Writing a Thesis Statement

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Writing a Thesis Statement

• Or,
• What the heck am I going to prove?

Compiled from The Purdue University Online
Writing Lab at http//owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/
and How To Write A Thesis Statement,
http//www.indiana.edu/wts/pamphlets/thesis_state
ment.shtmlassigned
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What is a Thesis Statement?

• A thesis statement is a sentence (or sentences)
  that expresses the main ideas of your paper and
  answers the question or questions posed by your
  paper.
• It offers your readers a quick and easy to follow
  summary of what the paper is about, and a guide
  on how you will reveal this.

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Why Should Your Essay Contain a Thesis Statement?

• To test your ideas by distilling them into a
  sentence or two
• To better organize and develop your argument
• To provide your reader with a guide to your
  argument

Your thesis statement will accomplish these goals
if you think of the thesis as the answer to the
question your paper explores!
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General Tips

• Narrow it down - If your thesis statement is too
  broad you wont be able to prove it in 3-4 pages.
• Make it interesting - Does it pass the So What?
  test? Is it something the reader will want to
  know about?
• Two parts - A thesis statement generally consists
  of two parts your topic, and then the analysis,
  explanation, or assertion that you're making
  about the topic.

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For example

• Many minority groups suffered greatly under the
  Nazi regime during World War II. Jews, Gypsies,
  and even Catholic priests were subjected to
  horrible atrocities during this time period.
  (This is a broad, general statement)

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For example

• With the exception of Eastern European Jews, no
  group suffered more indignant persecution than
  homosexuals, (this introduces a topic and makes
  an assertion) who were tortured, stripped of all
  their worldly possessions, and dehumanized in an
  orderly, state sponsored campaign. (this lists
  how I will prove my assertion or argument)

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For example

• This thesis statement
• Introduces my topic (persecution of homosexuals)
• Makes an assertion (no group suffered more
  indignant persecution)
• Lists how I will inform the reader or prove my
  argument ( were tortured, stripped of all their
  worldly possessions, and dehumanized in an
  orderly, state sponsored campaign.).

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General Tips

• A thesis statement is a very specific statement
  -- it should cover only what you want to discuss
  in your paper, and be supported with specific
  evidence.

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General Tips

• Generally, a thesis statement appears at the end
  of the first paragraph of an essay, so that
  readers will have a clear idea of what to expect
  as they read.

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General Tips

• You can think of your thesis as a map or a guide
  both for yourself and your audience, so it might
  be helpful to draw a chart or picture of your
  ideas and how they're connected to help you get
  started.

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General Tips

• As you write and revise your paper, it's okay to
  change your thesis statement -- sometimes you
  don't discover what you really want to say about
  a topic until you've started (or finished)
  writing! Just make sure that your "final" thesis
  statement accurately shows what will happen in
  your paper.

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Strategies for writing a thesis

• Ask yourself So what? or Who cares?
• Review your topic and ask, What do I find
  interesting about this? This is the basis for
  your thesis statement (Homosexuals persecuted by
  the Nazis).
• Once youve established a basis or focus, its
  time to ask a question about your topic (How
  were homosexuals persecuted? or Were
  homosexuals persecuted to a greater extent than
  other groups?).
• The answer to this question (or questions)
  becomes your thesis!

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Questions to ask yourself

• What am I trying to prove?
• What is my claim or assertion?
• What are the reasons I have to support my claim
  or assertion?
• In what order should I present my reasons?

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The End or is it?
Be sure to tune in next week to Note cards from
the Edge