Some Tips for Writing Effective Thesis Statements

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Some Tips for Writing Effective Thesis Statements
created by Barbara Toth
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Effective Thesis Statements

• Suggest a mode of organization and provide
  direction for a reader.

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Does this thesis suggest a mode of organization
and provide a sense of direction for a reader?

• Even though many history texts have primarily
  focused on accomplishments of white males, women
  of various backgrounds have also made significant
  contributions.

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Some tips for revising your thesis statement--

• Ask yourself what your subject is.
• Then what is the significant thing you want to
  say about your subject.

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Examples
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Try thinking of your thesis in these
terms--SUBJECT POINT OF SIGNIFICANCE THESIS.
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How effective do you think this thesis statemnt
is?SubjectDespite their being omitted from
many history books thus far, many African
Americans, particularly X, Y, and Z,

• POS
• have significantly contributed to the American
  story.

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Effective Thesis Statements are--

• Limited in scope.
• (unless you are writing a dissertation).

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Effective thesis statements

• contain qualifiers that make the thesis
  manageable for the writer and credible to the
  readers.

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Qualifiers are very important in thesis
statements.

• Avoid words like all none, always,
  never.
• Remember if you use a word like Americans
  without a qualifier, it means all Americans by
  default.

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Some examples of qualifying words--

• Often
• Primarily
• Frequently
• Too often
• Regularly
• Some
• Many
• Most

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Effective Thesis Statements are--

• Debatable and argumentative.
• One test
• Ask yourself if reasonable, generally
  knowledgeable readers might not have the same
  position on your issue.
• If so, your thesis may be argumentative.

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PURPOSES 1. Remember that your purpose in
writing is to sway readers to your way of
viewing the topic or issue. P.S. The word
persuade derives from the word sway. 2.
Remember that your purpose is also to prove to
your instructor that you have read and
comprehended the readings for the course.
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Thesis Statements are

• A contract between you and your readers.
• A promise that you will follow through on what
  you say.
• A commitment.
• How true you are to that commitment determines
  how effective your essay is.
• MORAL Pick a thesis you can be true to.

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Look at thesis statements as an opportunity to
change readers perspectives in order to effect
positive change.