For every essay you write, you must focus on a central idea. This idea stems from a topic you have chosen or been assigned or from a question your teacher has asked. It is not enough merely to discuss a general topic or simply answer a question with a yes or no. You have to form a specific opinion, and then articulate that into a\u00a0controlling idea<\/a><\/span>\u2014the main idea upon which you build your thesis.<\/p>\r\n Remember that a thesis is not the topic itself, but rather your interpretation of the question or subject. For whatever topic your professor gives you, you must ask yourself, \u201cWhat do I want to say about it?\u201d Asking and then answering this question is vital to forming a thesis that is precise, forceful and confident.<\/p>\r\n A thesis is one sentence long and appears toward the end of your introduction. It is specific and focuses on one to three points of a single idea\u2014points that are able to be demonstrated in the body. It forecasts the content of the essay and suggests how you will organize your information. Remember that a thesis statement does not summarize an issue but rather dissects it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n A\u00a0strong thesis statement<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0contains the following qualities.<\/p>\r\n strong thesis statement<\/em><\/strong>.<\/strong>\u00a0A thesis statement must concentrate on a specific area of a general topic. As you may recall, the creation of a thesis statement begins when you choose a broad subject and then narrow down its parts until you pinpoint a specific aspect of that topic. For example, health care is a broad topic, but a proper thesis statement would focus on a specific area of that topic, such as options for individuals without health care coverage.<\/p>\r\n Precision.<\/strong>\u00a0A strong thesis statement must be precise enough to allow for a coherent argument and to remain focused on the topic. If the specific topic is options for individuals without health care coverage, then your precise thesis statement must make an exact claim about it, such as that limited options exist for those who are uninsured by their employers. You must further pinpoint what you are going to discuss regarding these limited effects, such as whom they affect and what the cause is.<\/p>\r\n Ability to be argued.<\/strong>\u00a0A thesis statement must present a relevant and specific argument. A factual statement often is not considered arguable. Be sure your thesis statement contains a point of view that can be supported with evidence.<\/p>\r\n Ability to be demonstrated.<\/strong>\u00a0For any claim you make in your thesis, you must be able to provide reasons and examples for your opinion. You can rely on personal observations in order to do this, or you can consult outside sources to demonstrate that what you assert is valid. A worthy argument is backed by examples and details.<\/p>\r\n Forcefulness.<\/strong>\u00a0A thesis statement that is forceful shows readers that you are, in fact, making an argument. The tone is assertive and takes a stance that others might oppose.<\/p>\r\n Confidence.<\/strong>\u00a0In addition to using force in your thesis statement, you must also use confidence in your claim. Phrases such as\u00a0I feel<\/em>\u00a0or\u00a0I believe<\/em>\u00a0actually weaken the readers\u2019 sense of your confidence because these phrases imply that you are the only person who feels the way you do. In other words, your stance has insufficient backing. Taking an authoritative stance on the matter persuades your readers to have faith in your argument and open their minds to what you have to say.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Tip<\/strong><\/p>\r\n Even in a personal essay that allows the use of first person, your thesis should not contain phrases such as\u00a0in my opinion<\/em>\u00a0or\u00a0I believe<\/em>. These statements reduce your credibility and weaken your argument. Your opinion is more convincing when you use a firm attitude.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n Tip<\/strong><\/p>\r\n You can find thesis statements in many places, such as in the news; in the opinions of friends, coworkers or teachers; and even in songs you hear on the radio. Become aware of thesis statements in everyday life by paying attention to people\u2019s opinions and their reasons for those opinions. Pay attention to your own everyday thesis statements as well, as these can become material for future essays.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n Now that you have read about the contents of a good thesis statement and have seen examples, take a look at the pitfalls to avoid when composing your own thesis:<\/p>\r\n\r\n A thesis is weak when it is simply a declaration of your subject or a description of what you will discuss in your essay.<\/p>\r\n Weak thesis statement:<\/strong>\u00a0My paper will explain why imagination is more important than knowledge.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t A thesis is weak when it makes an unreasonable or outrageous claim or insults the opposing side.<\/p>\r\n Weak thesis statement:<\/strong>\u00a0Religious radicals across America are trying to legislate their Puritanical beliefs by banning required high school books.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t A thesis is weak when it contains an obvious fact or something that no one can disagree with or provides a dead end.<\/p>\r\n Weak thesis statement:<\/strong>\u00a0Advertising companies use sex to sell their products.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t A thesis is weak when the statement is too broad.<\/p>\r\n Weak thesis statement:<\/strong>\u00a0The life of Abraham Lincoln was long and challenging.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n Writing at Work<\/strong><\/p>\r\n Often in your career, you will need to ask your boss for something through an e-mail. Just as a thesis statement organizes an essay, it can also organize your e-mail request. While your e-mail will be shorter than an essay, using a thesis statement in your first paragraph quickly lets your boss know what you are asking for, why it is necessary, and what the benefits are. In short body paragraphs, you can provide the essential information needed to expand upon your request.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n Your thesis will probably change as you write, so you will need to modify it to reflect exactly what you have discussed in your essay. Remember\u00a0that your thesis statement begins as a\u00a0working thesis statement<\/a><\/span><\/strong>, an indefinite statement that you make about your topic early in the writing process for the purpose of planning and guiding your writing.<\/p>\r\n Working thesis statements often become stronger as you gather information and form new opinions and reasons for those opinions. Revision helps you strengthen your thesis so that it matches what you have expressed in the body of the paper.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Tip<\/strong><\/p>\r\n The best way to revise your thesis statement is to ask questions about it and then examine the answers to those questions. By challenging your own ideas and forming definite reasons for those ideas, you grow closer to a more precise point of view, which you can then incorporate into your thesis statement.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n You can cut down on irrelevant aspects and revise your thesis by taking the following steps:<\/p>\r\n1. Pinpoint and replace all nonspecific words, such as\u00a0people<\/em>,\u00a0everything<\/em>,\u00a0society<\/em>, or\u00a0life<\/em>, with more precise words in order to reduce any vagueness.<\/strong>\r\n Working thesis:<\/strong>\u00a0Young people have to work hard to succeed in life.<\/p>\r\n Revised thesis:<\/strong>\u00a0Recent college graduates must have discipline and persistence in order to find and maintain a stable job in which they can use and be appreciated for their talents.<\/p>\r\n The revised thesis makes a more specific statement about success and what it means to work hard. The original includes too broad a range of people and does not define exactly what success entails. By replacing those general words like\u00a0people<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0work hard<\/em>, the writer can better focus his or her research and gain more direction in his or her writing.<\/p>\r\n 2. Clarify ideas that need explanation by asking yourself questions that narrow your thesis.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n Working thesis:<\/strong>\u00a0The welfare system is a joke.<\/p>\r\n Revised thesis:<\/strong>\u00a0The welfare system keeps a socioeconomic class from gaining employment by alluring members of that class with unearned income, instead of programs to improve their education and skill sets.<\/p>\r\n A joke<\/em>\u00a0means many things to many people. Readers bring all sorts of backgrounds and perspectives to the reading process and would need clarification for a word so vague. This expression may also be too informal for the selected audience. By asking questions, the writer can devise a more precise and appropriate explanation for\u00a0joke<\/em>. The writer should ask himself or herself questions similar to the 5WH questions. By incorporating the answers to these questions into a thesis statement, the writer more accurately defines his or her stance, which will better guide the writing of the essay.<\/p>\r\n 3. Replace any\u00a0linking verbs<\/a><\/span>\u00a0with action verbs. Linking verbs are forms of the verb\u00a0to be<\/em>, a verb that simply states that a situation exists.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n Working thesis:<\/strong>\u00a0Kansas City schoolteachers are not paid enough.<\/p>\r\n Revised thesis:<\/strong>\u00a0The Kansas City legislature cannot afford to pay its educators, resulting in job cuts and resignations in a district that sorely needs highly qualified and dedicated teachers.<\/p>\r\n The linking verb in this working thesis statement is the word\u00a0are<\/em>. Linking verbs often make thesis statements weak because they do not express action. Rather, they connect words and phrases to the second half of the sentence. Readers might wonder, \u201cWhy are they not paid enough?\u201d But this statement does not compel them to ask many more questions. The writer should ask himself or herself questions in order to replace the linking verb with an action verb, thus forming a stronger thesis statement, one that takes a more definitive stance on the issue:<\/p>\r\n\r\n Working thesis:<\/strong>\u00a0Today\u2019s teenage girls are too sexualized.<\/p>\r\n Revised thesis:<\/strong>\u00a0Teenage girls who are captivated by the sexual images on MTV are conditioned to believe that a woman\u2019s worth depends on her sensuality, a feeling that harms their self-esteem and behavior.<\/p>\r\n It is true that some young women in today\u2019s society are more sexualized than in the past, but that is not true for all girls. Many girls have strict parents, dress appropriately, and do not engage in sexual activity while in middle school and high school. The writer of this thesis should ask the following questions:<\/p>\r\n\r\n Writing at Work<\/p>\r\n In your career you may have to write a project proposal that focuses on a particular problem in your company, such as reinforcing the tardiness policy. The proposal would aim to fix the problem; using a thesis statement would clearly state the boundaries of the problem and tell the goals of the project. After writing the proposal, you may find that the thesis needs revision to reflect exactly what is expressed in the body. Using the techniques from this chapter would apply to revising that thesis.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n Important Concepts<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n Have you ever known a person who was not very good at telling stories? You probably had trouble following his train of thought as he jumped around from point to point, either being too brief in places that needed further explanation or providing too many details on a meaningless element. Maybe he told the end of the story first, then moved to the beginning and later added details to the middle. His ideas were probably scattered, and the story did not flow very well. When the story was over, you probably had many questions.<\/p>\n Just as a personal anecdote can be a disorganized mess, an essay can fall into the same trap of being out of order and confusing. That is why writers need a thesis statement\u00a0to provide a specific focus for their essay and to organize what they are about to discuss in the body.<\/p>\n Just like a topic sentence summarizes a single paragraph, the thesis statement summarizes an entire essay. It tells the reader the point you want to make in your essay, while the essay itself supports that point. It is like a signpost that signals the essay\u2019s destination. You should form your thesis before you begin to organize an essay, but you may find that it needs revision as the essay develops.<\/p>\n For every essay you write, you must focus on a central idea. This idea stems from a topic you have chosen or been assigned or from a question your teacher has asked. It is not enough merely to discuss a general topic or simply answer a question with a yes or no. You have to form a specific opinion, and then articulate that into a\u00a0controlling idea<\/a><\/span>\u2014the main idea upon which you build your thesis.<\/p>\n Remember that a thesis is not the topic itself, but rather your interpretation of the question or subject. For whatever topic your professor gives you, you must ask yourself, \u201cWhat do I want to say about it?\u201d Asking and then answering this question is vital to forming a thesis that is precise, forceful and confident.<\/p>\n A thesis is one sentence long and appears toward the end of your introduction. It is specific and focuses on one to three points of a single idea\u2014points that are able to be demonstrated in the body. It forecasts the content of the essay and suggests how you will organize your information. Remember that a thesis statement does not summarize an issue but rather dissects it.<\/p>\n A\u00a0strong thesis statement<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0contains the following qualities.<\/p>\n strong thesis statement<\/em><\/strong>.<\/strong>\u00a0A thesis statement must concentrate on a specific area of a general topic. As you may recall, the creation of a thesis statement begins when you choose a broad subject and then narrow down its parts until you pinpoint a specific aspect of that topic. For example, health care is a broad topic, but a proper thesis statement would focus on a specific area of that topic, such as options for individuals without health care coverage.<\/p>\n Precision.<\/strong>\u00a0A strong thesis statement must be precise enough to allow for a coherent argument and to remain focused on the topic. If the specific topic is options for individuals without health care coverage, then your precise thesis statement must make an exact claim about it, such as that limited options exist for those who are uninsured by their employers. You must further pinpoint what you are going to discuss regarding these limited effects, such as whom they affect and what the cause is.<\/p>\n Ability to be argued.<\/strong>\u00a0A thesis statement must present a relevant and specific argument. A factual statement often is not considered arguable. Be sure your thesis statement contains a point of view that can be supported with evidence.<\/p>\n Ability to be demonstrated.<\/strong>\u00a0For any claim you make in your thesis, you must be able to provide reasons and examples for your opinion. You can rely on personal observations in order to do this, or you can consult outside sources to demonstrate that what you assert is valid. A worthy argument is backed by examples and details.<\/p>\n Forcefulness.<\/strong>\u00a0A thesis statement that is forceful shows readers that you are, in fact, making an argument. The tone is assertive and takes a stance that others might oppose.<\/p>\n Confidence.<\/strong>\u00a0In addition to using force in your thesis statement, you must also use confidence in your claim. Phrases such as\u00a0I feel<\/em>\u00a0or\u00a0I believe<\/em>\u00a0actually weaken the readers\u2019 sense of your confidence because these phrases imply that you are the only person who feels the way you do. In other words, your stance has insufficient backing. Taking an authoritative stance on the matter persuades your readers to have faith in your argument and open their minds to what you have to say.<\/p>\n Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n Even in a personal essay that allows the use of first person, your thesis should not contain phrases such as\u00a0in my opinion<\/em>\u00a0or\u00a0I believe<\/em>. These statements reduce your credibility and weaken your argument. Your opinion is more convincing when you use a firm attitude.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Each of the following thesis statements meets several of the following requirements:<\/p>\n Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n You can find thesis statements in many places, such as in the news; in the opinions of friends, coworkers or teachers; and even in songs you hear on the radio. Become aware of thesis statements in everyday life by paying attention to people\u2019s opinions and their reasons for those opinions. Pay attention to your own everyday thesis statements as well, as these can become material for future essays.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Now that you have read about the contents of a good thesis statement and have seen examples, take a look at the pitfalls to avoid when composing your own thesis:<\/p>\n A thesis is weak when it is simply a declaration of your subject or a description of what you will discuss in your essay.<\/p>\n Weak thesis statement:<\/strong>\u00a0My paper will explain why imagination is more important than knowledge.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n A thesis is weak when it makes an unreasonable or outrageous claim or insults the opposing side.<\/p>\n Weak thesis statement:<\/strong>\u00a0Religious radicals across America are trying to legislate their Puritanical beliefs by banning required high school books.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n A thesis is weak when it contains an obvious fact or something that no one can disagree with or provides a dead end.<\/p>\n Weak thesis statement:<\/strong>\u00a0Advertising companies use sex to sell their products.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n A thesis is weak when the statement is too broad.<\/p>\n Weak thesis statement:<\/strong>\u00a0The life of Abraham Lincoln was long and challenging.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Writing at Work<\/strong><\/p>\n Often in your career, you will need to ask your boss for something through an e-mail. Just as a thesis statement organizes an essay, it can also organize your e-mail request. While your e-mail will be shorter than an essay, using a thesis statement in your first paragraph quickly lets your boss know what you are asking for, why it is necessary, and what the benefits are. In short body paragraphs, you can provide the essential information needed to expand upon your request.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nA Strong Thesis Statement<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n
Examples of Appropriate Thesis Statements<\/h2>\r\nEach of the following thesis statements meets several of the following requirements:\r\n
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Thesis Statement Revision<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n
Ways to Revise Your Thesis<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n
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<\/div>\r\nElements of a Thesis Statement<\/strong><\/h2>\n
A Strong Thesis Statement<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Examples of Appropriate Thesis Statements<\/h2>\n
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\nIn today\u2019s crumbling job market, a high school diploma is not significant enough education to land a stable, lucrative job.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n
Thesis Statement Revision<\/strong><\/h2>\n