Thesis StatementsThesis StatementsHow to state your opinion wisely

in the introduction.

What is a thesis statement?• Located at the end

of the introductory paragraph, the thesis is the core statement and the main idea of the essay:

1. It directly answers the writing prompt question.

2. It is an opinionated and complex statement.

3. It includes sub-points: the three elements supporting the author’s main idea.

How interesting is this thesis?

How big is the thesis statement?

• The thesis is essential because it maps the form and the substance of the essay.

• Without a thesis, an essay drifts into a series of meaningless observations.

• The thesis is to the essay as the bones are to the body—without either one, all that’s left is a pile of shapeless blubber.

Does the thesis answer the prompt?• Which thesis answers

the writing question?• How do you react when

you don’t get your way?__1. When they don’t get

their way, some get angry, others get noisy, and still others get physical.

__2. When I don’t get my way, I tend to become quite angry, start yelling aloud, and then hit someone really hard.

The thesis must answer the prompt!• One thesis directly

answers the question:

• Question: How do you react when you don’t get your way?

__1. When they don’t get their way, some people get angry, others get noisy, and still others get quiet.

X_ 2. When I don’t get my way, I tend to become quite angry, start yelling aloud, and then hit someone really hard.

Ever seen this reaction?

Does the thesis answer the prompt?

• What should college students know about debt?

__1. College students should know that they can reduce their debt load by working part-time, cutting credit card use, and attending less-expensive colleges.

__2. Working part-time, cutting credit card use, and even attending cheaper colleges can help college students avoid major debt.

How funny is this one?

The thesis does answer the prompt!

• What should college students know about debt?

X_1. College students should know that they can reduce their debt load by working part-time, cutting credit card use, and attending less-expensive colleges.

__2. Working part-time, cutting credit card use, and even attending cheaper colleges can help college students avoid major debt.

How funny is this one?

Which thesis answers the prompt?• What kind of college

student are you?__1. In college, there are

the overachievers, the strugglers, and the slackers.

__2. Among the types of college students, I am a struggler because I must balance work and a social life with my school demands.

__3. I would probably be an overachiever if I weren’t such a slacker.

Do we see this student type?

This thesis answers the prompt!• What kind of college

student are you?__1. In college, there are the

overachievers, the strugglers, and the slackers.

X_2. Among the types of college students, I am a struggler because I must balance work and a social life with my school demands.

__3. I would probably be an overachiever if I weren’t such a slacker.

Do we see this student type?

Does the thesis answer the prompt?

• Should the US raise the driving age to eighteen?

__1. Even sixteen-year-olds are old enough to drive, so let them behind the wheel.

__2. Raising the driving age to eighteen could help reduce teen driving accidents.

__3. The US should raise the driving age to eighteen to allow teens time to mature, to make our roads safer, and to reduce teen driving deaths.

How useful is this observation?

Does the thesis answer the prompt?

• Should the US raise the driving age to eighteen?

__1. Even sixteen-year-olds are old enough to drive, so let them behind the wheel.

__2. Raising the driving age to eighteen could help reduce teen driving accidents.

X_3. The US should raise the driving age to eighteen to allow teens time to mature, to make our roads safer, and to reduce teen driving deaths.

How useful is this advise?

What else is a thesis statement?

• The argumentative thesis takes a side of an issue:

• In an argument concerning the nuclear power plant, the thesis for a paper on this topic might be:

– “Governments should ban further construction of nuclear power plants since they are dangerous.”

• Yet someone else might argue:

– “The U.S. should continue building nuclear power plants because we need the energy.”

What isn’t a thesis statement?

• A thesis states an arguable opinion.

Ex. Despite the opposition, the president needs to improve the economy.

• A non-arguable fact can’t be a thesis.

Ex. Government figures show decreasing economic activity.

• An announcement is too personal to be a good thesis.

Ex. In this essay, I will prove that the national economy needs help.

• A broad statement is impossible to argue as a thesis.

Ex. Currently, the national economy is weak.

Can you match statement types?

• What is each item?a. thesis b. broad statement c. fact d. announce-ment

Free Doritos Ad

__1. Two unemployed brothers created the Superbowl Free Doritos advertisement.

__2. Marco Martinez was wrong to sell his daughter aged 14 for a hundred cases of beer.

__3. I believe that we should accept the native custom of selling daughters for cash.

__4. Congress should pass the stimulus plan to provide jobs, improve roads, and jumpstart the economy.

Can you match statement types?

• What is each item?a. thesis b. broad statement c. fact d. announce-ment

Jail for bad beer deal?

BS 1. Marco Martinez was wrong to sell his daughter aged 14 for a hundred cases of beer.

FT 2. Two unemployed brothers created the Superbowl Free Doritos advertisement.

AN 3. I believe that we should accept the native custom of selling daughters for cash.

TH 4. Congress should pass the stimulus plan to provide jobs, improve roads, and jumpstart the economy.

Can you match statement types?

• What is each item?a. thesis b. broad statement c. fact d. announce-ment

Star Trek Teleporting

__1. Researchers contend that boys with unpopular names

often become criminals. __2. January is a big month for

drinkers who want to quit.

__3. About 1 in 5 people with alcohol dependence stop

drinking without any help. __4. In this essay, I will prove

that teleportation is real, but you still shouldn’t try it at home.

Can you match statement types?

TH 1. Researchers contend that boys with unpopular names often become criminals.

BS 2. January is a big month for drinkers who want to quit.

FT 3. About 1 in 5 people with alcohol dependence stop drinking without any help.

AN 4. In this essay, I will prove that teleportation is real, but you still shouldn’t try it at home.

Is the title a thesis or a broad statement?

Can you match statement types?

• What is each item?a. thesis b. broad statement c. fact d. announce-ment

Toasting the enemy

__1. The US military should leave Iraq to save our national image, our hurting economy, and even our soldier’s lives.

__2. The war in Iraq has turned into a very bad mess.

__3. The money saved from one year of the Iraq war could be used to put all of America on free solar electric power.

__4. The purpose of this essay is to convince the reader that the Iraq war has gone wrong.

You can match statement types!

• What is each item?a. thesis b. broad statement c. fact d. announce-ment

An innocent victim

TH 1. The US military should leave Iraq to put an end to save our national image, our hurting economy, and even our soldier’s lives.

BS 2. The war in Iraq has turned into a very bad mess.

FT 3. The money saved from one year of the Iraq war could be used to put all of America on free solar electric power.

AN 4. The purpose of this essay is to convince the reader that the Iraq war has gone wrong.

How does the thesis shape the essay?

• Thesis: College students should know that they can reduce their debt load by

– working part-time, – cutting credit card use, – and attending less-expensive colleges.

• Topic sentence 1: College students should know that they can reduce their debt load by working part-time.

• Topic sentence 2: College students should know that they can reduce their debt load by cutting credit card use.

• Topic sentence 3: College students should know that they can reduce their debt load by attending less-expensive colleges.

What’s missing from the introduction?

• I believe that students should know about debt with college loans, credit cards, and car loans. All must be paid back. In my opinion, too many students attend college not knowing about finances. I think they didn’t learn about economic stability. Therefore, it is hard for them to remain financially sound.Is this starting at the bottom?

Add a thesis to the introduction!

• In my opinion, Too many attend college not knowing about finances. I think They didn’t learn about economic stability. Therefore, it is hard for them to remain financially sound. I believe that Students should reduce their debt loads by working part-time, shunning unnecessary borrowing, and attending less-pricey colleges.

Wouldn’t college be an idea?

Which thesis is on the topic?• At which professional

level will you work?__1. There are three levels of

professional work: low, mid, and high.

__2. Most college graduates begin working at the low professional level as nurses, technicians, or salespersons.

__3. After graduation, I will work in a mid-level profession as a manager.

Just one sentence is correct:• At which professional

level will you work?__1. There are three levels of

professional work: low, mid, and high.

__2. Most college graduates begin working at the low professional level as nurses, technicians, or salespersons.

X_ 3. After graduation, I will work in a mid-level profession as a manager.

How management cuts costs!

Which thesis is most on the topic?• What do people reveal

about themselves by driving style?

__1. Road rage, weaving through traffic, and cutting others off show aggressive driving styles.

__2. Through their driving styles, people show whether they are cautious, moderate, or dangerous.

__3. While the elderly ride the brakes, teens rule the roads by putting the pedal to the metal.

Just one sentence is correct:• What do people reveal

about themselves by driving style?

__1. Road rage, weaving through traffic, and cutting others off show aggressive driving styles.

X_ 2. Through their driving styles, people show whether they are cautious, moderate, or dangerous.

__3. While the elderly ride the brakes, teens rule the roads by putting the pedal to the metal.

What is a thesis statement?• The thesis

is the main idea of the essay:

1. It directly answers the question.

2. It is an opinionated and complex statement.

3. It includes three sub-

points supporting the main idea.