Writing a Thesis

Statement(Very, very important!!)

Developing a Research Thesis

The thesis focuses your ideas and information for the research paper.

Student writers often make the mistake of forgetting the focus and making the research thesis far too broad.

Remember this is only a five page paper! Depth is valued more than breadth.

Thesis CharacteristicsWhenever you are writing to persuade your

reader to agree with your opinion, there should be one complete sentence that expresses the main idea of your paper. That sentence is called the thesis, or thesis

statement. The thesis is not just your topic, but what

you're saying about your topic. Caution: while you are still writing your paper,

consider what you have to be a "working thesis," one that may still be tweaked.

Where to Put the ThesisThe thesis comes within the introductory

paragraph, usually as the last sentence. It prepares the reader for the body of the paper,

which develops the thesis with reasons, explanations, and evidence or examples.

If you examine a well-written thesis, you will find hidden in it the questions that will be answered in the body.

Ex: "Cannibalism, if practiced tastefully, can be acceptable in extreme circumstances," The body of your essay will explain

HOW it can be practiced tastefully WHY it would be acceptableWHAT you would consider extreme circumstances.

Thesis as a StatementMake sure your thesis is in the form of a

statement, not a question. "Can we save the Amazon rain forest?" is an ear-catching question, but it is the answer to the question that is your thesis: "We can save the Amazon rain forest by limiting tourist

presence, boycotting goods made by companies that deplete the forest's resources, and generally educating people about the need to preserve the rain forest in order to preserve the earth's ecological systems."

"We cannot save the Amazon rain forest since the companies that deplete its resources in their manufacturing are so widely-spread throughout the world, so politically powerful in their respective countries, and wealthy enough to fight the opposition fully."

Focus Further

Make sure your thesis covers exactly the topic you want to talk about, no more and no less. "Drugs should not be legalized" is too large a thesis if all you want to talk about is marijuana. "Boxing should be outlawed" is too small a thesis if you also want to discuss wrestling and football. Bite off as much as you can chew thoroughly--then chew it!

Choose the Right ShapeShape your thesis to fit the question you wish to

answer. A thesis can come in many forms, including the following: Stating an opinion: "Langston Hughes was a

master stylist."Indicating categories or reasons: “Langston Hughes

was a master stylist because of his vivid imagery, surprising metaphors, and effective alliteration."

Showing two aspects of a topic and emphasizing one (in this sample, the 2nd topic in the sentence is emphasized): "While Langston Hughes was a master stylist, as a critic he had several blind spots."

Thesis Equation1. What is the topic you want to write about?

2. What is your main point about this topic?

3. What is the strongest argument supporting your point?

4. What is a second good argument that supports your point?

5. What is the main argument against your point?

6. What is a possible title for your essay?

Equation = Even though 5, 2 because of 3 and 4.