1. “Like lawyers in a jury trial, writers must convince audiences of the validity of their argument by using evidence effectively.”
Indiana University, Writing Program
The Thesis Statement

2. Two Requirements for the Thesis Statement
Makes a promise to the reader
Need a tentative, “working” thesis early in writing 

3. Working Thesis Has Two Parts
Topic part
Comment part

4. Example:
Recent studies of depression suggest that it is much more closely related to physiology than scientists had previously thought.
What is the topic?
What is the comment?

5. Example:
The current health care crisis arises from three major causes.
What is the topic?
What is the comment?

6. Three Characteristics of a Successful Working Thesis
Potentially interesting to the intended audience
Is as specific as possible
Limits the topic enough to make it manageable

7. Preliminary working thesis. . .
Theories about global warming are being debated around the world.

8. Is it interesting?
The topic itself holds interest, but it seems to have no real comment attached to it. The thesis merely states a bare fact, and the only place to go from here is to more bare facts.

9. Is it specific?
The thesis is not specific. Who is debating these theories? What is at issue in this debate?

10. Is it manageable?
The thesis is not manageable; it would require research on global warming in many countries.

11. Evaluate
This thesis can be narrowed by the addition of a stronger comment and a sharper focus.

12. Revised working thesis. . .
Scientists from several countries have challenged global-warming theories, claiming that they are more propaganda than science.

13. Review A working or preliminary thesis gets you started
A thesis is a statement; make sure to state it that way
A thesis statement can be narrowed
The result of a more narrow thesis statement is that your reading and note-taking become much more focused
A clear, specific thesis results in a better essay