1. Writing the Thesis Statement
By Worth Weller (with a little help from the Purdue and Dartmouth OWL). Additions by B. Ting 2017

2. What is it?
For most student work, it's a one- or two- sentence statement that explicitly outlines the purpose or point of your paper.
It is generally a complex, compound sentence

3. What does it do?
It should point toward the development or course of argument the reader can expect your argument to take.

4. Where does it go?
Because the rest of the paper will support or back up your thesis, a thesis is normally placed at or near the end of the introductory paragraph.

5. What does it contain?
It contains 2 parts.

6. Part 1 The thesis sentence must contain an arguable point.
A thesis sentence must not simply make an observation -- for example, "Writer X seems in his novel Y to be obsessed with lipstick."
Rather, it must assert a point that is arguable:
“Writer X uses lipstick to point to his novel's larger theme: the masking and unmasking of the self."

7. Part 2
The thesis must also answer the question, ‘why does it matter?’ or, for short… ‘so what?’
We return to our example of an arguable point: “Writer X uses lipstick to point to his novel’s larger theme: the masking and unmasking of the self.” We need to address why this matters.

8. “Writer X uses lipstick to point to his novel’s larger theme: the masking and unmasking of the self. It is through this that Lindsey’s paranoid psyche is revealed, ultimately allowing Mark to seek the help she so desperately requires.”

9. What it determines
The thesis statement must control the entire argument.
Your thesis statement determines what you are required to say in a paper.
It also determines what you cannot say.
Every paragraph in your paper exists in order to support your thesis.
Accordingly, if one of your paragraphs seems irrelevant to your thesis you have two choices: get rid of the paragraph, or rewrite your thesis.

10. Is it fixed in concrete?
Imagine that, as you are writing your paper, you stumble across the new idea that lipstick is used in Writer X's novel not only to mask the self, but also to signal when the self is in crisis.
This observation is a good one; do you really want to throw it away? Or do you want to rewrite your thesis so that it accommodates this new idea?

11. A contract
Understand that you don't have a third option: you can't simply stick the idea in without preparing the reader for it in your thesis.
The thesis is like a contract between you and your reader.
If you introduce ideas that the reader isn't prepared for, you've violated that contract.

12. It provides structure for your paper.
The thesis statement should provide a structure for your argument.
A good thesis not only signals to the reader what your argument is, but how your argument will be presented.
In other words, your thesis statement should either directly or indirectly suggest the structure of your argument to your reader.
Let’s look at our sample thesis.

13. “Writer X uses lipstick to point to his novel’s larger theme: the masking and unmasking of the self. It is through this that Lindsey’s paranoid psyche is revealed, ultimately allowing Mark to seek the help she so desperately requires.”
First, you need to argue that "Writer X explores the masking and unmasking of the self in three curious ways: A, B, and C.”
In this case, the reader understands that you are going to have three important points to cover, and that these points will appear in a certain order.
Then, you need to show how Lindsey’s paranoid psyche is revealed through these three methods.
Lastly, you will show how Mark’s revelation of Lindsey’s paranoid psyche leads him to seek help for her.

14. Other Attributes
The thesis statement takes a side on a topic rather than simply announcing that the paper is about a topic (the title should have already told your reader your topic). Don't tell readers about something; tell them what about something. Answer the questions "how?" or "why?”
It is sufficiently narrow and specific that your supporting points are necessary and sufficient, not arbitrary; paper length and number of supporting points are good guides here.

15. More Attributes
It argues one main point and doesn't squeeze three different thesis ideas for three different papers into one sentence.
And, most importantly, it passes The "So What?" test.

16. An Equation YOU MAY WISH TO LOOK AT A THESIS LIKE A MATH EQUATION.
Thesis statements are basically made up of your topic and a specific assertion about that topic, therefore,
THESIS = TOPIC + SPECIFIC ASSERTION
Then add the ‘so what?’
THESIS = TOPIC + SPECIFIC ASSERTION + ANSWER THE ‘SO WHAT?’

17. The four “shoulds” of a thesis statement:
Summary
The four “shoulds” of a thesis statement:

18. A good thesis statement should take a stand - don't be afraid to have an opinion; if after your research, your opinion changes, all the better. It means that you have been thinking; you can write a new thesis statement!

19. A good thesis statement should justify discussion - don't leave your readers saying to themselves "So what" or "duh?" or “what's your point?"

20. A good thesis statement should express one main idea or a clear relationship between two specific ideas linked by words like "because," "since," "so," "although," "unless," or "however."

21. Example Poor: Stephen King writes readable books.
Better: Stephen King’s books appeal to people who enjoy reading about normal people who get into supernatural situations.
What is missing?
Best:

22. A good thesis statement should be restricted to a specific and manageable topic - markers are more likely to reward a paper that does a small task well, rather than a paper that takes on an unrealistic task and fails.

23. Let’s look at a possible assessment topic.
Write an essay on the role of sport and sporting heroes in Australia based on the two poems you studied.
How would we go about writing a thesis statement for this topic?
First, we’d need to ask, ‘what is the role of sport and sporting heroes in Australia?’
Then, we’d ask, ‘why is this important?’
Where do we find the answer to these questions?
Start with your two poems.

24. Poems... Poem 1 Poem 2 Bring your ideas from the two ideas together.
What is the role of sport and sporting heroes in Australia? Proof?
Why does it matter? Proof?
Poem 2
Why does it matter? Proof?
Poem 1
What is the role of sport and sporting heroes in Australia? Proof?

25. Now, write a thesis statement for your topic.
Step 1: WHAT two questions do you need to answer?
Step 2: Look at both poems. Answer the questions and provide proof of your answers.
Step 3: Bring the ideas from both poems together to form your thesis statement.