The Thesis Statement

Purpose of a Thesis Statement

• provides a solid plan and direction for your paper
• serves as a road map for your entire essay
• giving the reader both the organizational framework and evaluative stance of the essay

When paragraphs are put together into an essay

• you will need a statement that expresses the entire paper’s central topic and stance
• AKA controlling statement for the entire essay

Structure of a Thesis Statement

• well-constructed thesis statement serves both the reader and the writer
• Writer-organizational framework, forecasting the development
• Reader-thesis shows the paper’s development, writer's point of view

So how does a writer pull together an entire essay’s content and purpose in one sentence? Let's look at example

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Introduction

• serves as a general orientation for the reader
• opening content should be slightly broader than the essay topic to provide a perspective

Thesis statement should...

• reflect the main topics of the essay
• provide the evaluative stance of the essay
• serve as a guide for the essay's main topics
• be formed, ideally, after the prewriting process has begun

Prewriting can include

• mapping conceps
• outlining ideas
• organizing thoughts/ideas

This first stage of the writing process includes techniques or topics can then formulate a thesis

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From the topic sentences, the writer then extracts the main topics:

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Three topics will then serve as the basis for your thesis statement, forming a clear
organizational structure

Balanced in Scope

• topics need to be covered in your paragraphs,
• should not be too broad or too narrow
• should have the same amount of weight
• do not have one topic significantly broader than the other two

Balanced in Perspective

• topics should work together to promote a single direction
• promotes the paper’s overall direction consistently
• Positive or negative points (choose one)

Balanced in Grammatical Construction

• topics are all expressed in parallel construction or share the same grammatical form
• listed with adjectives and nouns, creating a sentence that is accurate

Provides the Evaluative Stance

• once you have three topics in mind, it is time to consider the stance of the paper
• it should also reveal your particular views on a topic

YOUR THESIS MAY EXPRESS...

• concern
• generate awareness
• may illustrate a contrast

In the essay on hiking in Sedona, ...

• topics all express positive elements about hiking, so the evaluative stance comes through: "Hiking in Sedona is unparalleled because of the dramatic views, crisp weather, and light crowds."
• the word unparalleled reflects the writer’s.... stance, while the three topics show the content of the paragraphs

Evaluative Thesis Statements

• The new education policy’s unfortunate consequences could include lower graduation rates, disproportionate teacher-student ratios, and parent frustrations.
• The causes of devastating accidents on that freeway include poor visibility, wildlife, and lack of barriers.

Once your thesis is in place,

• the paper’s development should correspond to it
• revise your draft and make any changes
• be sure to also revise your thesis, so that there is a clear correspondence between the paragraph topics and this statement

Characteristics of Thesis Statements

• expresses a claim
• an assertion or belief on a topic
• claim should be contestable or controversial
• you might ask yourself if your position could be argued.

“So what?”

• does your topic and claims matter?
• determine which statements have claims
• Determine which are merely facts
• Passing the "So What?" test ensures meaningfulness

The thesis is predictive of the paper's development

• is predictive of paper's development
• Think about your assignment...will you be informing, persuading, entertaining, exposing, defining, or analyzing?
• It is important for you to shape your thesis to reflect the assignment purpose

Examples

• The causes of poverty in that school district include lack of education, substance abuse, and repeated generational cycles.
• Camping differs from staying in a hotel in cost, amenities, and preparation.

Thesis statements....

• have clear topics
• are claim-based
• show the reader the purpose or genre

The following word bank serves as a resource for transitions or words to include in your thesis

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Obstacles to Writing

Roadblock 1-MAKING THE THESIS A QUESTION

• do not phrase your thesis statement as a question
• because the primary purpose of a thesis is to state a claim, be sure it is in the declarative form
• think of yourself as the boss of the paper, and boldly state your claim

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Roadblock 2-Making the Thesis Too Vague

• your three topics should be specific and suitable for distinct body paragraphs
• avoid vague or clichéd writing that does not clearly state your topics

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Roadblock 3-Making the Thesis a Quote

• should not be included in your thesis statement
• instead, think about how a quote might provide evidence later in the paper

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Roadblock 4 Making the Thesis a Fact or Statistic

• placing fact or statistic can support your claim effectively, but remember that a thesis needs to show controversy
• expressing a fact does not leave room for argument or discussion

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Roadblock 5-Making the Thesis an Announcement

• good writing will always show, rather than tell, something.
• avoid the temptation to announce the topic

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References

Morris, E., Cohen, S., (1996). Adventure guide to Arizona. Edison, N.J.: Hunter.