thesis points

Using Thesis Statements Written by Margaret Procter, Writing Support    Printable PDF VersionFair-Use Policy When you are asked to write an essay that creates an argument, your reader will probably expect a clear statement of your position. Typically, this summary statement comes in the first paragraph of the essay, though there is no rigid rule about position. Here are some characteristics of good thesis statements, with samples of good and poor ones. Note that the better examples substitute specific argumentative points for sweeping general statements; they indicate a theoretical basis and promise substantial support. (See Some Myths About Thesis Statements, below, for a discussion of times not to use a thesis statement. See also the file General Advice on Essay Writing.) It makes a definite and limited assertion that needs to be explained and supported by further discussion: trite, irrelevant Shakespeare was the world's greatest playwright. intriguing The success of the last scene in Midsummer Night's Dream comes from subtle linguistic and theatrical references to Elizabeth's position as queen. It shows the emphasis and indicates the methodology of your argument: emotional, vague This essay will show that the North American Free Trade agreement was a disaster for the Canadian furniture industry. worth attention Neither neo-protectionism nor post-industrial theory explains the steep reversal of fortune for the Canadian furniture industry in the period 1988-1994. Data on productivity, profits, and employment, however, can be closely correlated with provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement that took effect in the same period. It shows awareness of difficulties and disagreements: sweeping, vague Having an official policy on euthanasia just causes problems, as the Dutch example shows. suitably complex Dutch laws on euthanasia have been rightly praised for.
What is a thesis statement? Every paper you write should have a main point, a main idea, or central message. The argument(s) you make in your paper should reflect this main idea. The sentence that captures your position on this main idea is what we call a thesis statement. How long does it need to be? A thesis statement focuses your ideas into one or two sentences. It should present the topic of your paper and also make a comment about your position in relation to the topic. Your thesis statement should tell your reader what the paper is about and also help guide your writing and keep your argument focused. Questions to Ask When Formulating Your Thesis Where is your thesis statement? You should provide a thesis early in your essay -- in the introduction, or in longer essays in the second paragraph -- in order to establish your position and give your reader a sense of direction. Tip: In order to write a successful thesis statement: Avoid burying a great thesis statement in the middle of a paragraph or late in the paper. Be as clear and as specific as possible; avoid vague words. Indicate the point of your paper but avoid sentence structures like, “The point of my paper is ” Is your thesis statement specific? Your thesis statement should be as clear and specific as possible. Normally you will continue to refine your thesis as you revise your argument(s), so your thesis will evolve and gain definition as you obtain a better sense of where your argument is taking you. Tip: Check your thesis: Are there two large statements connected loosely by a coordinating conjunction (i.e. and, but, or, for, nor, so, yet )? Would a subordinating conjunction help (i.e. through, although, because, since ) to signal a relationship between the two sentences? Or do the two statements imply a fuzzy unfocused thesis? If so, settle on one single focus and then proceed with further development.
There’s nothing less scary than a movie where you know who the killer is going to be at the end. There’s nothing more boring than a sports game where you know the final score already. There’s nothing less annoying than your parents giving you the same old, same old rant about how you need to keep your grades up. Why are these so terrible? Because they’re predictable and formulaic. Predictability and formula can work well in some cases, but they often completely ruin certain things. One of those certain things is your essays. And this is why you should AVOID writing a 3-point thesis for your ACT essay. Learning how to write a 3-point thesis is something every child learns in grade school. A 3-point thesis is a good thing to learn for a child. But by the time you want to impress the ACT graders as a high school student that you are a sophisticated, adult writer and thinker, then you need to come up with a different plan. A 3-point thesis in your ACT essay is like wearing pigtails for your graduation picture. Or training wheels on your motorcycle. It just doesn’t mesh with the adult world of communication. It serves its purpose when you’re young, but it is the distinguishing mark of a young writer – not a mature one. So AVOID using a 3-point thesis. Right away an ACT writing grader will notice the 3-point thesis and perceive you to be a child-like writer who knows the rules and follows the formulas, but does not deserve the respect of an adult. This is a sure-fire way to guarantee that you receive nothing higher than a 4 out of 6. The grader will put you in that box before even exiting your introduction. So what should you do instead? Remember that at its most basic, functional level, a thesis only really needs to do ONE THING: to tell your reader what argument you will be making. You don’t need to list three reasons why your argument is true. You may not even have.
One staple of college life is writing research papers. And while the process may be grueling for some, knowing how to write well is an important skill that many employers highly value. But writing well structured, thought provoking papers does not have to be an impossible task—especially if you follow the 3-point thesis approach. Before you write, you have to research. The bulk of your paper writing schedule will be spent researching your topic. Of course, you will need to decide on your topic before you can start your research. The following tips will help you narrow down your topic choices. Find a topic that interests you. No matter what course you are writing a paper for, you should find a topic that you find interesting and challenging. Also consider that the amount of interest in your topic is equal to the amount of effort you will be willing to put into researching that topic. Get specific. You want to choose a topic that is narrow enough to not be overwhelming but broad enough to find research materials. For example, if you had to write a paper about the Roman Empire, you could narrow your topic down to only the conquests of Gaius Julius Octavius. Stand on the shoulders of giants. Base your topic on research or conjecture that has already been developed. Instead of starting from scratch, expand on someone else’s idea or adopt an alternative viewpoint. Not only will this allow you to make new comparisons or arguments for or against a preexisting topic, but will assist you with finding research materials—you can use the same or similar research materials as the person you are basing your argument upon. Use wikis to keep your research and sources organized. Wikis are a great way to organize your research notes because of two very important features: linking and information hierarchies. Study Hacks has a great article on how to build a paper research wiki. .
Skip to main content. Search for. Synonym Antonyms Definitions The Classroom » School Subjects » How to Write a Three Point Thesis Statement by Mike Johnson, Demand Media A three point thesis statement can be very long. Related Articles What a Thesis Statement Entails What Does a Good Thesis Statement Include vs. Too Broad? How Long Can a Thesis Statement Be? How to Write an Effective Thesis Statement in Three Easy Steps A thesis statement is the opening and most crucial part of an essays or research paper. The point of a thesis statement is to let the readers know what the overall purpose of the paper or essay is and what your main arguments are. When you have three separate point that back up your argument, you can include each of them in your thesis statement. This is known as a three-point thesis statement, and it's an effective way to summarize an argument. Step 1 Determine the argument you will make in your essay or paper. For example, you might be making the argument that TomTom GPS navigators are better than Garmin GPS navigators. Step 2 Come up with three points that support your main argument. With a three-point thesis, you will need three supporting points. However, make sure you can back up those points with evidence. In the example provided, the three points could be that TomTom GPS navigators are cheaper, easier to use and have more features than Garmin devices. Remember, all of these points need to be backed up by factual evidence in your essay or paper. Step 3 Start out your thesis statement by stating your main argument. In the example, this would be TomTom offers GPS navigators that are better for consumers than Garmin GPS navigators because. Step 4 Add the three points to your three point thesis statement. A final three point thesis might look like, TomTom offers GPS navigators that are better for consumers than Garmin GPS navigators because they.