The Thesis Statement

1
The Thesis Statement
2
The Thesis Statement
Whats a thesis statement?

• Once you freewrite or brainstorm and you have
  some central ideas, you can begin to write a
  thesis statement.

3
The Thesis Statement

• The thesis statement is a sentence that
  introduces the main idea and
• a). states the specific topic of the essay.
• Example Drinking and Driving
• (Introduction to Academic Writing p. 119)

4
The Thesis Statement

• b) may list the subtopics of the main topic
• c) may mention the method of organization.
• Example Drinking and driving can cause the loss
  of friends, your drivers license and your job.
• The thesis (drinking and driving) should not just
  give readers
• a general idea of the topic of an essay but
  should present
• specific statements of each of the main ideas
  developed in the
• essay.

(Introduction to Academic Writing p. 119)
5
The Thesis Statement

• d) is located in the introduction.
• (Introduction to Academic Writing p. 119)

Introduction
Body 1
Body 2
Body 3
Conclusion
6
The Thesis Statement
How do I write the thesis?

• Since it is the main statement for the entire
  essay, the thesis statement
• a) should express a complete thought and be a
  complete sentence.
• b) should not be a question.
• c) must express a controlling idea and possibly
  the subtopics
• (Introduction to Academic Writing, p. 72)

7
The Thesis Statement Some Examples
Thesis Statement
Drinking and driving can cause the loss of
friends, your drivers license and your job.
Controlling idea
Snow skiers should take a few precautions on the
slopes for their own safety and the safety of
other skiers.
Thesis Statement
Controlling idea
8
The Thesis Statement More Examples
The problem of pollution in major cities can
be alleviated by limiting the number of cars
allowed to drive on city streets and creating
more efficient public transportation systems.
Thesis Statement
Controlling idea
Computers have revolutionized communication and
business practices in the past twenty years.
Thesis Statement
Controlling idea
9
The Thesis Statement Subtopics Controlling ideas
When I was young, I always knew that I
wanted to become a teacher someday. When I
played, I would often gather my friends together
and pretend to teach them how to do math problems
or how to read a book. As I grew older, my
desire to become an ESL teacher became clearer as
I did some volunteer teaching overseas and in the
United States. As I look back on my reasons for
becoming a teacher, there are three reasons that
stand out. They include my love for the English
language, my innate interest in how people learn,
and my desire to help other people .
The thesis statement contains the main idea that
controls the content of the essay.
Subtopics in the thesis show the reader how the
essay will be organized
The controlling idea limits what the writer is
trying to say.
10
Thesis Statement Subtopics Controlling ideas
Psychologists have argued for decades about
how a persons character is formed. Numerous
psychologists believe that ones birth order
(i.e. place in the family as the youngest,
oldest, or middle child) has the greatest
influence. I believe birth order can have a
significant impact in the formation of a childs
character based on my own experience growing up
in a family of four children. Birth order can
strongly affect ones relationship with parents,
relationships with others, and how one views
responsibility as an adult.
The thesis statement contains the main idea that
controls the content of the essay.
Subtopics in the thesis show the reader how the
essay will be organized
The controlling idea limits what the writer is
trying to say.
11
The Thesis Statement
So where do I put the thesis?

• Since it is the main statement for the entire
  essay, the thesis statement
• a) is typically the last sentence of the
  introduction.
• (Introduction to Academic Writing, p. 119)

12
The Thesis Statement Thesis Location
For most of my life I have lived with bad
health, smelly clothes, and a chronic cough. My
children and husband begged me to stop the habit
that caused these conditions, but I couldnt.
The habit of smoking had wrapped its addicting
arms around me and was slowly strangling me until
one day I realized I had to stop. This
realization came after three terrifying events
occurred in my family.
13
The Thesis Statement Thesis Location
Maya Angelou is an accomplished
African-American author in the United States.
While growing up, she suffered tremendous
hardships. Some of her most difficult life
events are portrayed in novels and poems such as,
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and, Still I
Rise. Her written works often include strong
themes such as perseverance through trials, love
for family, and passionate optimism.
14
The Thesis Statement
Now its time for you to practice writing thesis
statements and topic sentences for supporting
body paragraphs. Here are some ideas 1). An
entertainment personality who presents a good or
poor role model. 2). Discuss the effects of this
obsession with dieting on the way Americans live
3). Describe your ideal job, explaining what
characteristics would make this job ideal for
you.