What is a Thesis?

Remember, your reader will be looking for your thesis. Make it clear, strong, and easy to find.

A thesis statement declares what you intend to prove.

A good thesis statement makes a difference between a thoughtful research project and a simple retelling of facts.

A good thesis will help you focus your information.

The thesis statement is typically located at the end of your opening paragraph. (The opening paragraph serves to set the content for the thesis.)

It should propose an arguable pointwith which people could reasonablydisagree. It takes a stand and justifiesthe discussion you will present.

Thesis

It tackles a subject that could be adequatelycovered in the format of the project assigned

It clearly asserts your own conclusion based on evidence.

It provides the reader with a map to guide him/herthrough your work.

It anticipates and refutes the counter-arguments.

It avoids vague language (like "it seems").

It avoids first person ("I believe", "In my opinion").

It is specific and focused. A strong thesis proves a point without discussing "everything about..." Instead of music, think "American jazz in the 1930" and your argument about it.

It passes the So what? or Who cares? test (Would your most honest friend ask why he or shecare or respond with "but everyone knows that"?) For instance, "people should avoid driving under theinfluence of alcohol," would be unlikely to evoke anyopposition.

Simple equations for a thesis might look something like this:

+ =Specific Topic

Attitude/Angle/Argument

Thesis

What you plan to argue + How you plan to argue it = Thesis

How do you know if you've got a solid tentative thesis?

Try these five tests:

Does the thesis cause a reasonable reader to ask, "How?" or "Why?"

Would a reasonable reader NOT respond with "Duh!" or "So what?" or "Gee, no kidding!" or "Who cares?"

Does the thesis lead the reader toward the topic sentence(the subtopics needed to prove the thesis)?

Does the thesis avoid general phrasing and/or sweeping words such as "all" or "none" or "every"?

Can the thesis be adequately developed in the required length of the paper or project?

If you cannot answer "YES" to these questions, what changes must you make inorder for your thesis to pass these tests?

A thesis statement is an assertion, not a statement of fact or an observation.

 Fact or observation: People use many lawn chemicals. Thesis: People are poisoning the environment with chemicals merely to keep their lawns clean.

A thesis takes a stand rather than announces a subject.

 Announcement: The thesis of this paper is the difficulty of solving our environmental problems. Thesis: Solving our environmental problems is more difficult than many environmentalists believe.

A thesis statement is narrow rather than broad. If a thesis statement is sufficiently narrow, it can be fully supported.

 Broad: The American steel industry has many problems. Narrow: The primary problem in the American steel industry is the lack of funds to renovate outdated plants and equipment.

A thesis statement is specific rather than vague or general.

 Vague: Hemingway's war stories are very good. Specific: Hemingway's stories helped create a new prose style by employing extensive dialogue, shorter sentences, and strong Anglo-Saxon words.

Review the following and determine if they are strong thesis statements. If they are not strong, identify what needs to be done in order for the statement to be considered strong.

A. Stalin was a powerful leader in the Soviet Union during World War II.

B. Many people helped the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

C. During a time of devastation and cruelty, George Wanton's selfless acts of mercy provided the necessary hope to the victims of World War II.

Your Topic and Thesis:

Thesis:

Topic:

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