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Thesis
Statement Basics
I. What is
the purpose of a thesis statement?
A thesis statement
informs the readers of the content, the argument, and often the direction
of a paper.
II. Do I need
to write a thesis statement?
Students should
always write thesis statements in their essays. Most instructors, whether
or not they state that they want a thesis statement in a paper, do appreciate
having one. English instructors require thesis statements. Professional
writers sometimes imply their thesis statements rather than write them
but always have one in mind as they write.
III.
What is a thesis statement?
A. A thesis
statement is a declarative sentence.
1. Thesis statements
are not titles or fragments.
- Title:
My First Smoking Experience
- Thesis:
Although all my friends thought cigarettes were stylish, I discovered
that smoking is actually a disgusting habit with many health risks.
- Title:
Finding a Solution to Campus Parking Problems
- Thesis:
To solve the lack of parking space at Sierra College, administrators
should use lottery funds to build parking lots.
- Fragment:
That we should become more aware of our environment
- Thesis:
We should become more aware of our environment so that we can preserve
our wilderness, protect wildlife, and conserve our rapidly disappearing
resources.
2. Thesis statements
are not questions.
- Question:
How could we still tolerate sexism in the military today?
- Thesis:
Even though Americans claim to be enlightened about sexism, sexist
language and behaviors still prevail in the military.
- Question:
Why are biofeedback techniques excellent methods of stress reduction?
- Thesis:
Because of its simplicity, accuracy, and lack of toxicity, biofeedback
is often a successful technique for migraine relief.
3. Thesis statements
are not commands.
- Command:
Note the differences between cooks and chefs.
- Thesis:
Although meals prepared by either cooks or chefs can be equally delicious,
chefs differ from cooks in education, professional commitment, and
artistry.
- Command:
Observe what happened to me during my first white water rafting experience.
- Thesis:
My first white water rafting experience challenged my body, my mind,
and my spirit, transforming me into an adult.
B. A thesis statement
is an arguable idea.
1. Thesis statements
are not facts.
- Fact:
Cortez conquered Mexico in 1509.
- Thesis:
The colonial mentality which prompted Cortez's barbaric invasion of
Mexico brought about not an advance of native society but a destruction
of Aztec culture.
- Fact:
When I was six, my parents took me on a trip to Alaska where I experienced
my first tragedy.
- Thesis:
Witnessing the death of my brother in an Alaskan avalanche last winter
horrified me at the time but in retrospect taught me to appreciate
the small things in life, to value my relationships, and to trust
in God.
2. Thesis statements
are not announcements of the author's purpose or assignment.
- Announcement:
In this paper I will discuss the causes and effects of the French
Revolution and then argue as to whether or not it was successful.
- Thesis:
Though the reasons for the French Revolution were noble— liberté,
fraternité, egalité—the effects were
devastating, ultimately leading to the unsuccessful reinstitution
of the monarchy and the restructuring of a classist society into a
militaristic one.
- Announcement:
This essay will explain my reasons for supporting capital punishment
for first-degree murderers.
- Thesis:
First-degree murderers should receive capital punishment because there
are too many repeat offenders, because rehabilitation programs have
proved ineffective, and because murder is too heinous a crime to be
punished by anything less than death.
3. Thesis statements
are not merely observations of the obvious.
- Obvious:
Litter creates pollution of the environment.
- Thesis:
Recycling programs, though expensive at first, are ultimately an efficient,
cost effective, and environmentally sound means of reducing waste
in our environment.
- Obvious:
The computer was an important technological advancement in the twentieth
century.
- Thesis:
Even though computers have their idiosyncrasies, they have improved
our lives tremendously by simplifying word processing, streamlining
data storage, and promoting an international exchange of information.
4. Thesis statements
are not unarguable personal opinions.
- Opinion:
I like chocolate.
- Thesis:
Even though chocolate tantalizes my taste buds and satiates my emotional
need to be loved, it causes weight gain, clogs arteries, and contains
caffeine.
- Opinion:
My favorite color is green.
- Thesis:
Colors do more than indicate personal preference: they reveal emotions,
indicate purpose, act symbolically, and influence subconscious thoughts.
C. A thesis statement
is specific and narrowed.
1. Thesis statements
are not broad overgeneralizations.
- Broad:
All feminists are militant.
- Narrow:
Gloria Steinem has helped positively change society's perspective
on women's roles at home and in the workplace.
- Broad:
Men are chauvinists.
- Narrow:
Men who repress their true feelings leave themselves open to physical,
psychological, and relationship difficulties.
2. Thesis statements
cover only one topic.
- Many topics:
Marijuana and television pornography should not be legalized because
they negatively influence young children.
- One topic:
Medicinal marijuana use should not be legalized because it creates
problems for peace officers, physicians, and parents.
- Many topics:
The theme, characters, setting, irony, conflicts, viewpoint, and plot
all contribute to making Madame Bovary a tragedy.
- One topic:
Flaubert's Emma Bovary is a tragic character because, never seeing
reality, she misses some important clues that her life has gone awry,
and she falls from her social "height" into prostitution.
3. Thesis statements
often focus the essay and guide its direction.
- Unfocused:
Martin Luther King, Jr. is a role model for everyone to follow.
- Focused:
Because of his determination, his courage to follow his beliefs, and
his unwavering sense of justice, Martin Luther King, Jr. is a symbol
of American freedom.
- Unfocused:
Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club is a candid portrayal of Chinese
American mother-daughter relationships.
- Focused:
In The Joy Luck Club, Amy Tan skillfully illustrates how cultural,
generational, and internal conflicts between Chinese American mothers
and daughters all add to the difficulty and character of the immigrant
experience.
D. Thesis statements
are worthy of development in an academic paper and interest an adult audience.
1. Thesis statements
are not simplistic.
- Simplistic:
Cats and dogs look different and act differently.
- More interesting:
Though seemingly adorable and tame, mountain lion cubs are actually
wild, dangerous predators.
2. Thesis statements
are not immature or tasteless.
- Tasteless:
Passing gas in an elevator was an extremely embarrassing moment for
me because I learned that I had a problem and that others are more
observant than I had thought.
- Suitable:
Though the product of slick advertising, psyllium does not effectively
deal with flatulence, diverticulosis, or colon cancer. (The topic
is now more academic.)
OR
- Suitable:
After fainting in an elevator, I experienced acute embarrassment but
learned that I cannot always be self-reliant and that caring for others
is important. (The new topic is an appropriate one for a college audience.)
Note: Always
check with your instructor if you are unsure about the suitability
of your thesis for your audience.
E. Thesis statements
are concise.
IV.
How do I write a thesis statement?
A. Decide on your
topic.
- poetry in my English
textbook
B. Narrow your
topic.
- Contrast gender
characteristics in two poems
- Emily Dickinson's
"Because I could not stop for Death" contrasted with John Donne's "Death
Be Not Proud"
C. Put your topic
in a sentence.
- Emily Dickinson's
"Because I could not stop for Death" is different from
John Donne's "Death Be Not Proud."
D. Add your argument,
viewpoint, or opinion to your topic to make your thesis persuasive.
- Emily Dickinson's
"Because I could not stop for Death" is essentially a more feminine
poem, while John Donne's "Death Be Not Proud" is more masculine.
E. Elaborate on
your thesis so that it addresses all parts of your assignment.
- Although Emily
Dickinson and John Donne both personify death in their poems, the tone,
language, and images are clearly feminine in "Because I could not
stop for Death," and masculine in "Death Be Not Proud."
F. Organize your
thesis to guide the direction of your paper.
- Although Emily
Dickinson and John Donne both personify death in their poems the
tone, images, and language are clearly more feminine in "Because
I could not stop for Death," than in "Death Be Not Proud."
G. Check your
thesis against the criteria on this handout, part I:
A through E. Repeat steps A through G in the "How Do I Write a Thesis
Statement" section if necessary.
H. Edit your thesis
for content, word choice, precision, and mechanics.
- Although Emily
Dickinson and John Donne both personify death in their poems, the
images, language, and tone clearly reveal a woman's perspective
in "Because I Could Not Stop for Death," and a man's perspective
in "Holy Sonnet 10."
V. Where should
I put my thesis statement?
The most common,
and often required, spot for a thesis statement is at the end of the
introductory paragraph or paragraphs.
© 2001
by Sierra College
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