The Thesis Statement
The thesis statement is a sentence that clearly and concisely indicates the subject of your paper, the main
points you will cover, and the order in which you will discuss them. It is not the subject; it is an interpretation of
the subject.
A thesis statement is a declarative statement. It is not a title, a fragment, or a question.
o Question: Why are biofeedback techniques excellent methods of stress reduction?
o Thesis: Because of its simplicity, accuracy, and lack of toxicity, biofeedback is often a successful
technique for migraine relief.
A thesis statement is an arguable idea, not a fact.
o Fact: Cortez conquered Mexico in 1509.
o Thesis: The colonial mentality which prompted Cortez's barbaric invasion of Mexico brought about
not an advance of native society but a destruction of Aztec culture.
A thesis statement is not an announcement of the author's purpose or assignment.
o Announcement: In this paper I will discuss the causes and effects of the French Revolution and then
argue as to whether or not it was successful.
o Thesis: Though the reasons for the French Revolution were noble— liberty, fraternity, equality—the
effects were devastating, ultimately leading to the unsuccessful reinstitution of the monarchy and the
restructuring of a classist society into a militaristic one.
A thesis statement is not obvious.
o Obvious: Litter creates pollution of the environment.
o Thesis: Recycling programs, though expensive at first, are ultimately an efficient, cost effective, and
environmentally sound means of reducing waste in our environment.
o Obvious: The computer was an important technological advancement in the twentieth century.
o Thesis: Even though computers have their idiosyncrasies, they have improved our lives
tremendously by simplifying word processing, streamlining data storage, and promoting an
international exchange of information.
A thesis statement is specific and narrowed and is not a broad overgeneralization.
o Broad: Men are chauvinists.
o Narrow: Men who repress their true feelings leave themselves open to physical, psychological, and
relationship difficulties.
A thesis statement covers only one topic.
o Many topics: The theme, characters, setting, irony, conflicts, viewpoint, and plot all contribute to
making Madame Bovary a tragedy.
o One topic: Flaubert's Emma Bovary is a tragic character because, never seeing reality, she misses
some important clues that her life has gone awry, and she falls from her social "height" into
prostitution.
A thesis statement focuses the essay and guides its direction.
o Unfocused: Martin Luther King, Jr. is a role model for everyone to follow.
o Focused: Because of his determination, his courage to follow his beliefs and his unwavering sense of
justice, Martin Luther King, Jr. is a symbol of American freedom.
Topic:
The narrowed, limited subject of your paper.
Attitude:
How you will treat and interpret the subject.
Development:
The proof/points you will cover in the paper.
If you were writing a paper to convince your parents to let you have your own car, your thesis would not be
something like:
It’s important for me to have a car.
And NOT
It’s important for me to have a car so I can take road trips.
What about this?
Having my own car will give me more freedom to explore life, but it will also provide discipline through the
expansion of my household responsibilities.
Now, Consider These…
Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn is a great American novel.
In Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain develops a contrast between life on the river and life on the shore.
Through its contrasting river and shore scenes, Twain's Huckleberry Finn suggests that to find the true
expression of American democratic ideals, one must leave "civilized" society and go back to nature.
Where is the thesis?
Contrary to popular, parental, and librarian opinion, 'quiet study time' does not in fact enhance but
instead impairs students' productivity. Listening to music while studying is in fact a beneficial activity to add to
a study regime for better grades because of the way music motivates students and keeps them alert. Listening to
music while studying is in fact a beneficial activity to add to a study regime for better grades because of the way
music motivates students and keeps them alert.
Your thesis must take a stand, be specific, and engaging enough to justify writing about.
A strong thesis often contains words like:
Because
Since
So
Although
Unless
Through
However
Why?
They help with development!
For Example…
Because half of all crack babies are likely to grow up in homes lacking good mental and emotional
stimulation, the federal government should finance programs to supplement parental care for crack addicted
infants and children.
Let’s break this one down…
Topic: Federal Government
Attitude: Should Finance Programs
Development:
1) Crack addicted babies are less likely to grow up in homes lacking good mental stimulation
2) Crack addicted babies are less likely to grow up in homes lacking good emotional stimulation
Let’s Try Another…
Because the internet is filled with tremendous marketing potential, companies should take advantage by using
web pages that offer both advertising and customer support.
Topic: Companies
Attitude: Should use web pages that use advertising and customer support
Development: The tremendous marketing potential of the internet
One more…
Hunger persists in Appalachia because jobs are scarce and farming in the infertile soil is rarely profitable.
Topic: Hunger in Appalachia
Attitude: Persists
Development:
1) Jobs are scarce
2) Farming in infertile soil is rarely profitable
Your topic needs to be:
Single: Narrow-don’t try to take on so much!
Significant: Why write about it if it’s not important?
Supportable: Is there enough evidence to support and defend your thesis statement?
Basic Steps for Writing a Thesis Statement
1. After you have decided your topic, you need to narrow it down.
Broad: British Poetry
Narrow: Gender Characteristics in Two Poems
More Narrow: John Donne’s “Death Be Not Proud” contrasted with Elizabeth Barret
“Sonnet 43”
Browning’s
2. Put your topic into a sentence.
Elizabeth Barret Browning’s “Sonnet 43”is different from John Donne's "Death Be Not Proud."
3. Add your argument, viewpoint, or opinion to your topic to make your thesis persuasive.
Elizabeth Barret Browning’s “Sonnet 43”is essentially a more feminine poem, while John Donne's "Death Be
Not Proud" is more masculine.
4. Elaborate on your thesis so that it addresses all parts of your assignment.
Although Elizabeth Barret Browning and John Donne both personify death in their poems, the tone, language,
and images are clearly feminine in “Sonnet 43” and masculine in "Death Be Not Proud."
5. Organize your thesis to guide the direction of your paper.
Although Elizabeth Barret Browning and John Donne both personify death in their poems the tone, images, and
language are clearly more feminine in “Sonnet 43” than in "Death Be Not Proud."
6. Edit your thesis for content, word choice, precision, and mechanics.
Although Elizabeth Barret Browning and John Donne both personify death in their poems, the images,
language, and tone clearly reveal a woman's perspective in "Sonnet 43," and a man's perspective in "Holy
Sonnet 10."
Literary Analysis Thesis Notes:
1. After completing your literary analysis, you should be able to state, in your own words, the theme of the
work.
2. Next, decide what elements and techniques evident in the work are specifically responsible for
conveying that theme.
3. Now, narrow down from your list of elements and techniques the elements and devices about which you
feel you feel you can write the most intelligently and compellingly.
4. Finally, formulate a rough thesis statement.
Remember: it must contain TAD, and your topic must be SSS!
** If you can, indicate in the thesis the areas or features of the work important to your argument (a pattern of
imagery, for instance, or a series of crucial lines). Remember, your thesis statement must argue a point; instead
of simply saying that an author uses certain poetic devices, you must give some indication in your thesis as to
how those devices work and what they do to the poem's meaning. You do not need to go into elaborate detail in
your thesis, but do show the relationship between the work and your argument.
In his novel, Cry the Beloved Country, Paton demonstrates what he considers to be the significance of
reconciliation with Biblical diction and parallel structure that illustrate the fear of a father who wants to
make amends with his son.
Topic:
Attitude:
Development:
Paton structures Cry the Beloved Country, interspersed with Biblical diction and symbolic
characterization, so that the power of love overcomes fear and creates equilibrium in a world that is
incredibly off-balance.
Topic:
Attitude:
Development:
Symbolic language and images mixed with repetitious phrases are interspersed throughout the biblical
syntax that dominates Paton’s three books, each of which uses a different point of view to emphasize
contrasting lives.
Topic:
Attitude:
Development:
With use of metaphors, Shakespeare creates the archetype of sickness and rotting death, which evolves
into the overall theme of corruption that is consuming the royal family of Denmark.
Topic:
Attitude:
Development:
Final Words…
If you are struggling, here is an almost template to use-it is very elementary, but it works….
Through his (or her) use of______________, ___________, and ___________, Poet’s Name conveys the
theme _________________ in his (or her) “Poem Title.”