The Thesis StatementThe Thesis Statement

What is a thesis statement?What is a thesis statement?

It is an arguable statement. It is an arguable statement.

It is a complete sentence that expresses your It is a complete sentence that expresses your position/opinion on a given topic.position/opinion on a given topic.

It narrows down your topic to a specific, It narrows down your topic to a specific, single focus of investigation.single focus of investigation.

It establishes a direction for the entire paper.It establishes a direction for the entire paper.

It is usually stated in your introduction.It is usually stated in your introduction.

What is What is notnot a thesis statement? a thesis statement?

A thesis is A thesis is nevernever a question; it could be the answer to a question; it could be the answer to a question.a question.

A thesis is A thesis is notnot an announcement of purpose. an announcement of purpose.

A thesis is A thesis is notnot simply a topic. simply a topic.

A thesis is A thesis is notnot a fact. a fact.

Analytical Thesis StatementAnalytical Thesis Statement

An An analyticalanalytical paper breaks down a paper breaks down a text(s) into its component parts, text(s) into its component parts, evaluates the data, and presents this evaluates the data, and presents this breakdown and evaluation to the breakdown and evaluation to the audience as an argument. In other audience as an argument. In other words, “I believe this text is saying … words, “I believe this text is saying … and here’s how I know and here’s and here’s how I know and here’s why you should believe it too.” why you should believe it too.”

Writing a ThesisWriting a Thesis

A thesis has two partsA thesis has two parts Topic: the main subject to be discussed in the essayTopic: the main subject to be discussed in the essay

Opinion: what the writer thinks about the main subject to Opinion: what the writer thinks about the main subject to be discussed (the topic)be discussed (the topic)

TopicTopic: Community College Students: Community College Students

OpinionOpinion: Work diligently to pass class, to transfer to : Work diligently to pass class, to transfer to universities, and to earn four-year degrees. universities, and to earn four-year degrees.

ThesisThesis: Community college students work diligently to pass : Community college students work diligently to pass class, to transfer to universities, and to earn four-year class, to transfer to universities, and to earn four-year degrees. degrees.

For a critical literary analysis, For a critical literary analysis, your thesis statement will your thesis statement will typically include the title(s) of the typically include the title(s) of the work(s) you will discuss in your work(s) you will discuss in your paper and the author(s) of those paper and the author(s) of those works, as well as what it is that works, as well as what it is that you will argue about those works.you will argue about those works.

Critical Literary AnalysisCritical Literary Analysis

How do I arrive at my thesis?How do I arrive at my thesis?

A thesis is the result of a lengthy thinking A thesis is the result of a lengthy thinking process. process.

Formulating a thesis is not the first thing you do Formulating a thesis is not the first thing you do after reading an essay assignment. after reading an essay assignment.

Before you develop an argument on any topic, Before you develop an argument on any topic, you have to collect and organize evidence, look you have to collect and organize evidence, look for possible relationships between known facts for possible relationships between known facts (such as surprising contrasts or similarities), and (such as surprising contrasts or similarities), and think about the significance of these think about the significance of these relationships. relationships.

How do I arrive at a thesis?How do I arrive at a thesis?

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

How do I know if How do I know if my thesis is strong?my thesis is strong?

Do I answer the question?Do I answer the question? In this In this case, the question is “what do case, the question is “what do YOU think your text(s) is saying YOU think your text(s) is saying and how is it saying it?”and how is it saying it?”

How do I know if How do I know if my thesis is strong?my thesis is strong?

Have I taken a position that others Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? might challenge or oppose? If your If your thesis simply states facts that no thesis simply states facts that no one would, or even could, disagree one would, or even could, disagree with, it's possible that you are with, it's possible that you are simply providing a summary, rather simply providing a summary, rather than making an argument. than making an argument.

How do I know if How do I know if my thesis is strong?my thesis is strong?

Is my thesis statement specific enough?Is my thesis statement specific enough? Thesis statements that are too vague Thesis statements that are too vague often do not have a strong argument. If often do not have a strong argument. If your thesis contains words like "good" your thesis contains words like "good" or "successful," see if you could be or "successful," see if you could be more specific: more specific: whywhy is something "good"; is something "good"; what specificallywhat specifically makes something makes something "successful"? "successful"?

How do I know ifHow do I know ifmy thesis is strong?my thesis is strong?

Does my essay support my thesis Does my essay support my thesis specifically and without wandering?specifically and without wandering? If If your thesis and the body of your your thesis and the body of your essay do not seem to go together, essay do not seem to go together, one of them has to change. It's OK to one of them has to change. It's OK to change your working thesis to reflect change your working thesis to reflect things you have figured out in the things you have figured out in the course of writing your paper. course of writing your paper. Remember, always reassess and Remember, always reassess and revise your writing as necessary. revise your writing as necessary.

Determine whether the following is a Determine whether the following is a goodgood or or poorpoor thesis statement thesis statement

What causes violence in children?What causes violence in children?

Poor

A thesis statement is not a question!

Determine whether the following is a Determine whether the following is a goodgood or or poorpoor thesis statement thesis statement

The purpose of my paper is to The purpose of my paper is to identify the causes of violence.identify the causes of violence.

Poor

A thesis is not an announcement of purpose!

Determine whether the following is a Determine whether the following is a goodgood or or poorpoor thesis statement thesis statement

The education system in the United The education system in the United States.States.

Poor

A thesis statement is not just a topic!

Determine whether the following is a Determine whether the following is a goodgood or or poorpoor thesis statement thesis statement

Teen pregnancy can be reduced with good Teen pregnancy can be reduced with good education, parental support, and birth control.education, parental support, and birth control.

Yes, a thesis statement reflects a position!

Determine whether the following is a Determine whether the following is a goodgood or or poorpoor thesis statement thesis statement

I would like to discuss how teachers and I would like to discuss how teachers and students can develop better relationships.students can develop better relationships.

Poor

A thesis is not an announcement of purpose!

Determine whether the following is a Determine whether the following is a goodgood or or poorpoor thesis statement thesis statement

Advertising has bad effects on all of society. Advertising has bad effects on all of society.

Poor

A thesis statement is not too broad!

Determine whether the following is a Determine whether the following is a goodgood or or poorpoor thesis statement thesis statement

What can be done to reduce violence in What can be done to reduce violence in schools? Who is to blame-- the parents, schools? Who is to blame-- the parents, the schools, or society in general?the schools, or society in general?

Poor

A thesis statement is not a question!

Determine whether the following is a Determine whether the following is a goodgood or or poorpoor thesis statement thesis statement

Toy ads on television teach children to be Toy ads on television teach children to be greedy, competitive, and snobbish. greedy, competitive, and snobbish.

Yes, a thesis statement reflects a position!

Sample literary thesis Sample literary thesis statementstatement

Sinclair Lewis’ 1922 novel Sinclair Lewis’ 1922 novel BabbittBabbitt relies upon the author’s use of relies upon the author’s use of satiresatire to critique the ignorance, to critique the ignorance, mediocrity and conformity of the mediocrity and conformity of the American middle class.American middle class.

Sample literary thesis Sample literary thesis statementstatement

In the In the characters of Daisy, Tom, characters of Daisy, Tom, and Gatsbyand Gatsby himself, Fitzgerald’s himself, Fitzgerald’s The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby depicts a depicts a corrupted version of the traditional corrupted version of the traditional American Dream.American Dream.

Let’s PracticeLet’s Practice

Essay Prompt:Essay Prompt:How did realist writers portray social How did realist writers portray social

issues and the struggles of ordinary issues and the struggles of ordinary people?people?

Step 1-Choose a writerStep 1-Choose a writerStep 2-Choose a social issues they Step 2-Choose a social issues they

portrayed portrayed

in a particular selectionin a particular selectionStep 3-State your position on how the Step 3-State your position on how the

writer writer portrayed that issue portrayed that issue