thesis statement

Thesis Statement

The Foundation of a Paper

Objectives

• Understand the purpose of a thesis statement

• Recite the two characteristics of a thesis statement

• Define the attributes of a thesis statement

• Identify a good thesis statement

• Write a thesis statement

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Definition

A thesis statement is the central opinion in a paper. It is this opinion that the writer tries to prove in the paper. A thesis statement is sometimes called the focus of the paper, controlling idea, or central idea.

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Characteristics

Is a sentence

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Is an opinion

A Sentence • Do not confuse the title for the thesis

statement

• The thesis statement is part of the essay

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An Opinion

• A thesis statement is not a list of information

• It is not a fact

• It gives a point of view

• It is the focus of the entire paper

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Elements

A thesis statement usually has three parts: topic, position and limit.

Topic

• Mortgage crisis

• Assisted suicide

• The best movie

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The topic is usually the topic of the paper. It is usually the subject of the sentence.

Position

• The mortgage crisis has affected people.

• Assisted suicide should be banned.

• The best movie is The Blind Side.

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The position is the writers position on the topic. It is usually the verb in the sentence.

Limit

• The mortgage crisis has led America to the brink of economic meltdown.

• Assisted suicide should be banned in the United States.

• The best movie for demonstrating the power of compassion is The Blind Side.

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The limit narrows the topic to a workable size.

Attributes of a Good Thesis

Writing a thesis that holds together

Clear

1. Although the movie Avatar, which starred Zoé Saldana as princess of the Omaticaya, even with the great fight scenes, it is an ecological story.

2. The movie Avatar has a strong ecological message about preserving the environment.

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Language is straight forward and simple. The main idea is in an independent clause.

Weak

Better

Specific

The thesis statement is narrow enough to follow.

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1. Avatar is a great movie.

2. The movie Avatar has some of the best

fight scenes of any recent movie.

Better

Weak

Not a Promise

The thesis statement should not contain a promise or a statement of purpose.

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1. I will demonstrate why the movie Avatar is an modern love story.

2. The movie Avatar is an modern love story..

Better

Weak

Not a Question

Although a question is sometimes used as a thesis statement, it should be avoided because questions are not as emphatic as statements.

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1. Is Avatar the best movie Zoé Saldana ever

made?

2. Zoé Saldana in the movie Avatar is

convincing as the blue alien Na’vi.

Better

Weak

Not a Negative

Avoid using not or other negative words in a thesis sentence. A negative thesis is weaker than positive one.

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1. Avatar is not the best movie Zoé Saldana

ever made.

2. Zoé Saldana in the movie Avatar lacked

real depth of expression as computer

generated image. Better

Weak

Other Considerations • The thesis statement is usually in the first or

second paragraph of a paper.

– Frequently it is the last sentence of the first paragraph.

• Change the thesis if it does not reflect what the paper is about.

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Grammar

• Extra attention should be paid to the grammar of the thesis statement since it is the most important sentence in the paper.

– Fragment

– Run-on or comma splices

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Exercise 1 1. What are the causes of the Civil War?

2. Although slavery is thought of as the cause of the Civil War, states rights was the true cause.

3. The Civil War was fought between 1861 and 1865.

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Exercise 2

1. Prison sentences in the United States.

2. Prison sentences in the United States have become more punitive.

3. Since the 1980s and the War on Crime, prison sentences for repeat offenders are based more on punishment than justice.

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Exercise 3 1. Homer’s Iliad is still read today because it explores

basic human emotions.

2. Homer’s Iliad is good reading.

3. Writers and artists through the centuries have used Homer’s Iliad as a source of inspiration.

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Exercise 4

1. Stanley Kubrick was a visionary director.

2. Stanley Kubrick’s movie Lolita shocked and challenge the movie-going public because of the adult-teenager affair that is the basis of the story.

3. Stanley Kubrick’s directorial style is as important to his movies as are the topics.

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Exercise 5

1. U.S. government policies on health care have changed during the past 20 years.

2. U.S. government policies on health care differ greatly from those of Asian nations and the different social and economic structures that underlie the government.

3. The purpose of this paper is to show that the U.S. government policies on health care should be changed to reflect citizen’s current concerns.

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None

Summary

• The thesis statement is the most important part of the essay.

• The thesis statement is an opinion.

• The thesis statement is a sentence.

• The thesis statement must be clear and to the point.

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Resources • The DK Handbook, pages 102-103

• How to Write a Thesis Statement http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/thesis_statement.shtml

• Tips and Examples for Writing Thesis Statements http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/545/01/l

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