Writing a Thesis Statement Starting your paper with Clear Direction http://www.time4writing.com/writing-essays/writing-the-thesis-statement/  Copyright 2012                    www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources                    Copyright 2012 

What a Thesis Statement Does 1) It describes your Topic, what your paper will be about. 2) It introduces a specific Claim you are making about  your topic. 3) It describes three ways in which you will Support and develop your claim. So the formula for a thesis statement is:  Subject + Claim + Three Points of Support  Copyright 2012                    www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources                    Copyright 2012 

Three Points of Support Topic (Subject)  + Claim +  Three Points of Support  Copyright 2012                    www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources                    Copyright 2012 

Let's look at this example: This paper considers how chemicals from world war II weapons industry may have changed agriculture by examining the chemistry of some of these chemicals used in the weapons industry during WWII, the decline of the weapons industry and abundance wartime chemicals, and the ultimate use in agriculture. Can you find the three different components in this thesis statement?   Copyright 2012                    www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources                    Copyright 2012 

Let's look at them this way: This paper considers how chemicals from world war II weapons industry may have changed agriculture by examining the chemistry of some of these chemicals used in the weapons industry during WWII, the decline of the weapons industry and abundance wartime chemicals, and the ultimate use in agriculture. subject or topic claim three points of support  Copyright 2012                    www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources                    Copyright 2012 

The essay is about chemicals from the world war II war industry. 1) The Subject or Topic of the Essay: how chemicals from world war II weapons industry may have changed agriculture. The essay is about chemicals from the world war II war industry.  But there is a lot to say on this subject, so now you have to narrow it down to one specific claim.  Copyright 2012                    www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources                    Copyright 2012 

2) The Claim Made About the Subject or Topic of the Essay: This paper considers how chemicals from world war II weapons industry may have changed agriculture Now the topic may be easier to talk about.  You just need to list three points to support this claim.  Copyright 2012                    www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources                    Copyright 2012 

3) Three Points of Support for the Claim:      Three ways to help us understand that chemicals from World War II weapons industry may have changed agriculture include: by examining the chemistry of some of these chemicals used in the weapons industry during WWII, the decline of the weapons industry and abundance wartime chemicals, and the ultimate use in agriculture. 1) Examining the chemistry 2) Studying the decline of the weapons industry 3) Use in agriculture  Copyright 2012                    www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources                    Copyright 2012 

Supporting your Claim: Your thesis statement comes in your introductory paragraph; then you need devote at least one paragraph for each supporting point. One paragraph will be a general introduction. The next paragraph will examine the chemistry of some explosives that include the same ingredients as fertilizer; And the third paragraph will look at weapons research, what chemicals were initially used for and their overproduction; The fourth paragraph will look at post war economics that may have enabled a feeling of repurposing rather than discarding nitrates and phosphates. A concluding paragraph will restate your claim with support.  Copyright 2012                    www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources                    Copyright 2012 

Remember the easy formula for a thesis statement! Subject (Topic)  + Claim  +  Three Points of Support  Copyright 2012                    www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources                    Copyright 2012 

The end.  Copyright 2012                    www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources                    Copyright 2012