1. Writing a Thesis Merrimack College Writing Center

2. Goals
Define and identify the qualities of a good thesis.
Identify where the thesis may be found in a paper.
Learn strategies for developing a strong thesis.

3. The central assertion of the essay (the main argument).
What is a thesis?
The central assertion of the essay (the main argument).
Characteristics:
Narrow
Purposeful
Specific
Avoids cliches
And will also be
Suggestive of an organization
Arguable / Debatable.

4. Narrow Narrow -- Unified Narrow -- Precise
Poor: The university must fix its parking problem and dining hall food.
Better: A wider selection of meal options would enhance the dining experience at this university.
Narrow -- Precise
Poor: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is cool.
Better: Revolving exhibits make the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame an excellent place to visit again and again.

5. Purposeful – Complete Idea
Poor: The story of my auto accident.
Better: Drivers should learn defensive driving skills to reduce the likelihood of auto accidents.
Purposeful – Assertive
Poor: Lincoln and Kennedy were great presidents.
Better: The context of the Civil War makes Lincoln a greater president than Kennedy.

6. Specific / Avoids Cliches
Poor: There were many great generals in WWII.
Better: Eisenhower’s D-Day leadership makes him the greatest Allied general of WWII.
Avoid figures of speech and clichés
Poor: The Warren Report stinks like yesterday’s garbage.
Better: New photography technologies help refute Warren Report findings.

7. The Point
The thesis must have a point…
that readers care about;
that is debatable and can reflect diverse opinions;
that can be supported with details; and
that is a complete sentence which makes an assertion.

8. Thesis and Purpose
The thesis reflects your purpose. It may be...
expressive – relate personal experience
exploratory – examine an issue
explanatory – discuss a concept
persuasive – argue a point

9. What are the parts of a good thesis?
Subject
Purpose
Opinion
The context of the Civil War makes Lincoln a greater president than Kennedy.

10. What are the parts of a good thesis?
Subject
Purpose
Opinion
A wider selection of meal options would enhance the dining experience at this university.

11. How do I organize my thoughts in a thesis?
Think about subject, purpose, and opinion in light of the patterns of organization:
Cause & Effect
Comparison & Contrast
Problem & Solution
Classification & Division
Process
Illustration
Description
Narration

12. Where is the thesis found?
In the first paragraph, often as the last sentence of the opening paragraph.
At the end of the introduction, if the introduction has multiple paragraphs.
At the start of the conclusion, if the topic of the paper is volatile or if a narrative organization is applied to the whole document.
The thesis may be implied in some more advanced narratives.

13. How do I create a thesis fast?
Focus on subject, purpose, and opinion.
Use your Patterns of Organization.
Do a freewrite!
Write EVERYTHING you can think of, without stopping, until you have nothing left to say.
Look at your conclusion. Your thesis will likely be the last sentence.
This strategy works because we (all people) are natural storytellers, and the point of a story (in western narrative) comes at the end.

14. Can my thesis change as I write?
Yes. This is because writing is a way of learning, and as you write, think, research, and explore, your beliefs and ideas may change. When this happens, it’s okay to change your thesis to suit your new ideas and beliefs.

15. References
Aaron, J. E. (2004). The Little, Brown compact handbook (5th ed.). New York: Pearson Longman.
Ruskiewicz, J., Hairston, M. & Seward, D. E. (2002). SF writer (2nd ed.). New York: Longman.

16. Information for Documentation & Citation
Author: Robert T. Koch Jr.
Title: Writing a Thesis
Website: Merrimack College Writing Center
Year: 2018
URL: _center/resources/