Writing the Thesis Statement
What is a Working Thesis?
A thesis is the controlling idea of a text. Depending on the type of text you are creating, all of the discussion in that text will serve to develop, explore multiple angles of, and/or support that thesis.
But how can we know, before getting any of the paper written, exactly what thesis the sources we find and the conversations we have will support? Often, we can’t. The closest we can get in these cases is a working thesis, which is a best guess at what the thesis is likely to be based on the information we are working with at this time. The main idea of it may not change, but the specifics are probably going to be tweaked a bit as you complete a draft and do research.
Thesis Statements: Your Main Point
A thesis statement needs a topic and an opinion/claim about that topic:
Topic/Opinion:
- Summer in Guanajuato very educational
- MHCC nursing school quality program
- Michael Phelps best swimmer in history
- Damian Lillard best Blazer in history
- Women in sports broadcasting have come a long way
- A longer school day several benefits
Once you have your topic and opinion, develop a thesis statement.
Examples:
- My summer in Guanajuato was a wonderful educational experience.
- Mt. Hood Community College School of Nursing provides a quality education for its students.
- Michael Phelps is without a doubt the most accomplished swimmer in the history of swimming.
- Damian Lillard is the best basketball player to wear a Trailblazers jersey.
- Women are playing a much more integral role in sports broadcasting.
- A longer school day for the elementary school children has several advantages.
A Strong 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 at the end of your first paragraph that presents your argument to the reader.
How do I write a Thesis?
Formulating a thesis is not the first thing you do after reading an essay assignment. Before you develop an argument on any topic, you have to collect and organize evidence, look for possible relationships between known facts (such as surprising contrasts or similarities), and think about the significance of these relationships. Then you can start developing your thesis, but you might change it as you go.
Your thesis is the engine of your essay. It is the central point around which you gather, analyze, and present the relevant support and philosophical reasoning which constitutes the body of your essay. It is the center, the focal point. The thesis answers the question, “What is this essay all about?”
A strong thesis does not just state your topic but your perspective or feeling on the topic as well. And it does so in a single, focused sentence. Two tops. It clearly tells the reader what the essay is all about and engages them in your big idea(s) and perspective. Thesis statements often reveal the primary pattern of development of the essay as well, but not always.
An effective thesis statement has several key components:
- States the central idea of the essay in a complete sentence
- Reveals the author’s opinion or attitude about the topic
- Often lists subtopics/ provides a general outline of the essay
- Is usually found atthe end of the introduction
An effective thesis does not…
- Ask the reader a question (i.e. “What is beauty?”}
- State the obvious (i.e “This essay will be about my definition of beauty” or “In this essay I will define beauty.”)
Thesis statements are usually found at the end of the introduction. Seasoned authors may play with this structure, but it is often better to learn the form before deviating from it.
