Thesis Statements Create an Argument

What is a thesis statement? A thesis statement is the main idea of the essay. It is often a point you want to argue or support in an essay. Is one concise sentence that can be argued in the essay. It must be a statement, not a question. It can answer your research question though. It is placed in the introductory paragraph, and is strongest if it is toward the bottom of the paragraph. All body paragraphs and evidence can be linked back to the thesis statement.

Thesis statements should avoid the following: First person (I believe, In my opinion, etc.) Unclear language (It seems, etc.) Attempting two topics at once (even if they seem related). Pick one and stick with it. Just stating a fact – A thesis is something you plan to make an argument about. The first polygraph was developed by Dr. John A. Larson in 1921. Instead, be sure to have a point: Because the polygraph has not been proved reliable, even under the most controlled conditions, its use by private employers should be banned.

Explicit v. Implicit Thesis Statements An implicit thesis statement implies the paper’s main idea. (No “I” statement) An explicit thesis statement announces the paper’s main idea. (Has “I” statement) Examples: Implicit: Working while attending college classes remains necessary for many students, but unfortunately many problems result from the difficulties of balancing work and school. Explicit: I will now discuss examples of how going to college and working full time puts pressure on students and results in many dropping out of school.

Be Specific! Your thesis should be specific! Examples: Specific: Global warming will cause ice caps and glaciers to melt, oceans to warm, and sea levels to rise. General: Global warming will have many negative consequences for the environment.

Support the statement in the body of the essay…

Support the statement in the body of the essay…

Criteria for Good Thesis Statements Arguable – Reasonable people could disagree Supportable – Can be backed up with evidence, reasons Specific – Not vague, not too general, not too broad “Maps out” the paper – Gives the reader a guide to the organization of the argument Third person – No “I” or “me” in the paper

Practice with Persuasive Thesis Statements In partners go over the thesis examples and decide which ones meet the criteria for a good thesis.