Summary Chapter 2:

Thesis Statement

Prof. Jackeline Martinez Rodriguez

Turabo UniversitySchool of Human and Social Sciences

Gurabo, Puerto Rico

THESIS STATEMENT

Your research question will guide you to the thesis

statement.

Thesis statement is the short answer to

the research question.

A single sentences that, all by itself,

gives the basic idea of your paper (the point you want to

make in your paper).

It helps you organize the rest of your paper.

WRITING A THESIS STATEMENT

The thesis sentence you develop in this chapter will be your working thesis.

This means it is still tentative.

Your thesis is different from your topic.

Articulating your thesis right at the start will help you:

Find out whether you have a clear, workable

idea,

Use the thesis statement as a guide

while writing.

FOUR CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EFFECTIVE THESIS STATEMENT

1

•It states the topic and focus, which answers your research question.

2

•It includes supporting points that are logically connected to the focus.

3

•It gives enough information without too much details.

4

•It uses formal language that is easy to understand.

TOPIC VS. THESIS STATEMENT

Topic

• Short phrase that states the general subject of the paper.

Thesis Statement

• Sets up the framework for your essay.

• Tells the reader not only the topic, but also the focus, or what your paper will say about the topic.

EXAMPLE OF AN EFFECTIVE THESIS STATEMENT 1

An effective thesis states the topic and focus of the

essay.As you create your thesis statement, you will return to your research question. Remember that the research question defines the focus of your paper. This focus should be clearly mentioned in your thesis statement.

Example:• Research question:

• Why do people become homeless?

Thesis Statement:

The lack of affordable housing, inadequate public assistance, and the breakdown of the family are three causes of homeless.

NOW YOU TRY IT For each thesis statement on page 48,

circle the topic and underline the focus.

THREE CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EFFECTIVE THESIS STATEMENT 2

An effective thesis statement provides an overview of supporting points that are logically connected

to the focus.

A good thesis statement

includes the categories from

the rough outline that you

plan to use.

This overview of the supporting points clarifies for the reader the key ideas

you will discuss and how they

will be organized in your essay.

Example:• Research question: • What are the signs

of alcohol addiction?

• Rough Outline:• 1- An urge to drink• 2- Inability to stop• 3- Physical

dependence• 4- Need to drink

more

Thesis Statement:

Alcoholism is a disease that has four symptoms,

physical dependence, a need to drink

more to feel its effects, a strong

urge to drink, and an inability to stop drinking.

NOW YOU TRY IT Look at each research question and

rough outline and then decide whether each thesis statement is a good answer to the research question page 49-51.

Does it include an appropriate focus?Does it include an overview of supporting

points?

Circle OK or NOT OK and explain your reason.

THREE CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EFFECTIVE THESIS STATEMENT 3

An effective thesis statement uses formal language that is easy to

understand.Three

aspects of

language in thesis statement for you

to consider:

StructurePg. 52

StylePg. 53

Vocabulary

Pg. 53

5 COMMON PROBLEMS WITH THESIS STATEMENTS

Some thesis statements:

lack a focushave no

supporting points

confusing supporting

points

contains more

information than is

necessary

use inappropriate language

ACTIVITY: IDENTIFY PARTS OF A THESIS

Identify the parts of a thesis statement. Circle the topic Underline the focus once Underline the supporting points twice

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