How to write a thesis statement

Themes

• A text always has more than one theme

• Themes are broad, general, not specific

• Usually, a theme can be stated in one to three words, like:– Liberty– Injustice– Childhood memories– Possessions

Thesis/Controlling Idea

• A thesis is more than a theme

• It is a sentence that explains something complicated about a theme

• It can explain a what, how, or why– (what includes who, where, and when)

Example 1

• Theme: Change

• Thesis/Controlling Idea: The elites of the 13 British North American colonies changed their country by rebelling against Great Britain.

Multi-part thesis

• A multi-part thesis is a sentence made of two, three, or four statements, like– What and what statements– What and how statements– What and why statements– What, how, and why statements

What and what• The elites of the 13 British North American

colonies changed their country by rebelling against Great Britain and they benefited more than the common people when it was over.– 1st what statement: “The elites of the 13 British

North American colonies changed their country by rebelling against Great Britain”

– 2nd what statement: “they benefited more than the common people when it was over”

What and How• Thesis/Controlling Idea: The elites of the 13

British North American colonies controlled the rebellion against Great Britain by using propaganda, printed forms of protest, and meetings. – What: “The elites of the 13 British North American

colonies controlled the rebellion against Great Britain”

– How: “using propaganda, printed forms of protest, and meetings”

What and why

• Thesis/Controlling idea: The elites of the 13 British North American colonies rebelled against Great Britain so they could expand trade and have more political representation. – What: “The elites of the 13 British North American

colonies rebelled against Great Britain”– Why: “so they could expand trade and have more

political representation”

What and how and why• The elites of the 13 British North American

colonies controlled the rebellion against Great Britain using propaganda, printed forms of protest, and meetings so that they could expand trade and have political representation. – What: “The elites of the 13 British North American

colonies rebelled against Great Britain”– How: “using propaganda, printed forms of protest, and

meetings”– Why: “so they could expand trade and have more

political representation”