creating thesis

What this handout is about This handout describes what a thesis statement is, how thesis statements work in your writing, and how you can craft or refine one for your draft. Introduction Writing in college often takes the form of persuasion—convincing others that you have an interesting, logical point of view on the subject you are studying. Persuasion is a skill you practice regularly in your daily life. You persuade your roommate to clean up, your parents to let you borrow the car, your friend to vote for your favorite candidate or policy. In college, course assignments often ask you to make a persuasive case in writing. You are asked to convince your reader of your point of view. This form of persuasion, often called academic argument, follows a predictable pattern in writing. After a brief introduction of your topic, you state your point of view on the topic directly and often in one sentence. This sentence is the thesis statement, and it serves as a summary of the argument you’ll make in the rest of your paper. What is a thesis statement? A thesis statement: tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion. is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper. directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself. The subject, or topic, of an essay might be World War II or Moby Dick; a thesis must then offer a way to understand the war or the novel. makes a claim that others might dispute. is usually a single sentence somewhere in your first paragraph that presents your argument to the reader. The rest of the paper, the body of the essay, gathers and organizes evidence that will persuade the reader of the logic of your interpretation. If your assignment asks you to take a position or develop a.
A thesis statement.. Makes an argumentative assertion about a topic; it states the conclusions that you have reached about your topic. Makes a promise to the reader about the scope, purpose, and direction of your paper. Is focused and specific enough to be proven within the boundaries of your paper. Is generally located near the end of the introduction; sometimes, in a long paper, the thesis will be expressed in several sentences or in an entire paragraph. Identifies the relationships between the pieces of evidence that you are using to support your argument. Not all papers require thesis statements! Ask your instructor if you're in doubt whether you need one.
Directions: This web page explains the different parts to a thesis statement and helps you create your own. You can click on the example button in each section to see an example of a thesis statement. Question: Write the the question you have been assigned or the prompt you are going to answer with your essay in the box below. 1. The Topic The “topic” of your essay is the general category your essay is about. Either write the topic your teacher has assigned or the topic you have chosen in the space provided. What do you have an opinion about?   What are some things that interest you? Topics are just general categories--school, fishing, parenting, hunting, cars, women’s rights, racial issues, the law, etc. Type the topic of your essay in the box below. 2. The Position What is one thing about your topic that you believe to be true, and that you wish to argue? You may already have a “position” in mind, or you may just have a general topic you know you wish to work with.  If you do not yet have a position, making a cluster or a map with  your topic in the center is a good way to help yourself find a position. Another good way is to begin a free write, “I’m supposed to write an essay about____________..”  and see where it takes you. However you get there, write a short statement describing your position in the space below. Write your position in the space below. 3. The Qualification Is what you say always true always?  Are there exceptions?  Are there good reasons why your position may have a down side? How can you make your position have a reality check? What general reasons why your position may have problems can you admit up front? To make absolute statements usually causes your essay’s thesis to seem foolishly simplistic.  Get real!. Here’s a trick: begin your qualification with a word like “although” or “It is true that..” Don’t worry if it’s not a complete.
Almost every assignment you complete for a history course will ask you to make an argument. Your instructors will often call this your thesis -- your position on a subject. What is an Argument? An argument takes a stand on an issue. It seeks to persuade an audience of a point of view in much the same way that a lawyer argues a case in a court of law. It is NOT a description or a summary. This is an argument: This paper argues that the movie JFK is inaccurate in its portrayal of President Kennedy. This is not an argument: In this paper, I will describe the portrayal of President Kennedy that is shown in the movie JFK. What is a Thesis? A thesis statement is a sentence in which you state an argument about a topic and then describe, briefly, how you will prove your argument. This is an argument, but not yet a thesis: The movie ‘JFK’ inaccurately portrays President Kennedy. This is a thesis: The movie ‘JFK’ inaccurately portrays President Kennedy because of the way it ignores Kennedy’s youth, his relationship with his father, and the findings of the Warren Commission. A thesis makes a specific statement to the reader about what you will be trying to argue. Your thesis can be a few sentences long, but should not be longer than a paragraph. Do not begin to state evidence or use examples in your thesis paragraph. A Thesis Helps You and Your Reader Your blueprint for writing: Helps you determine your focus and clarify your ideas. Provides a hook on which you can hang your topic sentences. Can (and should) be revised as you further refine your evidence and arguments. New evidence often requires you to change your thesis. Gives your paper a unified structure and point. Your reader’s blueprint for reading: Serves as a map to follow through your paper. Keeps the reader focused on your argument. Signals to the reader your main points. Engages the reader in your argument. Tips for.
Many papers you write require developing a thesis statement. In this section you'll learn what a thesis statement is and how to write one. Keep in mind that not all papers require thesis statements. If in doubt, please consult your instructor for assistance.
THESIS GENERATOR Follow the steps below to formulate a thesis statement. All cells must contain text. 1. State your topic. 2. State your opinion/main idea about this topic. This will form the heart of your thesis. An effective statement will express one major idea. name the topic and assert something specific about it. be a more specific statement than the topic statement above. take a stance on an issue about which reasonable people might disagree. state your position on or opinion about the issue. 3. Give the strongest reason or assertion that supports your opinion/main idea. 4. Give another strong reason or assertion that supports your opinion/main idea. 5. Give one more strong reason or assertion that supports your opinion/main idea. 6. Include an opposing viewpoint to your opinion/main idea, if applicable. This should be an argument for the opposing view that you admit has some merit, even if you do not agree with the overall viewpoint. 7. Provide a possible title for your essay. Parents should regulate the amount of television their children watch. Notice that this model makes a concession by addressing an argument from the opposing viewpoint first, and then uses the phrase even though and states the writer's opinion/main idea as a rebuttal. Even though television can be educational, parents should regulate the amount of television their children watch. Here, the use of because reveals the reasons behind the writer's opinion/main idea. parents should regulate the amount of television their children watch because it shortens children's attention spans, it inhibits social interaction, and it isn't always intellectually stimulating. This model both makes a concession to opposing viewpoint and states the reasons/arguments for the writer's main idea. While television can be educational, parents should regulate the amount of television their children watch because it.