Generating a Strong Thesis Statement

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Generating a Strong Thesis Statement

• Judy Kahalas for Roxbury Community College

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Vision Statement

• A thesis statement provides the foundation for
  your research.

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Walk up these steps to find your thesis

• Generate a subject area
• Generate some topics that you would like to
  explore in this subject
• Develop a question that you would like to
  research
• Do some preliminary research
• Arrive at your thesis

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The Process A Visual Representation
Thesis Statement
Question about Topic
Topic of Subject
Broad Subject Area
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Some Practice

• Generate topics from the assigned subject or
  choose a subject in which you are interested.
• Walk the steps to create a strong thesis
  statement.
• Use a partner or a group!

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Subject to Topic Step One
Post 9/11
citizenship
assimilation
refugees
Immigration
20th century waves
naturalization
laws
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Topic to Question Step 2

• How did 9/11 impact immigration from Arabic
  nations?
• Do the current laws on immigration reflect the
  democratic ideology of the country?
• What personality traits predict success in
  adjusting to a new culture and language?

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Step 3 Preliminary Research

• What are the laws with regard to refugees?
• Have they changed in the last 50 years?
• What social and global factors influence change
  in immigration laws?
• How do immigrants from ________ assimilate and
  acculturate themselves?

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Step 4 Thesis Statement

• Immigrants must share the culture and values of
  the US and become Americanized if we are to
  maintain a position of global leadership and a
  democratic government.

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Checklist for Thesis Statements

• Topic is narrowed to a single main idea
• Thesis asserts a clear and firm position
• Thesis expresses an opinion or attitude about
  topic
• Thesis states an opinion versus a fact
• Thesis makes a generalization that can be
  supported by details, facts and examples
• Thesis elicits the curiosity of the reader and
  encourages further reading
• Thesis contains a strong or controversial
  statement
• Thesis summons a call to action
• Thesis leads to answers that will be provided in
  the body of the essay
• Thesis provides a format of the essay

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Further Suggestions

• Continue to refine or redefine your thesis
  statement as you proceed in the research process
• Write the statement on a note card and keep it
  near you as you research.
• Review your thesis often and discuss it with your
  professor and your group to maintain focus,
  enthusiasm, and excellence in research

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Credits

• Source
• Raimes, Ann. Keys for Writers A Brief Handbook.
  Boston Houghton Mifflin, 1996.