The English Corner at Richland College
Gathering Ideas and Creating a Thesis Statement
Preparation
A. Read (or re-read) your assignment and underline the task or key words, which include
directions such as analyze, describe, define, or compare. Be sure that you read the whole
assignment since instructors often use more than one task word, and you'll want to be sure to
address them all.
B. If your paper is supposed to be based on a work (such as a literary analysis), review that text
or texts before you begin writing. You don't need to re-read everything from beginning to
end, but you do need to look at the text critically and be able to ask and answer critical
thinking questions about the text before you begin writing. Your notes should help with this.
If your paper is supposed to include sources, begin research as soon as you get the
assignment. You need to be able to summarize the authors’ main ideas or arguments after
reading each source. Try using these templates to articulate the authors’ ideas.
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The author believes ______________ about ______________ because
______________.
The author shows us that ______________ is true about _____________ by
presenting/describing/analyzing ______________.
Pre-writing
A. Once you choose a topic to write about (sometimes your instructor has given you a topic in
the assignment, so read the assignment carefully), write down everything you know about
that topic. Your topic might be a person (a character), thing, place, or idea. Work quickly and
don’t worry about whether what you write down is true or not. You can always verify it later.
This is just prewriting to get your creative ideas flowing.
B. Imagine that your topic is the subject of a conversation between several people: you, the
author(s) of your text(s), and an intelligent peer. What do each of these people say or assume
about this topic? Whose analyses, descriptions, or opinions are similar to yours, and whose
are different? When you write, you are part of the academic conversation. Try using these
templates to articulate your answers.
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Most people think/assume ____________ about [my subject] because _____________.
However, I think ______________ because _______________.
[One author] thinks ___________ about [my subject], but [another author] believes
___________ because ___________.
My position is ___________ because _____________.
C. Explain what is important or significant about your contribution to this conversation. Why is
it important for your reader to consider what you have to say? What would happen if your
position was widely read and accepted? What would happen if it wasn't? How would society
change or not change?
Handout created by Justine White
www.richlandcollege.edu/englishcorner
Writing a Thesis Statement
A. In one or two sentences, state the main idea that you want to present in your paper. Try using
one of these templates to get started. The part of the sentence that is underlined is the heart of
your thesis but not a thesis yet. The template is just a way to organize your thoughts. Choose
the template below that is appropriate for your type of writing assignment.
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I want to persuade my readers that ___________.
I want to compare ___________ with ____________ to show my readers ___________.
I want to argue/show/prove __________ about my topic.
I want to describe/analyze __________ to show my readers __________.
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I want to persuade my readers that marijuana should be legalized.
I want to compare the Beatles’ music to Kanye West’s music to show my readers that
music with a message is still relevant.
I want to prove that animal testing is unnecessary.
I want to analyze the romantic scenes in Twelfth Night to show my readers that
Shakespeare had an ironic sense of humor.
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B. There are four basic types of claims. However, all thesis statements contain an element of
persuasion.
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Proposal: The State of Texas should increase funding for education.
Evaluative: The use of “yo” is a better alternative to using “them/their” as a neutral
pronoun.
Persuasive: A vegan diet is the healthiest diet.
Analysis: Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken” symbolizes that the most difficult
choices can be the most beneficial.
C. Good thesis statements are based on claims—statements with which reasonable people may
disagree. In other words, a good thesis is an argument. However, some claims cannot be
argued: verifiable facts, issues of faith or personal belief, and matters of opinion or personal
taste. Questions don’t make good thesis statements since they don’t take a stance.
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Smoking marijuana is immoral. (states a personal belief; not a thesis)
I think smoking marijuana is a good idea. (states an opinion; not a thesis)
Marijuana is a drug. (states a fact; not a thesis)
Should marijuana be legalized? (asks a question and doesn’t take a stance; not a thesis)
D. Sometimes personal opinions can become arguable claims.
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I think Lady Gaga looks stupid in that meat dress. (personal opinion; not a thesis)
Wearing a meat dress is a health hazard. (arguable with supportable evidence; a thesis)
Whether or not a meat dress is a health hazard is arguable. Now, look back at what you wrote in
the template above (Writing a Thesis Statement A). Is your sentence a statement of fact or a
thesis? Is it your personal opinion/belief or a thesis? Look closely at the part of the sentence that
is underlined and ask yourself if someone else could potentially disagree with it and that you
could argue for it logically with supportable evidence.
Handout created by Justine White
www.richlandcollege.edu/englishcorner
E. The thesis itself is a small statement with a big impact. It is the foundation of your
argument. It should not be limited by specific reasons.
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The government should legalize marijuana because it can reduce the deficit, and it can
be used for medicinal purposes.
The “because” statement contains two reasons for this claim. Reasons form the body of your
paper and don’t belong in the thesis. Save the “because” statements for the topic sentences of
your body paragraphs.
F. A good thesis is qualified. Qualifying a claim means that under certain conditions, or in
certain circumstances, or with certain limitations, you concede that “they” are correct. An
argument is rarely only two-sided: right or wrong. There can be multiple viewpoints about a
topic. Your thesis and argument should represent your qualified claim, both agreeing and
disagreeing at the same time.
Too vague: The government should legalize marijuana.
While this statement presents an arguable position, it is too vague. Is the author arguing that
marijuana should be completely legal without any restrictions whatsoever? Or is the author
arguing that the current legal status of marijuana usage should be changed. Revising this
statement with a qualification makes the thesis more focused and specific.
Qualified: Marijuana should be legalized with the same restrictions as alcohol.
With this statement, the author concedes that some people shouldn’t smoke marijuana (under
21), and that smoking should remain illegal in some places (before driving, at work, at school, or
in public places).
Look at your thesis statement. Do you need to qualify it? Should you concede that the opposition
is right, but only sometimes?
Rewrite your thesis below and qualify it if necessary. Also, rewrite your thesis without using “I.”
It isn’t necessary to use “I” in your thesis since it’s your paper. The emphasis needs to be on the
topic, not you.
Handout created by Justine White
www.richlandcollege.edu/englishcorner