Thesis Statements What is a thesis statement? How do thesis statements work in your writing? How can you discover or refine one for your draft? This presentation explores these questions.

Thesis Statement After a brief introduction of your topic, you state your point of view on the topic directly and often in one sentence. This sentence is the thesis statement, and it serves as a summary of the argument you’ll make in the rest of your paper.

What is A Thesis Statement? When an assignment asks you to analyze, interpret, compare and contrast, demonstrate cause and effect, or take a stand on an issue, it is likely that you are being asked to develop a thesis and support it persuasively.

A Thesis Statement… Tells the reader your interpretation of the subject matter Is a “road map” for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper

Makes a claim that others might dispute, i. e Makes a claim that others might dispute, i.e.: “Atticus was a compassionate, caring father…” Some may argue otherwise, but your thesis states your stand on a subject. The rest of the paper, the body of the essay, gathers and organizes evidence that will persuade the reader of the logic of your interpretation and support your thesis.

How Do I Get A Thesis? A thesis is the result of a focused thinking process. Before you develop an argument on any topic, you have to collect and organize evidence, look for possible relationships between known facts (such as surprising contrasts or similarities), and think about the significance of these relationships. Once you do this thinking, you will probably have a “working thesis”.

What is A “Working Thesis”? A working thesis is a basic or main idea; an argument that you think you can support with evidence but that may need adjustment along the way. Think of a working thesis as your “rough draft thesis”.

How Do I Know If My Thesis Is Strong? When reviewing your first draft and its working thesis, ask yourself the following: - Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? If your thesis simply states facts that no one would, or even could, disagree with, it’s possible that you are simply providing a summary, rather than making an argument.

- Is my thesis statement specific enough - Is my thesis statement specific enough? Thesis statements that are too vague often do not have a strong argument. If your thesis contains words like “good” or “successful,” see if you could be more specific: why is something “good”; what particularly makes something “successful”?

Does my thesis pass the “So what. ” test Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? If a reader’s first response is, “So what?”, then you need to clarify, forge a relationship, or connect to a larger issue.

-Does my essay support my thesis specifically without wandering -Does my essay support my thesis specifically without wandering? If your thesis and the body of your essay do not seem to go together, one of them has to change. It’s ok to change your working thesis to reflect things you have figured out in the course of writing your paper. Remember, always reassess and revise your writing as necessary.

- Does my thesis pass the “how and why. ” test - Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? If a reader’s first response is “how?” or “why?” your thesis may be too open-ended and lack guidance for the reader. See what you can add to give the reader a better take on your position right from the beginning.

Writing a Thesis Statement A strong thesis must be intriguing and must catch the reader’s attention. Here are two ways to create a surprising, attention-grabbing thesis:

1. Try to change your reader’s view of the subject Enlarge your reader’s view of your subject by providing new ideas and data to add to your reader’s knowledge. Clarify your reader’s view of your topic that was previously fuzzy or uncertain. Persuade your readers to change their minds or make decisions about your subject.

2. Give “tension” to your thesis statement One of the best ways to create tension in a thesis is to begin your statement with an although or whereas clause: i.e.: “Although/whereas most people believe _____, the opposite is really true.”

Weak Thesis Statement: “Thomas Jefferson brought new and innovative ideas of government to Colonial America.”

Tension-filled Thesis Statement: “Although Thomas Jefferson is well known for writing the Declaration of Independence and helping to form the new U.S. Government, he was also a talented scientist, architect, and inventor.”

Weak Thesis Statement: “Alexander Graham Bell’s invention of the telephone brought many advantages to our culture.”

Tension-Filled Thesis Statement: “Although Alexander Graham Bell’s invention of the telephone brought many advantages to our culture, it may also have contributed to the violence in our society.”