Creating a Strong Thesis
What should a thesis look like?
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Your thesis statement should be specific—it should cover only what you will discuss in your
paper and should be supported with specific evidence.
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The thesis statement usually appears at the end of the first paragraph of a paper.
First: Determine what kind of paper you are writing:
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An analytical paper breaks down an issue or an idea into its component parts, evaluates the
issue or idea, and presents this breakdown and evaluation to the audience.
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An expository (explanatory) paper explains something to the audience.
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An argumentative paper makes a claim about a topic and justifies this claim with specific
evidence. The claim could be an opinion, a policy proposal, an evaluation, a cause-and-effect
statement, or an interpretation. The goal of the argumentative paper is to convince the
audience that the claim is true based on the evidence provided.
Analytical thesis example
“An analysis of the college admission process reveals one challenge facing counselors: accepting
students with high test scores or students with strong extracurricular backgrounds.”
Explanatory thesis example
“The life of the typical college student is characterized by time spent studying, attending class,
and socializing with peers.”
Argumentative thesis example
“High school graduates should be required to take a year off to pursue community service projects
before entering college in order to increase their maturity and global awareness.”
Five techniques for drafting a thesis
#1 Purpose statement : Begin with a purpose statement that you will later turn into a thesis statement.
 Assignment: Discuss the history of the Reform Party and explain its influence on the
1990 presidential and Congressional election.
 Purpose Statement: This paper briefly sketches the history of the grassroots,
conservative, Perot-led Reform Party and analyzes how it influenced the economic and
social ideologies of the two mainstream parties.
#2 Question-to-Assertion : If your assignment asks a specific question(s), turn the question(s) into an
assertion and give reasons why it is true or reasons for your opinion.
 Assignment: What do Aylmer and Rappaccini have to be proud of? Why aren't they
satisfied with these things? How does pride, as demonstrated in "The Birthmark" and
"Rappaccini's Daughter," lead to unexpected problems?
 Beginning thesis statement: Alymer and Rappaccinni are proud of their great
knowledge; however, they are also very greedy and are driven to use their knowledge to
alter some aspect of nature as a test of their ability. Evil results when they try to "play
God."
#3 Main Idea : Write a sentence that summarizes the main idea of the essay you plan to write.
Main idea: The reason some toys succeed in the market is that they appeal to the consumers'
sense of the ridiculous and their basic desire to laugh at themselves.
# 4 List Ideas : Make a list of the ideas that you want to include; consider the ideas and try to group
them.
A. internet = access to limitless data
B. mobile technology = access everywhere
C. social networking = keeping in touch long distance
D. addiction to cellphones = phones compete with face-to-face in getting someone’s attention
 Combine A and C? Contrast C and D?
# 5 Formula : Use a formula to arrive at a working thesis statement (you will revise this later).
A. Although most readers of _______ have argued that _______, closer examination shows that
_______.
B. _______ uses _______ and _____ to prove that ________.
C. Phenomenon X is a result of the combination of __________, __________, and _________.
Next: Improving your rough thesis
Once you’ve determined a possible thesis statement, it may need additional sharpening or clarifying.
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Step 1: Indicate the focus and scope of your argument.
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Step 2: Indicate the organization of your paper.
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Step 3: State your position or argument in specific, concrete terms.
Works Cited:
1. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/545/01/)
2. http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/thesis_composedraft.htm
3. http://ww3.montreat.edu/tutor/4-4.htm