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What is a thesis?

What is a thesis?. A thesis statement declares what you believe and what you intend to prove. Attributes of a good thesis:. It is arguable. It tackles a subject that could be adequately covered in the format of the project assigned. (essay). Attributes of a good thesis:.

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What is a thesis?

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  1. What is a thesis? A thesis statement declares what you believe and what you intend to prove.

  2. Attributes of a good thesis: • It is arguable. • It tackles a subject that could be adequately covered in the format of the project assigned. (essay)

  3. Attributes of a good thesis: • It is specific and focused. • It clearly asserts your conclusion based on evidence. Note: Be flexible. You can change your thesis! • It provides the reader with a map to guide him/her through your work. (…because reason A, reason B, and reason C.

  4. More attributes of a good thesis: • It anticipates and refutes the counter-arguments • It avoids vague language (like "it seems"). • It avoids the first person. ("I believe," "In my opinion")

  5. Another attribute of a good thesis: It should pass the So what? or Who cares? test (Would your most honest friend ask why he should care or respond with "but everyone knows that?”) For instance, “People should avoid driving under the influence of alcohol," would be unlikely to evoke any opposition.

  6. Simple equations for a thesis might look something like this: • Specific topic + Attitude/Angle/Argument = Thesis • What you plan to argue + How you plan to argue it = Thesis

  7. Tests for a thesis • Does the thesis  inspire a reasonable reader to ask, "How?" or Why?" • Would a reasonable reader NOT respond with "Duh!" or "So what?" • Does the thesis  avoid general phrasing and/or sweeping words such as "all" or "none" or "every"?

  8. References • http://www.sdst.org/shs/library/thesis.html • Purdue OWL's Thesis or Question • Harvard University's Developing a Thesis • Indiana University's How to Write a Thesis • Northwestern University Writing Center's Developing a Thesis • University of Wisconsin's Developing a Thesis Statement • Dartmouth's Developing a Thesis • Hunter College's Developing a Thesis • Hamilton College's Introductions and Thesis Statements • Capital Community College's The Thesis Statement • Developing a Thesis Statement http://english.ttu.edu/uwc/thesis.html • Using Thesis Statements (U. Toronto) http://www.utoronto.ca/writing/thesis.html • Write Place: Thesis Statement http://english.ttu.edu/uwc/thesis.html

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