Essay WritingEssay Writing

Thesis StatementsThesis Statements

Thesis StatementThesis Statement

Your thesis statement Your thesis statement should be a should be a single sentence single sentence that contains:that contains:The The author’s nameauthor’s nameThe The title of the booktitle of the bookWhat you are going to proveWhat you are going to proveHow you are going to prove itHow you are going to prove it

Thesis StatementThesis Statement

Your thesis Your thesis statement should statement should be the be the firstfirst or the or the lastlast sentence in sentence in your introduction.your introduction.

SubstantialSubstantial

Your thesis should Your thesis should be a claim for which be a claim for which it is easy to answer it is easy to answer every reader’s every reader’s question: “question: “So whatSo what?” ?”

SupportableSupportable

A thesis must be a A thesis must be a claim that you can claim that you can prove with the prove with the evidence at hand evidence at hand (e.g., (e.g., evidence from your evidence from your texts or from your texts or from your research). research).

Your claim should not be Your claim should not be outlandishoutlandish, nor should it , nor should it be mere be mere personal opinion personal opinion or preference (e.g., or preference (e.g., “Frederick Douglass is “Frederick Douglass is my favorite historical my favorite historical figure.”) figure.”)

PrecisePrecise

An effective thesis An effective thesis statement has been statement has been narrowed down from a very narrowed down from a very broad subject. Your claim broad subject. Your claim should not be something should not be something on which whole books on which whole books could be written. could be written.

ArguableArguable

A thesis statement should A thesis statement should not be not be a statement of fact a statement of fact or or an assertion with which an assertion with which every reader is likely to every reader is likely to immediately agree. immediately agree. (Otherwise, why try to (Otherwise, why try to convince your readers with convince your readers with an argument?) an argument?)

RelevantRelevant

If you are responding to an If you are responding to an assignment, the thesis assignment, the thesis should answer the question should answer the question your teacher has posed. In your teacher has posed. In order to stay focused, pay order to stay focused, pay attention to the task words attention to the task words in the assignment: in the assignment: summarize, argue, summarize, argue, compare/contrast, etc.compare/contrast, etc.

Sample StatementsSample Statements

Throughout American Throughout American history, brave leaders have history, brave leaders have stood up against oppression stood up against oppression of all kinds.of all kinds.This sentence is This sentence is much too much too broadbroad. A more effective . A more effective thesis would narrow the topic thesis would narrow the topic down to a particular leader.down to a particular leader.

Sample StatementsSample Statements Douglass’ speech is completely Douglass’ speech is completely

ineffective, since he admits early ineffective, since he admits early in his speech that the anti-in his speech that the anti-slavery position is self-evidently slavery position is self-evidently just and does not require just and does not require argument. To be persuasive, argument. To be persuasive, speakers must always take speakers must always take positions which they and their positions which they and their speakers consider arguable.speakers consider arguable.

This thesis makes a claim that This thesis makes a claim that the writer can probably not the writer can probably not support with support with the assigned textthe assigned text..

Sample StatementsSample Statements Of all examples of persuasive Of all examples of persuasive

speaking in American history, speaking in American history, Frederick Douglass’ “What to the Frederick Douglass’ “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July” is far Slave Is the Fourth of July” is far and away the most effective.and away the most effective.

This sentence offers only This sentence offers only the the writer’s opinionwriter’s opinion. The writer does . The writer does not offer arguable criteria for not offer arguable criteria for why this speech is effective.why this speech is effective.

Sample StatementsSample Statements

Frederick Douglass made a Frederick Douglass made a speech in which he speech in which he wondered why slaves should wondered why slaves should celebrate the Fourth of July.celebrate the Fourth of July.

This sentence is a This sentence is a statement statement of factof fact. There is nothing to . There is nothing to be argued here.be argued here.

Sample StatementsSample Statements

BAD: Drug abuse is a big BAD: Drug abuse is a big problem. problem.

BETTER: Heroin, long BETTER: Heroin, long regarded as a street drug, is regarded as a street drug, is fast becoming the drug of fast becoming the drug of choice among middle class choice among middle class urban professionals. urban professionals.

Sample StatementsSample Statements BAD: There is a lot of BAD: There is a lot of

symbolism in The Scarlet Letter. symbolism in The Scarlet Letter.

BETTER: Hawthorne's use of BETTER: Hawthorne's use of symbolism in The Scarlet Letter symbolism in The Scarlet Letter falters and ultimately breaks falters and ultimately breaks down with the introduction of the down with the introduction of the character Pearl character Pearl

SourcesSources

"Resources On Argumentation, "Resources On Argumentation, Problem Posing, & Thesis Problem Posing, & Thesis Development." Development." The Writing The Writing CenterCenter. 2005. Temple . 2005. Temple University. 20 Mar. 2006 University. 20 Mar. 2006 <http://155.247.166.60/writingctr<http://155.247.166.60/writingctr/workshops/workshop_argument/workshops/workshop_argument.htm>. .htm>.