1. Writing a Thesis Statement
Your Paper’s Controlling Idea Or
What’s it all about?

2. What is a Thesis Statement?
A thesis statement is an answer to the question you are responding to.

3. What is a Thesis Statement?
A thesis statement is an answer to the question you are responding to.
It expresses an idea that can be supported by research. (In this case, evidence (quotes or paraphrases from the novel.)

4. What is a Thesis Statement?
A thesis statement is an answer to each of these questions.
It expresses an idea that can be supported by research.
It states what your paper will be about.

5. A thesis statement should be
Clear
Original
Defensible

6. A thesis statement should be
Clear: easy to understand
Original
Defensible

7. A thesis statement should be
Clear: easy to understand
Original: of your own creation
Defensible

8. A thesis statement should be
Clear: easy to understand
Original: of your own creation
Defensible: have support that can be found through research

9. Working Thesis
When you first write your thesis, it’s called a “Working Thesis.”
You will most likely revise it as you conduct research and write and revise your paper.

10. A Template
Try this:
(Your topic) + (verb) + noun+(preposition) + (noun), (noun), and (noun).

11. A Template
Try this:
(Your topic) + (verb) + (noun)+(preposition) + (noun), (noun), and (noun).
Sample format for making Thesis Statement:
In his/her novel insert name of novel, author’s name expresses/explores one aspect through first main point, second main point, and third main point.
EXAMPLE: In his novel Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain explores Huck’s alienation through his disregard for the law, his lack of respect for authority figures, and his failure to fit into normal family relationships.