CREATING A WINNING CREATING A WINNING THESIS STATEMENTTHESIS STATEMENT

Or the Road to a “5” Thesis Or the Road to a “5” Thesis StatementStatement

A NOTE ABOUT THESIS A NOTE ABOUT THESIS STATEMENTSSTATEMENTS

Any time that you create a thesis Any time that you create a thesis statement, you are building an statement, you are building an argumentargument that must be proven!that must be proven!

What you prove What you prove MUST NOTMUST NOT be completely be completely obvious. (Ex. “In obvious. (Ex. “In Things Fall ApartThings Fall Apart, , Okonkwo is the central character.)Okonkwo is the central character.)

What you prove What you prove MUST NOTMUST NOT be be exclusively literal. You exclusively literal. You MUSTMUST reveal a reveal a deeper understanding and make deeper understanding and make abstractions.abstractions.

PARTS OF THE THESIS PARTS OF THE THESIS STATEMENTSTATEMENT

TOPICTOPIC CLAIM (VERB)CLAIM (VERB) DIRECTIONDIRECTION QUALIFIERQUALIFIER UNIVERSAL IDEAUNIVERSAL IDEA

TOPICTOPIC

The The TOPICTOPIC reveals the context of the reveals the context of the thesis—the text(s) analyzed.thesis—the text(s) analyzed.

ExamplesExamples

1.1. John Smith’s autobiographical John Smith’s autobiographical account . . .account . . .

2.2. Considering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Considering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech . . .“I Have a Dream” speech . . .

CLAIM (VERB)CLAIM (VERB) The The CLAIMCLAIM tells what the text is doing to tells what the text is doing to

arrive at the universal idea.arrive at the universal idea. Review the list of verbs for academic Review the list of verbs for academic

discourse.discourse. For practice, “uses” is a good place to For practice, “uses” is a good place to

start.start. Examples:Examples:1.1. John Smith’s autobiographical account John Smith’s autobiographical account

uses uses . . .. . .2.2. Considering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Considering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s

“I Have a Dream” speech, King “I Have a Dream” speech, King usesuses . . . . . .

DIRECTIONDIRECTION The The DIRECTIONDIRECTION tells tells howhow the text the text

arrives at the universal idea.arrives at the universal idea. DIRECTION DIRECTION = rhetorical devices= rhetorical devices Examples:Examples:1.1. John Smith’s autobiographical account John Smith’s autobiographical account

uses uses imageryimagery, , dictiondiction, and , and point of point of viewview . . . . . .

2.2. Considering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Considering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, King uses “I Have a Dream” speech, King uses analogyanalogy, , repetitionrepetition, and , and emotional emotional appeal appeal . . .. . .

QUALIFIERQUALIFIER The The QUALIFIERQUALIFIER links the direction to the links the direction to the

universal idea.universal idea. ““to prove that” (there are more constructions to prove that” (there are more constructions

possible)possible) Examples:Examples:

1.1. John Smith’s autobiographical account uses John Smith’s autobiographical account uses metaphor, diction, and point of view metaphor, diction, and point of view to prove to prove thatthat . . . . . .

2.2. Considering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I Considering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech, King uses analogy, Have a Dream’ speech, King uses analogy, repetition, and emotional appeal repetition, and emotional appeal to prove to prove that that . . .. . .

UNIVERSAL IDEAUNIVERSAL IDEA The The UNIVERSAL IDEA UNIVERSAL IDEA is the larger idea or is the larger idea or

purpose at work in the text. purpose at work in the text. The The UNIVERSAL IDEAUNIVERSAL IDEA part should reveal part should reveal

meaning about the abstract noun.meaning about the abstract noun. Examples:Examples:1.1. John Smith’s autobiographical account uses John Smith’s autobiographical account uses

metaphor, diction, and point of view to prove metaphor, diction, and point of view to prove that that successsuccess is measured by one’s ability to is measured by one’s ability to conquerconquer..

2.2. Considering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I Considering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech, King uses analogy, Have a Dream’ speech, King uses analogy, repetition, and emotional appeal to prove repetition, and emotional appeal to prove thatthat equalityequality is the foundation of a truly is the foundation of a truly democratic societydemocratic society..

Adding “The Funk”Adding “The Funk”

Or Adding Variety and Complexity Or Adding Variety and Complexity to a Thesis Statementto a Thesis Statement

STEP 1: MODIFIED DIRECTIONSSTEP 1: MODIFIED DIRECTIONS

For each direction, add an adjective that For each direction, add an adjective that best describes the text’s use of that best describes the text’s use of that direction.direction.

Ex. John Smith’s autobiographical account Ex. John Smith’s autobiographical account uses uses adventurousadventurous imagery, imagery, calculatedcalculated diction, and an diction, and an self-importantself-important point of point of view . . .view . . .

STEP 2: ADD THE STEP 2: ADD THE SHIFT/CONTRASTSHIFT/CONTRAST

Reveal the shift/contrast that occurs within Reveal the shift/contrast that occurs within the text (especially the shift/contrast in the the text (especially the shift/contrast in the universal idea.universal idea.

Ex. John Smith’s autobiographical account Ex. John Smith’s autobiographical account uses adventurous imagery, calculated uses adventurous imagery, calculated diction, and an self-important point of view diction, and an self-important point of view to prove that to prove that successsuccess is measured by is measured by one’s ability to conquer, one’s ability to conquer, not in one’s ability not in one’s ability to make peaceto make peace..

STEP 3: ADDING TEXT STEP 3: ADDING TEXT PHRASES FOR INTERESTPHRASES FOR INTEREST

Choose a few words or phrases from the text Choose a few words or phrases from the text that allude to the universal idea.that allude to the universal idea.

Add these words/phrases to the thesis statement Add these words/phrases to the thesis statement for effect.for effect.

Ex. John Smith’s autobiographical account, a Ex. John Smith’s autobiographical account, a testimony of testimony of “his own example, good words, and “his own example, good words, and fair promises,”fair promises,” uses adventurous imagery, uses adventurous imagery, calculated diction, and an self-important point of calculated diction, and an self-important point of view to prove that success is measured by one’s view to prove that success is measured by one’s ability to conquer, not in one’s ability to make ability to conquer, not in one’s ability to make peace.peace.

STEP 4: RE-ARRANGE THE STEP 4: RE-ARRANGE THE PIECES!PIECES!

Take all the thesis statement parts, and re-Take all the thesis statement parts, and re-arrange them to create sentence variety.arrange them to create sentence variety.

Ex. To prove that success is measured by Ex. To prove that success is measured by one’s ability to conquer, not in one’s ability one’s ability to conquer, not in one’s ability to make peace, adventurous imagery, to make peace, adventurous imagery, calculated diction, and a self-important calculated diction, and a self-important point of view are used in John Smith’s point of view are used in John Smith’s autobiographical account—a testimony of autobiographical account—a testimony of “his own example, good words, and fair “his own example, good words, and fair promises.”promises.”

Creating Topic Creating Topic SentencesSentences

The Elements of the Topic The Elements of the Topic SentenceSentence

TopicTopic DirectionDirection ClaimClaim Universal IdeaUniversal Idea

* These elements should seem similar to * These elements should seem similar to the thesis components (but now with a the thesis components (but now with a twist)!twist)!

Step 1: Begin with a solid thesis.Step 1: Begin with a solid thesis.

To prove that success is measured by one’s To prove that success is measured by one’s ability to conquer, not in one’s ability to ability to conquer, not in one’s ability to make peace, adventurous imagery, make peace, adventurous imagery, calculated diction, and a self-important calculated diction, and a self-important point of view are used in John Smith’s point of view are used in John Smith’s autobiographical account—a testimony of autobiographical account—a testimony of “his own example, good words, and fair “his own example, good words, and fair promises.”promises.”

Step 2: Borrow the “Topics” from Step 2: Borrow the “Topics” from Thesis’s DirectionsThesis’s Directions

ThesisThesisTo prove that success is measured by one’s ability To prove that success is measured by one’s ability

to conquer, not in one’s ability to make peace, to conquer, not in one’s ability to make peace, adventurous imageryadventurous imagery, calculated diction, and a , calculated diction, and a self-important point of view are used in John self-important point of view are used in John Smith’s autobiographical account—a testimony Smith’s autobiographical account—a testimony of “his own example, good words, and fair of “his own example, good words, and fair promises.”promises.”

Topic SentenceTopic SentenceTopic: adventurous imagery (This is the first Topic: adventurous imagery (This is the first

direction.)direction.)

Step 3: Add the Direction(s)Step 3: Add the Direction(s)

The “directions” of the topic sentence are The “directions” of the topic sentence are the examples you are using as evidence.the examples you are using as evidence.

Adventurous imagery, Adventurous imagery, such as Smith’s such as Smith’s narrow escape from deathnarrow escape from death . . . . . .

*Note: If you have more than one direction *Note: If you have more than one direction (example), (example), ALLALL should be mentioned in should be mentioned in the topic sentence.the topic sentence.

Step 4: Add the ClaimStep 4: Add the Claim

Choose an appropriate verb that links what Choose an appropriate verb that links what the directions do in relation to the the directions do in relation to the universal idea.universal idea.

Adventurous imagery, such as Smith’s Adventurous imagery, such as Smith’s narrow escape from death, narrow escape from death, establishesestablishes . . . . . .

Step 5: Add the Universal Idea Step 5: Add the Universal Idea (Again)(Again)

Add the universal idea to the topic sentence.Add the universal idea to the topic sentence.CAUTION: To keep the universal idea from CAUTION: To keep the universal idea from

becoming redundant throughout the becoming redundant throughout the essay, develop synonyms.essay, develop synonyms.

Adventurous imagery, such as Smith’s Adventurous imagery, such as Smith’s narrow escape from death, establishes narrow escape from death, establishes Smith’s Smith’s successsuccess in in conqueringconquering Powhatan’s Powhatan’s animosity.animosity.