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Becoming a Better Writer

Becoming a Better Writer. How to Write a Thesis Statement. How to Write a Thesis Statement. What is a Thesis Statement?

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Becoming a Better Writer

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  1. Becoming a Better Writer How to Write a Thesis Statement

  2. How to Write a Thesis Statement • What is a Thesis Statement? • Almost all of us—even if we don’t do it consciously—look early in an essay for a one-sentence summary of the argument or analysis that is to follow. We refer to that condensation as a thesis statement. • Why Should Your Essay Contain A Thesis Statement? • to test your ideas by distilling them into a sentence or two • to better organize and develop your argument • to provide your reader with a “guide” to yourargument

  3. How to Write a Thesis Statement • A good thesis statement will usually include the following four attributes: • take on a subject upon which reasonable people could disagree • deal with a subject that can be adequately treated given the nature of the assignment • express one main idea • assert your conclusions about a subject

  4. How to Write a Thesis Statement5 Steps • Brainstorm the topic. • Narrow the topic. • Take a position on the topic. • Use specific language. • Make an assertion (based on clearly stated support).

  5. Step 1: • Brainstorm the topic. • You start out with a thesis statement like this: Cheeseburgers • This fragment isn’t a thesis statement. Instead, it simply indicates a general subject. Furthermore, your reader doesn’t know what you want to say about cheeseburgers.

  6. Step 2: • Narrow the topic • You change your thesis to look like this: Best places to get cheeseburgers. • This fragment not only announces your subject, but it focuses on one main idea: restaurants. Furthermore, it raises a subject upon which reasonable people could disagree, because while most people might agree that there are places to get a good cheeseburger, not everyone would agree on where that place is. You should note that this fragment is not a thesis statement because your reader doesn’t know your conclusions on the topic.

  7. Step 3: • Take a position on the topic. • You revise your thesis to look like this: Five Guys is the best place to get a cheeseburger. • This statement asserts your position, but the terms more attention and the environment are vague.

  8. Step 4: • Use specific language that supports. • You decide to explain what you mean about “the environment,” so you write: Five Guys makes a very intentional burger that is easy to customize and seasoned to perfection while providing strong customer service. • This statement is specific, but it isn’t a thesis. It merely reports a statistic instead of making an assertion.

  9. Step 5: • Make an assertion based on clearly stated support. • You finally revise your thesis statement one more time to look like this: Five Guys is the best place to get a cheeseburger because they make a very intentional burger that is easy to customize and seasoned to perfection, all while maintaining a strong attention to customer service. • Notice how the thesis answers the question, “What is the best establishment to patronize for a cheeseburger?”

  10. How to tell a strong thesis from a weak one • A strong thesis: • takes a stand • justifies discussion • expresses one main idea • is specific

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