Thesis Types

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Thesis Types
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General Characteristics for All Types

• States Topic (What you will discuss)
• States Assertion (Where you stand)
• Other names for include slant, bias, attitude,
  point-of-view
• Example Since 1971 entering college students
  (topic) have changed markedly. (assertion)

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Open Thesis Statement

• Characteristics
• States Topic
• States Assertion
• Does not map out discussion, only points in a
  general direction
• Example Drunken Driving harms all Americans
  greatly.

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Essay Characteristics of Open Thesis

• Informal Language
• Short Length
• Conversational Tone
• Simple, not technical or complicated Content

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Categorical Thesis Statement

• Characteristics
• States Topic
• States Assertion
• Does map out discussion explicitly, telling the
  reader exactly what the essay will discuss
• Example In America, Drunken Driving causes
  adverse governmental, economic, and psychological
  effects.

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Essay Characteristics of Categorical Thesis

• Formal Language
• Long Length
• Academic/Highly Professional Tone
• Complex, having Technical or Complicated Content

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Argumentative Thesis Statement

• Characteristics
• States Topic
• States Assertion
• States the oppositions point-of-view, usually in
  a dependent clause starting with contrast words
  such as although, despite, though, even
  though.
• Does map out discussion explicitly, telling the
  reader exactly what the essay will discuss
• Example Even though we have a right to get
  drunk in America, drunken driving causes adverse
  governmental, economic, and psychological effects.

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Essay Characteristics of Argumentative Thesis

• Highly Formal Language
• Very Long Length
• Highly Academic/Legalistic Professional Tone
• Exceeding Complex, having Highly Technical,
  Highly Legal or Very Complicated Content

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Mixed Thesis Statement

• Characteristics
• States Topic
• States Assertion
• Usually adds either a contrasting idea (like the
  argumentative) or a reason idea that starts
  with words such as because or since.
• Does not fully map out discussion as the
  categorical thesis statement does, but does point
  out the direction more specifically than the open
  thesis does,
• Examples (1) Although Americans have a right to
  drink, drunken driving harms all Americans
  greatly (2) Because drinking and driving damages
  Americas culture, we must stop drinking and
  driving.

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Essay Characteristics of Mixed Thesis

• Informal Language, but not as informal as open
• Longer Length than open
• Not a Formal Tone, but less familiar, than open
  thesis tone
• More complex content than open, less complex than
  categorical or argumentative