English

Thesis Statement
That contains the focus of your essay and tells your
reader what the essay is going to be about.
A thesis statement declares what you believe and what
you intend to prove.
 Position
Usually at the end of the introduction
 Characteristics
Explanation and Interpretation
 The thesis statement should not be a simple
presentation of fact. It should provide a clear
interpretation of how to perceive an idea. It should be
able to explain the idea to extract significance out of it.
Precise and Specific
 A good thesis statement should only target a singular
and specific idea. It should assert an idea to be valid
and true out of assumptions for a particular
observation and analysis of things.
 Characteristics
Persuasive and Radical
 The thesis statement should at least change the
reader’s mindset towards understanding a notion
 It should persuade the reader that the idea is true and
acceptable
 Radically changes the general stereotype notions can
capture more interested audiences
 How to develop
Prepares for the main sections of a chapter
Prepares for the main chapters of a thesis
 Summarizes main points of a paper
Gives a purpose for reading
It anticipates and refutes the counter-arguments
It avoids vague language (like "it seems").
It avoids the first person. ("I believe," "In my
opinion")
 How to develop
 It should be contestable, proposing an arguable
point with which people could reasonably disagree
 It tackles a subject that could be adequately covered
in the format of the project assigned.
 It clearly asserts your own conclusion based on
evidence
 Examples
Example of an analytical thesis statement:
 An analysis of the college admission process reveals
one challenge facing counselors: accepting students
with high test scores or students with strong
extracurricular backgrounds.
The paper that follows should:
 explain the analysis of the college admission process
 explain the challenge facing admissions counselors
 Examples
Example of an expository (explanatory) thesis
statement:
 The life of the typical college student is characterized
by time spent studying, attending class, and
socializing with peers.
The paper that follows should:
 explain how students spend their time studying,
attending class, and socializing with peers
 What is a Topic Sentence?
a single controlling idea, which is expressed in a
sentence
The main idea or theme of a paragraph
A generalization which gives rise to a number of lesser
observations or details which prove or relate to the
topic sentence
 Position
Best: beginning of a paragraph
Also: middle or end
 Characteristics and Examples
It must be interpretive – it must have a subject
and a stance on that subject, or an attitude. In
other words, each has a topic and a controlling
idea. Avoid facts – they state the obvious and do
not interest your audience in reading further.
 Weak: Bart Simpson is a poor student.
 Better: Bart Simpson performs poorly because he
learns differently.
 Characteristics and Examples
It is not too general or too much to discuss or
support in one paragraph.
 Weak: All skateboarders resent authority figures.
 Better: Skateboarders tend to ignore the rules about
where they can and can’t skate.
 Weak: Bathing pets is easy.
 Better: Bathing a monkey is easy.
 Characteristics and Examples
It is not so specific that you are unable to support
it.
 Weak: Pitchers must have an out pitch.
 Better: Pitchers must have an array of pitches to rely
on
It avoids qualifiers – words like never, always, or
all.
 Weak: All teenagers lie.
 Better: Sometimes teenagers lie.
 Characteristics and Examples
It avoids using there is/are, here is/ are, I’m going
to tell you about, this is about,I am going to write
about, etc..
 Weak: There are several reasons why my curfew should
be extended.
 Better: My curfew should be extended for several
reasons.
 Weak: I’m going to tell you why I should be allowed to
have a small party.
 Better: I should be allowed to have a small party.
 Characteristics and Examples
It uses strong, specific words to make your point or
subject clear.
 Weak: Watching The Simpsons is fun.
 Better: The Simpsons provides social satire and
commentary, often entertaining.
It contains no slang, both improper for academic
writing and unclear.
 Weak: Waunakee football will put the smack down on
DeForest.
 Better: Waunakee football promises to be competitive
against all opponents.
 Characteristics and Examples
It is as interesting as possible – remember, you are
trying to engage your reader. In its efforts to
engage, it also established the mood for the
paragraph.
 Weak: Metallica and Guns N’ Roses fans got angry
when Axl refused to perform.
 Better: Metallica and Guns N’ Roses fans became a
frenzied, destructive mob in
 Montreal when Axl refused to perform.
 Characteristics and Examples
It does not contain supporting details, which
should follow.
 Weak: I believe I should receive an allowance because I
have proved responsible by
 doing all of my homework.
 Better: I should receive an allowance because I have
proved myself responsible.
 Characteristics and Examples
It is a complete thought, not a fragment.
 Weak: How to tie your shoe.
 Better: Tying a shoe involves 4 easy steps.
It must unify the content of a paragraph and
directs the order of the sentences; and it advises
the reader of the subject to be discussed and how
the paragraph will discuss it.
 Each detail of the paragraph must fit with the topic
sentence to achieve this unity.
Thank You….