Writing a Thesis Statement

As you take down notes and go deeper into the research process, you’ll probably notice that you are getting closer and closer to an answer to your research question. Furthermore, you’ll probably observe that some of the information you’ve researched can be grouped together.

In order for you to process with the construction of the thesis statement, you have to construct your research

question.

Example:

What are the themes governing the novel, “The

House of the Spirits?”

Based on Hannah’s initial research, she found most of the information she had gathered from various sources points useful to the fact that there are a great number of themes that can be shown in several ways.

Thus, she narrowed it down to:

What will be the theme governing the role of

women in society in the novel The House of the

Spirits?

What may happen to Hannah could very well happen to you.

You may realize that your research question could either be narrowed, widened or rephrased.

If this does happen, don’t worry!

Consult your teacher about making the necessary adjustments and continue with your research.

It is imperative for you to consult your teacher before finalizing any changes you plan to make in the direction of your research. Otherwise, you may end up making an adjustment that will put to waste all your hard work.

Now Hannah, after consulting with her teacher, decided to phrase her research question as:

What will be the theme governing the role of

women in society in the way Clara and Alba are depicted in the novel, The House of

the Spirits?

Now that her answer to her research question is shaping up, Hannah can formulate her thesis statement:

The important role of women in society is clearly shown in the novel through

Clara’s and Alba’s characteristics, decisions

and actions.

“A thesis statement has two primary characteristics: it

states or suggests the paper’s main topic, and it states or

implies the order in which the ideas appear” (Sorenson, 1995,

p. 14).

1. A thesis statement states or suggests the paper’s main

topic. The main topic is also called the CONTROLLING

IDEA.

CONTROLLING IDEA:

*The important role of women in society is clearly shown in the novel through

Clara’s and Alba’s characteristics, decisions

and actions.

2. A thesis statement states or implies the order in which the

ideas appear. The supports therefore dictate the

CONTENT and ORDER of the information in the body.

SUPPORTS:

The important role of women in society is clearly shown in the novel through

Clara’s and Alba’s *characteristics, decisions

and actions.

NOTES ON WRITING A GOOD THESIS STATEMENT:

1. The controlling idea of a thesis statement must

express something meaningful.

NOTES ON WRITING A GOOD THESIS STATEMENT:

WRONG!There are three parts to the Godfather series:Godfather I, Godfather II and Godfather III.

NOTES ON WRITING A GOOD THESIS STATEMENT:BETTER!Each part of the Godfather series, Godfather I, Godfather II and Godfather III, revolutionized filmmaking in the United States.

NOTES ON WRITING A GOOD THESIS STATEMENT:

2. A thesis statement is expressed in a declarative sentence. It is never stated

as a question.

NOTES ON WRITING A GOOD THESIS STATEMENT:

WRONG!Should abortion be illegalized?

NOTES ON WRITING A GOOD THESIS STATEMENT:BETTER!Abortion should be illegalized because it is unsafe and unsanitary.

NOTES ON WRITING A GOOD THESIS STATEMENT:

3. A thesis statement should not be a statement

of purpose.

NOTES ON WRITING A GOOD THESIS STATEMENT:

WRONG!This paper aims to prove that the subway will be ineffective in easing the traffic congestion because commuting through it is impractical and inconvenient.

NOTES ON WRITING A GOOD THESIS STATEMENT:BETTER!The subway will be ineffective in easing traffic congestion because commuting through it is impractical and inconvenient.

NOTES ON WRITING A GOOD THESIS STATEMENT:

4. A thesis statement should express divisions in the ideas to be presented. Furthermore,

beginning research writers should include at least two

distinct supports for the controlling idea.

NOTES ON WRITING A GOOD THESIS STATEMENT:

WRONG!Breast conservation surgery with radiation therapy is better than modified radical mastectomy in the treatment of women with breast cancer.

NOTES ON WRITING A GOOD THESIS STATEMENT:

BETTER!Breast conservation surgery with radiation therapy is better than modified radical mastectomy in the treatment of women with breast cancer because it is not only safer and less intrusive, but it is also as effective as the latter in making the patient cancer-free.

NOTES ON WRITING A GOOD THESIS STATEMENT:

5. A thesis statement should be grammatically correct

(most especially in terms of parallelism) and formally

stated.

NOTES ON WRITING A GOOD THESIS STATEMENT:

WRONG!Metrosexual men are considered extremely influential in society today because you can see their positive images and their tremendously successful.

NOTES ON WRITING A GOOD THESIS STATEMENT:

BETTER!Metrosexual men are considered extremely influential in society today because of their positive images and tremendous success.

Now, since you are preparing to write your thesis statement, it would be helpful for you to know some ways by which ideas can be discussed.

1. Chronological Order1. Chronological Order

If the focus of your research involves some kind of time-relationship, you ought to use the chronological order.

1. Chronological Order1. Chronological Order

The positive effects of creatine monohydrate as a bodybuilding supplement can be observed in three phases: a decrease in exercise fatigue, an increase in muscle mass and a decrease in body fat.

2. Order of Importance2. Order of ImportanceSorenson (1995) writes,

“Sometimes, the only way to arrange a series of details is according to relative importance. If you are giving four reasons, put the most important reason last. It will remain with the reader longer.”

2. Order of Importance2. Order of Importance

The 1986 revolution was brought about by the desperate condition of the Philippine society which was characterized by widespread poverty, general disillusionment and prolonged suppression.

3. Comparison-Contrast3. Comparison-Contrast

Campbell et. Al. (1990) wrote, “The pattern of comparison-contrast presents the similarities and/or differences between two or more persons, places or things. A logical development by comparison-contrast entails discussion of the same qualities of both subjects (p. 19).”

3. Comparison-Contrast3. Comparison-Contrast

For example, stating that Michelle Branch writes her own music while Jennifer Lopez hails from the Bronx does not provide a basis for comparison contrast. The ability of both artists to write music or the place from which both artists were born should be instead tackled for their to be a fair basis for comparison and contrast.

3. Comparison-Contrast3. Comparison-Contrast

BLOCK-WRESTLING: staged, thick plots; BOXING: genuine, usually one-dimensional

ALTERNATING-WRESTLING: staged; BOXING: genuine; WRESTLING: thick -plots; BOXING: usually one-dimensional

Source:Source:

Asis, A. Xavier highschool english book series. (2006). Xavier School: Philippines.