how to write a thesis statement

How to Write a How to Write a Thesis StatementThesis Statement

Guidelines for the Thesis Guidelines for the Thesis ChallengedChallenged

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The MapThe Map

A thesis statement (TS) is a A thesis statement (TS) is a guide map to your entire paper.guide map to your entire paper. It provides a mini-summary of the It provides a mini-summary of the

paper’s content.paper’s content. It allows the reader to know in It allows the reader to know in

advance how the paper is advance how the paper is organized.organized.

It lets the reader know why he/she It lets the reader know why he/she should care. (The “So What?”)should care. (The “So What?”)

Express YourselfExpress Yourself

The thesis statement expresses the The thesis statement expresses the main ideas of your paper and main ideas of your paper and previews the answer to the question previews the answer to the question or questions posed by your paper.or questions posed by your paper.

What Can A TS Do For You?What Can A TS Do For You?

Helps you start drafting.Helps you start drafting. Helps keep you focused.Helps keep you focused. Helps to narrow your subject to a Helps to narrow your subject to a

single, central idea.single, central idea. Serves as a point of reference if Serves as a point of reference if

changes occur.changes occur.

Two Main PartsTwo Main Parts

A Thesis Statement generally A Thesis Statement generally consists of two main partsconsists of two main parts Your topic, and then the analysis, Your topic, and then the analysis,

explanation, or assertion, that you’re explanation, or assertion, that you’re making about the topic.making about the topic.

TopicAssertio

n

Two Main PartsTwo Main Parts

TopicTopic

AnalysisAnalysis

ExplanationExplanation

AssertionAssertion

Part 1 Part 2

To Do ListTo Do List

Make a concise assertion about your Make a concise assertion about your topic.topic.

Limit the statement to only one idea.Limit the statement to only one idea. Make the assertion specific and Make the assertion specific and

significant.significant.

To Do ListTo Do List

At least imply your purpose.At least imply your purpose. Unify the statement so that the parts Unify the statement so that the parts

relate to each other.relate to each other.

A Thesis Statement A Thesis Statement Gone WrongGone Wrong

A Thesis Statement Gone WrongA Thesis Statement Gone Wrong

This new product brought in over This new product brought in over $30,000 last year.$30,000 last year.

This is a statement of fact without an This is a statement of fact without an assertion.assertion.

What’s the significance of the What’s the significance of the product’s success? (The “So What?”)product’s success? (The “So What?”)

A Thesis Statement Gone WrongA Thesis Statement Gone Wrong

Before:Before: This new product brought in This new product brought in over $30,000 last year.over $30,000 last year.

After:After: This product succeeded This product succeeded because of its innovative marketing because of its innovative marketing campaign, including widespread campaign, including widespread press coverage, in-store press coverage, in-store entertainment, and a consumer entertainment, and a consumer newsletter.newsletter.

General General Examples Examples of Award of Award Winning Winning Thesis Thesis

StatementsStatements

General ExamplesGeneral Examples

Show that essay’s purpose is to Show that essay’s purpose is to explain.explain.

Show essay’s organization.Show essay’s organization. Show that essay’s purpose is to Show that essay’s purpose is to

persuade.persuade.

Purpose to ExplainPurpose to Explain

The following examples of thesis The following examples of thesis statements announce that the essays’ statements announce that the essays’ purposes are mainly to explain about purposes are mainly to explain about their subjects. their subjects.

Pecking Order in an OfficePecking Order in an Office

Two months working in a large Two months working in a large government agency taught me that an government agency taught me that an office’s pecking order should be office’s pecking order should be respected.respected.

Topic: Office’s pecking order

Assertion: Should be respected

Web Distribution of MusicWeb Distribution of Music

Because artists can now publish their Because artists can now publish their music directly via the Web, music directly via the Web, consumers have many more choices consumers have many more choices than traditional distribution allows.than traditional distribution allows.

Topic: Consumers

Assertion: Have many

more choices

What Public Relations DoesWhat Public Relations Does

Although most of us are unaware of Although most of us are unaware of the public relations campaigns the public relations campaigns directed at us, they can significantly directed at us, they can significantly affect the way we think and live.affect the way we think and live.

Topic: Public relations

campaigns

Assertion: Affect the way we think and

live

OrganizationOrganization

The following example on preventing The following example on preventing juvenile crime clearly predicts the juvenile crime clearly predicts the organization of the essay.organization of the essay.

Preventing Juvenile CrimePreventing Juvenile Crime

Juveniles can be diverted from crime Juveniles can be diverted from crime by active learning programs, full-time by active learning programs, full-time sports, and intervention by mentors sports, and intervention by mentors and role models.and role models.

Topic: Juveniles

Assertion: Can be diverted

from crime in three ways

PersuasionPersuasion

The following example on federal aid The following example on federal aid to college students announces that to college students announces that the essay’s main purpose is to the essay’s main purpose is to convince the reader of something.convince the reader of something.

Federal Aid to College StudentsFederal Aid to College Students

To compete well in the global To compete well in the global economy, the United States must economy, the United States must make higher education affordable for make higher education affordable for any student who qualifies any student who qualifies academically.academically.

Topic: Affordable education

Assertion: Must be made available to

any qualified student in the U.S.

Checklist QuestionsChecklist Questions


Does the statement make a concise Does the statement make a concise assertion about your topic?assertion about your topic?

Is the assertion limited to only one Is the assertion limited to only one idea?idea?

Is the assertion specific and Is the assertion specific and significant?significant?


Does the statement at least imply Does the statement at least imply your purpose?your purpose?

Is the statement unified so that the Is the statement unified so that the parts relate to each other?parts relate to each other?

Specific Specific Examples Examples of Thesis of Thesis Statement Statement

TypesTypes

Three Specific Types of Thesis Three Specific Types of Thesis StatementsStatements

AnalyticalAnalytical Expository (Explanatory)Expository (Explanatory) ArgumentativeArgumentative


AnalyticalAnalytical Compare/Contrast essaysCompare/Contrast essays

Analysis EssayAnalysis Essay

In an analytical paper, you are In an analytical paper, you are breaking down an issue or an idea breaking down an issue or an idea into its component parts, evaluating into its component parts, evaluating the issue or idea, and presenting this the issue or idea, and presenting this breakdown and evaluation to your breakdown and evaluation to your reader.reader.

Analysis EssayAnalysis Essay

An analytical thesis statement will An analytical thesis statement will explain:explain: What you are analyzing.What you are analyzing. The parts of your analysis.The parts of your analysis. The order in which you will be The order in which you will be

presenting your analysis.presenting your analysis.

Analysis QuestionsAnalysis Questions

What did I analyze?What did I analyze? What did I discover in my analysis?What did I discover in my analysis? How can I categorize my discoveries?How can I categorize my discoveries? In what order should I present my In what order should I present my

discoveries?discoveries?

Analysis-ExampleAnalysis-Example

An analysis of barn owl flight behavior An analysis of barn owl flight behavior reveals two kinds of flight patterns: reveals two kinds of flight patterns: patterns related to hunting prey and patterns related to hunting prey and patterns related to courtship.patterns related to courtship.

Analysis-ExampleAnalysis-Example

A reader could expect that the paper A reader could expect that the paper will provide an explanation of the will provide an explanation of the analysis of barn owl flight behavior, analysis of barn owl flight behavior, and then an explanation of the two and then an explanation of the two kinds of flight patterns.kinds of flight patterns.


Expository (Explanatory)Expository (Explanatory) Illustrative essaysIllustrative essays Explicative essaysExplicative essays Descriptive essaysDescriptive essays

Explanation EssayExplanation Essay

In an expository paper, you are In an expository paper, you are explaining something to your reader.explaining something to your reader.

Explanation EssayExplanation Essay

An expository (explanatory) thesis An expository (explanatory) thesis statement will tell your audience:statement will tell your audience: What you are going to explain to them.What you are going to explain to them. The categories your are using to The categories your are using to

organize your explanation.organize your explanation. The order in which you will be The order in which you will be

presenting your categories.presenting your categories.

Explanation QuestionsExplanation Questions

What am I trying to explain?What am I trying to explain? How can I categorize my explanation How can I categorize my explanation

into different parts?into different parts? In what order should I present the In what order should I present the

different parts of my explanation?different parts of my explanation?

Explanation-ExampleExplanation-Example

The lifestyles of barn owls include The lifestyles of barn owls include hunting for insects and animals, hunting for insects and animals, building nests, and raising their building nests, and raising their young.young.

Explanation-ExampleExplanation-Example

A reader could expect that the paper A reader could expect that the paper will explain how owls hunt for insects will explain how owls hunt for insects and animals, build nests, and raise and animals, build nests, and raise their young.their young.


ArgumentativeArgumentative Persuasive essaysPersuasive essays Argumentative essaysArgumentative essays Cause/Effect essaysCause/Effect essays

Argumentation EssayArgumentation Essay

In an argumentative paper, you are In an argumentative paper, you are making a claim about a topic and making a claim about a topic and justifying this claim with reasons and justifying this claim with reasons and evidence. evidence.


This claim could be an opinion, a This claim could be an opinion, a policy proposal, an evaluation, a policy proposal, an evaluation, a cause-and-effect statement, or an cause-and-effect statement, or an interpretation.interpretation.


This claim must be one that someone This claim must be one that someone could possibly disagree with because could possibly disagree with because the goal of the paper is to convince the goal of the paper is to convince the reader that your claim is true the reader that your claim is true based on your presentation of your based on your presentation of your reasons and evidence.reasons and evidence.

Argumentation QuestionsArgumentation Questions

What is my claim or assertion?What is my claim or assertion? What are the reasons I have to What are the reasons I have to

support my claim or assertion?support my claim or assertion? In what order should I present my In what order should I present my

reasons?reasons?

Argumentation—Example Argumentation—Example

Barn owls’ nests should not be Barn owls’ nests should not be eliminated from barns because barn eliminated from barns because barn owls help farmers by eliminating owls help farmers by eliminating insect and rodent pests.insect and rodent pests.

Argumentation—ExampleArgumentation—Example

A reader could expect that the paper A reader could expect that the paper will present an argument and will present an argument and evidence that farmers should not get evidence that farmers should not get rid of barn owls when they find them rid of barn owls when they find them nesting in their barns.nesting in their barns.

Review ChecklistReview Checklist


Does the statement make a concise Does the statement make a concise assertion about your topic?assertion about your topic?

Is the assertion limited to only one Is the assertion limited to only one idea?idea?

Is the assertion specific and Is the assertion specific and significant?significant?


Does the statement at least imply Does the statement at least imply your purpose?your purpose?

Is the statement unified so that the Is the statement unified so that the parts relate to each other?parts relate to each other?

Works CitedWorks Cited

Works CitedWorks Cited

Most of the information provided in these Most of the information provided in these slides was plucked (either word-for-word slides was plucked (either word-for-word or paraphrased) from Purdue or paraphrased) from Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab.University’s Online Writing Lab.

Visit the website for more information:Visit the website for more information: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/printhttp://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/print

Works CitedWorks Cited Most of the information provided in these slides Most of the information provided in these slides

was plucked (either word-for-word or was plucked (either word-for-word or paraphrased) from The Little Brown Handbook, paraphrased) from The Little Brown Handbook, 88thth ed. Instructor’s Annotated Edition. ed. Instructor’s Annotated Edition.

Author’s: H. Ramsey Fowler, Jane E. Aaron, Author’s: H. Ramsey Fowler, Jane E. Aaron, and Janice Okoomianand Janice Okoomian

Visit the website for more information:Visit the website for more information: http://www.awl.com/littlebrownhttp://www.awl.com/littlebrown

Credit for Today’s SessionCredit for Today’s Session

Submit your notes on thesis statements to Mrs. Mav via email ([email protected] , picture message with your name as the subject ( ) or you can bring them to Study Café. Submitting notes will earn you 15 points on a quiz or assignment in Edgenuity.

Complete the handouts on Mrs. Mav’s website under the tab “Thesis Statements.” There are two handouts you can submit electronically or again bring them to Impact Café. Submitting handouts will earn you 10 points on a test.

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