Thesis StatementThesis Statement

Newspaper ProjectNewspaper Project

A thesis statement:A thesis statement:

Tells the reader how you will interpret the Tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under significance of the subject matter under discussiondiscussion

Is a road map for the paper; in other words, it Is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paperthe paper

Directly answers the question asked of you. A Directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself. subject, not the subject itself.

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Makes a claim that others might dispute Makes a claim that others might dispute (statement of rationale)(statement of rationale)

Is usually a single sentence somewhere Is usually a single sentence somewhere in your first paragraph that presents your in your first paragraph that presents your argument to the reader. The rest of the argument to the reader. The rest of the paper, the body of the essay, gathers paper, the body of the essay, gathers and organizes evidence that will and organizes evidence that will persuade the reader of the logic of your persuade the reader of the logic of your interpretation. interpretation.

How do I get a thesis?How do I get a thesis?

A thesis is the result of a lengthy thinking A thesis is the result of a lengthy thinking process. Formulating a thesis is not the first process. Formulating a thesis is not the first thing you do after reading an essay thing you do after reading an essay assignment. Before you develop and argument assignment. Before you develop and argument on any topic, you have to collect and organize on any topic, you have to collect and organize evidence, look for possible relationships evidence, look for possible relationships between known facts (such as surprising between known facts (such as surprising contrasts or similarities), and think about the contrasts or similarities), and think about the significance of these relationships.significance of these relationships.

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Once you do this thinking, you will Once you do this thinking, you will probably have a “working thesis,” a basic probably have a “working thesis,” a basic or main idea, an argument that you think or main idea, an argument that you think you can support with evidence but that you can support with evidence but that may need adjustment along the way. may need adjustment along the way.

Example : )Example : )

While both sides fought the Civil War While both sides fought the Civil War over the issue of slavery, the North over the issue of slavery, the North fought for moral reasons while the South fought for moral reasons while the South fought to preserve its own institutions.fought to preserve its own institutions.

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Hip hop is the best thing that has Hip hop is the best thing that has happened to music in twenty years. happened to music in twenty years. Though many people dismiss hip hop as Though many people dismiss hip hop as offensive, hip hop music offers urban offensive, hip hop music offers urban youth and important opportunity for youth and important opportunity for artistic expression, and allows them to artistic expression, and allows them to articulate the poetry of the street. articulate the poetry of the street.