DEFINITION OF A THESIS: 

A STATEMENT OF POSITION OR OPINION

PROVEN THROUGH RESEARCH

COPY THIS DOWN EXACTLY!

Topic: The Civil War

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

Topic: Obesity

Thesis: Because American school children consume nine times the recommended daily allowance of sugar, schools should be required to replace the beverages in soda machines with healthier alternatives.

Topic: Volunteering

Thesis: High school graduates should be required to take a year off to pursue community service projects before entering college in order to increase their maturity and global awareness.

Topic: Media Influence

Thesis: Excessive exposure to violence in the media (film, video games, television) desensitizes young people to real life violence.

What is a Thesis Statement Again?

A STATEMENT OF POSITION OR OPINION PROVEN THROUGH RESEARCH

Just what makes an effective thesis statement?

Let’s look…

Fact: This essay is about the TV show Grey’s Anatomy.

Fact: The TV show Grey’s Anatomy is set in a Seattle, Washington urban hospital.

Opinion: The TV show Grey’s Anatomy depicts the world of medicine realistically and intensely.

Opinion: The TV show Grey’s Anatomy depicts medicine realistically and intensely by showing actual trauma scenes, injured patients, medical procedures, and the stressful effects of the job on doctors and nurses.

Non-thesis: I am going to write about the Beatles.Non-thesis: The Beatles were a musical group of the

1960s. Non-thesis: The Beatles wrote their own music and

played instruments. 

Thesis: The Beatles were the most influential musical group ever.

Thesis: The Beatles were the most influential musical group ever because of their lyrics, musical arrangements, influence on popular fashion, and influence on politics.

DOES NOT DOES

REMEMBER a thesis statement…

Announce your subject or tell your topic

Take a stand, show an opinion, make a judgment, and/or

make an argument

Something to think about when writing a thesis statement…

If your statement is too broad or open-

ended…

…you’ll have to find too much information!

Something else to think about when writing a thesis statement…

If your statement is too narrow…

…you’ll go crazy trying to find useful information!

STOP!!!An effective thesis statement is supposed to be

SPECIFIC. It should NOT be so narrow or so broad or so open-ended that it is almost impossible to find

useful information!

What Is a Thesis Statement?

A statement of position or opinion proven through research

Remember…an effective thesis is 

• A clearly stated opinion—not a fact or an observation

•Specific

•Not too broad or open-ended (TMI!)

•Not too narrow