WRITING A THESIS STATEMENT

A Thesis Statement…  States exactly what you plan to write and research  Declares what you believe and what you intend to prove.  It is an interpretation or argument explaining the significance of this information.  Typically the last sentence of the lead paragraph  A good thesis statement is what makes an essay or project thoughtful instead of a simple retelling of facts.

How to Write a Thesis Statement:  Ask yourself the following question:  What do I want readers to know, believe, or understand about this topic?  Begin your thesis statement by directly stating your topic  Example: The physics of…  Then complete the sentence with your answer to the question above.

Example  Topic: Dogs  Question: What makes Australian Shepherds good working dogs?  Thesis: Australian Shepherds’ intelligence, loyalty, and willingness to learn make them excellent working dogs. Or Australian Shepherds make good working dogs because they are intelligent, loyal, and willing to learn.

Do’s & Don’t for Constructing a Thesis Statement Effective thesis's DO:  takes a stand  is the main idea of essay  is narrow  is specific  is one main point  contains evidence and support Effective thesis's Do Not’s:  should not contain two conflicting ideas.  should never be too broad  should not contain several main points

Examples of Science Thesis Statements: Famous Physicists  Sir Isaac Newton changed the world of science with his discovery of Newton’s First Law, Newton’s Second Law and Newton’s Third Law. Physics of Sports  Physics concepts can be seen in the sport of football in the form of tackling, throwing a ball and blocking your opponent. Physics of Nature  Birds in flight show a great example of physics in nature through the force that their wings must exert to maintain altitude, the continuous pull of gravity upon them and their ability to streamline and dive for their prey.