How To Write a Thesis How To Write a Thesis Statement Statement

What is a Thesis What is a Thesis Statement?Statement?

•Concise statement of the Concise statement of the argument or analysis that is argument or analysis that is to follow.to follow.

Why Should Your Essay Why Should Your Essay Contain A Thesis Contain A Thesis Statement?Statement?•to test your ideas by distilling to test your ideas by distilling

them into a sentence or two them into a sentence or two

•to better organize and to better organize and develop your argument develop your argument

•to provide your reader with a to provide your reader with a "guide" to your argument "guide" to your argument

How Can You Write Good How Can You Write Good Thesis Statement?Thesis Statement?

• "Write a report to the local school "Write a report to the local school board explaining the potential board explaining the potential benefits of using computers in a benefits of using computers in a fourth-grade class.“fourth-grade class.“

• "What are the potential benefits of "What are the potential benefits of using computers in a fourth-grade using computers in a fourth-grade class?“class?“

How Can You Write Good How Can You Write Good Thesis Statement?Thesis Statement?• Q:Q: "What are the potential benefits of "What are the potential benefits of

using computers in a fourth-grade class?"using computers in a fourth-grade class?"

• A: A: "The potential benefits of using "The potential benefits of using computers in a fourth-grade class are . . ."computers in a fourth-grade class are . . ."

OROR

• A: A: "Using computers in a fourth-grade "Using computers in a fourth-grade class promises to improve . . . ."class promises to improve . . . ."

How to Generate a Thesis How to Generate a Thesis Statement if the Topic is Statement if the Topic is Not Assigned.Not Assigned.

•figure out what question figure out what question you'd like to write about.you'd like to write about.

A good thesis statement A good thesis statement will usually include the will usually include the following four attributes:following four attributes:• take on a subject upon which take on a subject upon which

reasonable people could disagree reasonable people could disagree

• deal with a subject that can be deal with a subject that can be adequately treated given the nature adequately treated given the nature of the assignment of the assignment

• express one main idea express one main idea

• assert your conclusions about a assert your conclusions about a subject subject

Social Policy Paper Social Policy Paper •Brainstorm the topicBrainstorm the topic..

•Narrow the topic.Narrow the topic.

•Take a position on the topic.Take a position on the topic.

•Use specific languageUse specific language. .

•Make an assertion based on cMake an assertion based on clearly stated support.learly stated support.

How to Tell a Strong Thesis How to Tell a Strong Thesis Sentence from a Weak One.Sentence from a Weak One.

1. A strong thesis takes 1. A strong thesis takes some sort of stand.some sort of stand.

2. A strong thesis 2. A strong thesis justifies discussion.justifies discussion.

3. A strong thesis 3. A strong thesis expresses one main expresses one main idea.idea.

4. A strong thesis 4. A strong thesis statement is specific.statement is specific.

THESIS CONTRUCTION THESIS CONTRUCTION EXAMPLESEXAMPLES

Expository thesis: Statement of fact Expository thesis: Statement of fact Persuasive thesis: OpinionPersuasive thesis: Opinion

Expository thesis:Expository thesis:• The term "Renaissance" applied to that period of The term "Renaissance" applied to that period of

history that began in the 15th century in Italy and history that began in the 15th century in Italy and includes a revival of Greek and Roman culture.includes a revival of Greek and Roman culture.

Persuasive thesis: Persuasive thesis: • Although Renaissance culture involved much' Although Renaissance culture involved much'

more than a mere revival of Greek and Roman more than a mere revival of Greek and Roman culture, the term "Renaissance" is a valid name culture, the term "Renaissance" is a valid name for the period. for the period.

Expository thesis:Expository thesis:• The causes of the French Revolution The causes of the French Revolution

were poverty, Enlightenment, deficit were poverty, Enlightenment, deficit government spending, and a clash government spending, and a clash between the established aristocracy between the established aristocracy and a rising bourgeoisie.and a rising bourgeoisie.

Persuasive thesis:Persuasive thesis:• There were many causes of the French There were many causes of the French

Revolution, but the most important Revolution, but the most important was the clash between the entrenched was the clash between the entrenched aristocracy and a rising bourgeoisie.aristocracy and a rising bourgeoisie.

Expository thesis: Expository thesis:

• Arising crime rate and a new class of Arising crime rate and a new class of homeless people have marked the homeless people have marked the end of Communist domination in the end of Communist domination in the former Soviet Union.former Soviet Union.

Persuasive thesis:Persuasive thesis:

• A rising crime rate and a new Class of A rising crime rate and a new Class of homeless people have been a cause, homeless people have been a cause, not an effect, of the end .of not an effect, of the end .of Communist domination in, the former Communist domination in, the former Soviet Union.Soviet Union.

Expository thesis:Expository thesis:

• Three revolutions, the agricultural Three revolutions, the agricultural revolution, the industrial revolution revolution, the industrial revolution based on steam, and the industrial based on steam, and the industrial revolution based on electricity all revolution based on electricity all were important to the creation of were important to the creation of modern society.modern society.

Persuasive thesis:Persuasive thesis:

• The information revolution will prove The information revolution will prove more important than the agricultural more important than the agricultural or industrial revolutions.or industrial revolutions.

Crack babies.Crack babies.

Programs for crack Programs for crack kids.kids.

More attention should More attention should be paid to the be paid to the environment crack environment crack kids grow up in.kids grow up in.

Experts estimate that Experts estimate that half of crack babies half of crack babies will grow up in home will grow up in home environments lacking environments lacking rich cognitive and rich cognitive and emotional stimulation.emotional stimulation.

Because half of all Because half of all crack babies are likely crack babies are likely to grow up in homes to grow up in homes lacking good cognitive lacking good cognitive and emotional and emotional stimulation, the stimulation, the federal government federal government should finance should finance programs to programs to supplement parental supplement parental care for crack kids.care for crack kids.

There are some negative and There are some negative and positive aspects to the Banana positive aspects to the Banana Herb Tea Supplement.Herb Tea Supplement.

Because Banana Herb Tea Because Banana Herb Tea Supplement promotes rapid weight Supplement promotes rapid weight loss that results in the loss of loss that results in the loss of muscle and lean body mass, it poses muscle and lean body mass, it poses a potential danger to customers.a potential danger to customers.

My family is an extended family.My family is an extended family.

While most American families would While most American families would view consanguineal marriage as a view consanguineal marriage as a threat to the nuclear family threat to the nuclear family structure, many Iranian families, like structure, many Iranian families, like my own, believe that these my own, believe that these marriages help reinforce kinship ties marriages help reinforce kinship ties in an extended family.in an extended family.

Companies need to exploit the Companies need to exploit the marketing potential of the marketing potential of the Internet, and web pages can Internet, and web pages can provide both advertising and provide both advertising and customer support.customer support.

Because the Internet is filled with Because the Internet is filled with tremendous marketing potential, tremendous marketing potential, companies should exploit this companies should exploit this potential by using web pages that potential by using web pages that offer both advertising and customer offer both advertising and customer support.support.

World hunger has many causes World hunger has many causes and effects.and effects.

Hunger persists in Appalachia Hunger persists in Appalachia because jobs are scarce and farming because jobs are scarce and farming in the infertile soil is rarely in the infertile soil is rarely profitable.profitable.