Write an Awesome Thesis Statement How to… Write an Awesome Thesis Statement

What is a thesis statement?

What is a thesis statement? Controlling idea Single, specific claim that your paper supports Presents a topic and your opinion on the topic Makes a claim that others might dispute A “blueprint” that sketches the organization of your paper

Speaking of “blueprints…” The “blueprint” or format for your HR thesis is: PROBLEM  SOLUTION  RESULTS In one or two concise and grammatically correct sentences, your thesis statement should: Identify the problem and explain why it is a problem (connect to human rights) Explain the extent to which current solutions are effective Propose your own solution to the problem Describe the anticipated results of your solution

Remember… The point of a thesis is to convince the reader of something The reader needs to know what you are arguing upfront so that they can evaluate your argument as they read After reading your thesis, they should have a very clear idea of what you will be discussing in your paper and the general flow of information Oh yeah-and usually your thesis is the last sentence of the introductory paragraph

A thesis is NOT: A factual statement An unsupported observation or generalization An unsupported personal opinion/preference A question

So let’s look at some examples…

Problem #1 - Examples Poverty sucks! Animal abuse is evil!

Problem #1 They appeal to the emotions They cannot be proven

Problem #2 – Examples Text messaging is distracting. Abusing animals is wrong.

Problem #2 They argue the obvious All reasonable people will agree with these positions

Problem #3 – Examples Childhood obesity is growing at a rapid rate throughout the U.S. Litter destroys the environment.

Problem #3 They argue known facts They do not make any arguments about the causes of the problem or solutions to the problem

Problem #4 – Examples If simple steps are taken to improve nutrition, the U.S. will be a happier and more productive country. Immigrants are helpful to this country so we should help them overcome the obstacles to immigration.

Problem #4 They offer solutions but do not have specific examples of what needs to be done They do not specify what the results of the solution will be

Problem #5 – Example The inclusion of foreign language programs in elementary schools will have a profound impact on children and their ability to understand different cultures, perfect their speaking and communication skills, and gain a future advantage when seeking employment after college.

Problem #5 A promising thesis statement, but… Would the solution really “perfect” speaking and communication skills? Is the “profound impact” an improvement or decline?

Problem Solution Results

Example: Nuclear weapons are a major threat to the life, liberty, and security of people of the world today because they could be given to and used by terrorist groups. In order to combat this problem, countries around the world should commit to treaties that promote nuclear non-proliferation so that there are fewer nuclear weapons available to groups with malicious intentions.

Example: Gun violence is a growing problem in the United States that violates people’s rights to life, liberty, and security, due to weak gun laws and easy access to guns. The enactment of universal background checks and waiting periods on all gun purchases will effectively reduce gun-related deaths and violent crime in America by limiting access to guns for those with histories of mental illness and criminal histories.