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What Is A Thesis Statement PDF
What Is A Thesis Statement PDF
WHATIS ATHESISSTATEMENT?
WHEREISTHETHESISSTATEMENT?
Thethesisstatementisnaturallyhidden,underlyingthecomposition.You, thewriter, must
identifyitanddrawitout. Identifyingagoodqualitythesisstatementrequirescarefulthoughtand
perhapsseveralrevisions.Whatfactorshelpyoudetermineyourthesisstatement? Considerthe
followingfactorsinvolvedin whatyouarewriting:
1. Whatkindofcompositionisit?
(researchpaper,essay,discussionpost,grouppresentation,casestudy,book
review,meetingreport,journalarticle,etc.)
2. Whatisyourtonein thiswriting?
(formal,informal,academic,nonacademic,professional,poetry,narrative,
instructive,counseling,coaching,etc.)
3. Whatisyourintentforthiscomposition?
(inform,persuade,evaluate,motivate,etc.)
4. Whatkindof audienceorreaderisinvolved?
(academic,professional,informal/personal,artistic,etc.)
5. Howlongandinvolvedisthiscomposition?
(300words,5pages,20pages,40pages,onechapterofabook,etc.)
ToddAtkins2008LibertyUniversityOnlineWritingCenterEmail:onlinewriting@liberty.edu
2
THEROLEOFTHE THESISSTATEMENT
Youmaythinkoftheroleofyourthesisstatementwith thefollowingparable.Yourgood
qualitythesisstatementfunctionslikeastreetmapforatravelerinafirsttimevisittoabigcity.The
traveler(yourreader)wantstogettoPointA (fullandcorrectunderstandingofthewriting),butPoint
Aisnotclearly shownonthecitystreetmap(partsofthecomposition).
Thetravelerneedstobetoldbysomeone(youthewriter)whoknowsthecity well (thewhole
composition)andcantellthetravelerexactly whatthestreetnamesare,andinwhatneededorder,to
gettoPointA.Thecorrectstreetnamesintheirproperorderastoldtothetraveler(reader)comprise
clear,focusedandaccuratedirections(thesisstatement) tosuccessfullyarriveatPointA (composition
communication).
EXAMPLE THESISSTATEMENTS
1. ToInform:
TheBiblicalHebrewholidayspossessmessianic,propheticanddevotional meaning.
2. Toevaluate:
TheBiblicalHebrewholidayspossessmeaningsdependentupononesreligious
affiliation andmethodofinterpretation.
3. Topersuade:
TheBiblicalHebrewholidaysrevealspiritualmeaningsandapplicationsthatarevery
relevantfor21st CenturyChristians.
4. Tomotivate:
DevoutChristianswillreceivevariousbenefitsfromstudyoftheBiblicalHebrew
holidaysduetovital spiritualconceptsandlessonstheyprovide.
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WebstersDictionary definesthesisas:
b : anaffirmationorpropositiontobeprovedoroneadvancedasthepropositionorpointofviewdefendedby an
argument[.] Synonym:hypothesis.
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Compare thesisdescriptionanddefinitionin:Hacker,Diana(2006). The Bedfordhandbook (7th ed.).Boston/New
York:Bedford/St.Martins,pp. 26,911,2425.
ToddAtkins2008LibertyUniversityOnlineWritingCenterEmail:onlinewriting@liberty.edu