Weak Thesis Strong Thesis Prof. Maury Brown Germanna Community College

A thesis (aka Claim) is the single summary of your argument Announces your stance Announces how you will argue it

Claim (Argument) (Thesis) OPINION FACT A Claim cannot be a fact; it cannot be mere opinion. It resides between the two. It USES the facts to SUPPORT an opinion. A Claim cannot be a question  it must state something. It is where the author puts forth his/her argument, boldly, with confidence  this is MINE. And then you prove it. I claim this! I stake this position!

Magic Thesis Sentence  A strong thesis generally has three parts: A. Topic B. Stance C. Reasons/Significance/Solution For example: All pets except those used for breeding (A) should be spayed or neutered by 6 months of age (B) in order to control the pet population (C).

Toward a more perfect thesis  Broad Topic: Sugar consumption.  Specific Topic: Reducing sugar consumption in elementary school children.  Stance: More attention should be paid to the food and beverage choices available to elementary school children.  Fact/Support: Experts estimate that half of elementary school children consume nine times the recommended daily allowance of sugar.

Put them all together to make a three-part thesis or claim  Since half of all American elementary school children consume nine times the recommended daily allowance of sugar, schools should be required to serve or sell only healthy alternatives in their cafeterias or drink machines in order to reduce sugar consumption by students.  (e.g. water, unflavored milk, 100% juice options with no added sweeteners)

Weak Thesis -> Strong Thesis  Take a stand!  Weak: “There are some negative and positive aspects to the Banana Herb Tea Supplement.”  Strong: Banana Herb Tea Supplement promotes rapid weight loss that results in the loss of muscle and lean body mass, posing a potential danger to consumers.

Weak Thesis  Strong Thesis  Justify discussion!  Weak: “My family is an extended family.”  Strong: “While most Americans would view marriage among relatives to be a threat to the nuclear family structure, many Iranian families, like my own, believe that these arranged marriages help reinforce kinship ties in an extended family.”

Weak Thesis  Strong Thesis  Expresses only one main idea!  Weak: Companies need to exploit the marketing potential of the Internet, and Web pages can provide both advertising and customer support.  Strong: The Internet is filled with tremendous marketing potential which companies should exploit through Web pages that offer both advertising and customer support.

Weak Thesis  Strong Thesis  Is specific!  Weak: World hunger has many causes and effects.  Strong: Hunger persists in Glandelinia because jobs are scare and farming in the infertile soil is rarely profitable.

You can switch the order of the three parts:  All pets except those used for breeding (A) should be spayed or neutered by 6 months of age (B) in order to control the pet population (C). OR  To control the pet population (C), all pets except those used for breeding (A) should be spayed or neutered by 6 months of age(B). OR  Spaying or neutering(B) of all pets 6 months of age or younger that are not used for breeding (A) should be mandatory(B) in order to control the pet population (C).

Practice!  Move from topic to question to thesis statement.  Improve the thesis by making more specific, relevant, arguable, and strong.  Seek reasons for your opinions.  Seek evidence to support your reasons and prove your thesis.