• earn higher grades
A thesis sentence is . . .
 your “what’s the point?”
 the main idea you want to express
 what you want your readers to know
 your message
Its purpose is to
Show why your topic is important
Preview your approach
Lead the reader into the essay
broad context
narrowed
topic
One type of introduction is a funnel:


New research shows that beliefs about intelligence
influence success. Some think of intelligence as a
fixed quantity,while others believe that it changes
as the result of effort and new learning.
Put your topic
Students who believe that intelligence
in context
can change are less likely to be
helpless, fear making
Show why it
mistakes less, and
matters
get higher
grades.
 Move from broad to narrow
with the ladder of abstraction
Use the ladder of abstraction for context
the universe
and everything in it
life
carbon-based
lifeforms
abstract; general
animals
mammals
livestock
cows
Bessie
specific; concrete
Use the ladder of abstraction for context
the universe
and everything in it
life
carbon-based
lifeforms
animals
mammals
livestock
cows
Bessie
abstract; general
• Avoid “Since the dawn of time…”
• Aim for the middle or lower
• Start one rung above your topic to
get context
specific; concrete
Use the ladder of abstraction for context
the universe
research into intelligence:
• IQ
• emotional intelligence
• beliefs about intelligence
• “scientist in the crib”…
characteristics of
intelligence; e.g.,
fixed or not
person’s intelligence
and everything in it
New research shows that beliefs about intelligence
influence success. Some think of intelligence as a
fixed quantity,while others believe that it changes
as the result of effort and new learning.
Students who believe that intelligence
can change are less likely to be
helpless, fear making
mistakes less, and
get higher
grades.
Where is your topic on the ladder?
the universe
and everything in it
abstract; general
• Avoid “Since the dawn of time…”
• Aim for the middle or lower
• Start one rung above your topic to
get context
specific; concrete
Your topic
A thesis does
 generally appear at the end of the introduction
 limit the topic to a few key areas
(three key points)
 indicate the kind of support to follow
 help to organize the supporting material
 use precise wording
Avoid openings like these
 “I am going to tell you about….”
 “My essay will explain….”
 From the dawn of time, people have wondered….
 In fact, avoid I and you as much as possible.
Use third person
 First person (I, we, us) is subjective
 You works for instructions, but can make you lazy
(You might write As you know, when readers don’t know
—or don’t agree)
 Third person (he, she, they) is objective
First person
As a mother of three,
I know how hard it is to
be a single parent. Every
day is a new challenge.
True for you—is it true for all?
Third person
Parenting is not an easy task, but
single parents face unique
challenges: managing on one
income, acting as both mother and
father, and building a support
network.
Writing like an expert—
generally true
One way to find a thesis:
 Answer your research question.
Q. Can sleep help you lose weight?
A. Lack of sleep disrupts the hormones that
control appetite, store calories, and regulate
metabolism.
Q. What causes autism?
A. Researchers have identified several possible causes,
including food allergies, heavy metal toxicity, and
mirror neuron disfunction.
How does the thesis impact my career?
Consider this scenario.
In a meeting, the leader says:
We have just expanded our territory.
How are we going to increase sales over
the next quarter?
Career impact of thesis skill continued . . .
 Whose response to this question is going to
make a better impression and get more done?
1. We can hire more salespeople.
2. Since the territory is larger, the company needs
as to add many accounts as possible; new
salespeople can scout new, smaller accounts,
while more experienced salespeople focus on
big accounts, existing and new.