Everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask

What is the thesis of an essay? Controlling idea Main idea Point the writer is trying to make It can be expressed in a one or two sentence statement.

What does a thesis do? Determines the content of the essay: Everything the writer says in an essay must be logically related to the thesis When an essay is finished, sometimes the thesis statement needs to be revised to fit with the content. Writers do sometimes change their minds or find out new information.

How can you develop a working thesis? Start by asking a question that you would like to answer. For Example: How does Ralph in Lord of the Flies stand up for something he believes in? Try to answer the question: In the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding, Ralph stands up for himself when he claims leadership.

But after a draft or two: In the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding Ralph is a character who stands up to his would- be enemies by proving on several occasions that he is the better leader.

Another way to begin is: Think about what you’re trying to prove and start with: What I’m trying to prove is that Ralph had to stand up to his enemies on the island to prove he was the better leader. Later, you can remove “What I’m trying to prove is” and you are left with: Ralph had to stand up to his enemies on the island to prove he was the better leader.

Test your thesis statement: Does my thesis have a clear point of view on my topic? What is that point of view? Could someone disagree with my point? Is my thesis too general? Are there too many issues to cover in order to prove my point? Is my thesis too specific? Are there too few issues for me to write about? Would someone besides me care about this thesis? Who?

Source Used Eschholz, Paul & Rosa, Alfred. Models for Writers: Short Essays for Composition. Boston: Bedford/St.Martin’s, 2012