LESSON 5

THESIS STATEMENT OF AN
ACADEMIC TEXT

WHAT I NEED TO KNOW

Competency 4: States thesis statement of an academic text

Learning Objectives: At the end of the lesson, the learners shall be able to:
1. define thesis statement;
2. identify the various techniques in locating thesis statement; and,
3. formulate thesis statement of the texts.

WHAT I KNOW

Directions: In your notebook, write true if the statement supports the principle of
thesis statement; write false if otherwise.
1. Thesis Statement is the first sentence at the beginning of each paragraph.
2. It makes a claim that other people may dispute, challenge, or oppose.
3. It is a question in response to the writing assignment
4. It is a road map for a paper; it tells the reader what the paper will focus on.
5. It is a simple statement of fact
6. The first thing you should do after receiving your writing prompt is write your
thesis statement.

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 7. A good thesis statement is a broad generalization about your topic.
8. "Blue printed" thesis statement is a statement that includes the main areas of
support in the order you will introduce them in your essay and thus acts as a
blue print for the essay.
9. The Yankee Doodle Restaurant is a great place to eat, because the staff is
friendly, the food is delicious, and the atmosphere is relaxing is an example of
blue printed thesis statement.
10. A thesis statement should reflect the main idea of an essay.

WHAT IS IT

What is thesis statement?

• It is a statement that summarizes your topic and declares

your position on it.
• tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the
subject matter under discussion.
• is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader
what to expect from the rest of the paper.
• It is the central idea of a multiple-paragraph composition. It is one
sentence summary that guides, controls and unifies ideas when writing
a paper. In simple terms, all the other ideas present in an easy revolve
around the thesis statement.
• It focuses your ideas into one or two sentences. It should present the
topic of your paper and also make a comment about your position in
relation to the topic. Your thesis statement should tell your reader what
the paper is about and also help guide your writing and keep your
argument focused.

Locating Explicit and Implicit Thesis Statements

• In academic writing, the thesis is often explicit: it is included as a

sentence as part of the text. It might be near the beginning of the work,
but not always–some types of academic writing leave the thesis until the
conclusion.
• Journalism and reporting also rely on explicit thesis statements that
appear very early in the piece–the first paragraph or even the first
sentence.
• Works of literature, on the other hand, usually do not contain a specific
sentence that sums up the core concept of the writing. However, readers

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 should finish the piece with a good understanding of what the work was
trying to convey. This is what’s called an implicit thesis statement: the
primary point of the reading is conveyed indirectly, in multiple locations
throughout the work. (In literature, this is also referred to as the theme of
the work.)
• However, academic writing sometimes relies on implicit thesis
statements, as well.

To know more about locating thesis statement, click this link below.

https://human.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Composition/Book%3A_Basic_Reading_an
d_Writing_(Lumen)/Module_2%3A_Critical_Reading/2.05%3A_Identifying_Thesis_S
tatements

Four Questions to Ask When Formulating Thesis Statement

1. Where is your thesis statement?

You should provide a thesis early in your essay -- in the introduction, or in longer
essays in the second paragraph -- in order to establish your position and give your
reader a sense of direction.

Tips on how to write a successful thesis statement

 Avoid burying a great thesis statement in the middle of a paragraph or late in
the paper.
 Be as clear and as specific as possible; avoid vague words.
 Indicate the point of your paper but avoid sentence structures like, “The point
of my paper is…”

2. Is your thesis statement specific?

Your thesis statement should be as clear and specific as possible. Normally

you will continue to refine your thesis as you revise your argument(s), so your thesis
will evolve and gain definition as you obtain a better sense of where your argument is
taking you.

Tips on how to formulate specific thesis statement

 Are there two large statements connected loosely by a coordinating
conjunction (i.e. "and," "but," "or," "for," "nor," "so," "yet")?
 Would a subordinating conjunction help (i.e. "through," "although," "because,"
"since") to signal a relationship between the two sentences?
 Or do the two statements imply a fuzzy unfocused thesis?
 If so, settle on one single focus and then proceed with further development.

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3. Is your thesis statement too general?

Your thesis should be limited to what can be accomplished in the specified

number of pages. Shape your topic so that you can get straight to the "meat" of it.
Being specific in your paper will be much more successful than writing about general
things that do not say much. Don't settle for three pages of just skimming the surface.

The opposite of a focused, narrow, crisp thesis is a broad, sprawling, superficial

thesis. Compare this original thesis (too general) with three possible revisions (more
focused, each presenting a different approach to the same topic):

 Original thesis:
There are serious objections to today's horror movies.

Revised theses:

Because modern cinematic techniques have allowed filmmakers to get more

graphic, horror flicks have desensitized young American viewers to violence.

The pornographic violence in "bloodbath" slasher movies degrades both men

and women.

Today's slasher movies fail to deliver the emotional catharsis that 1930s
horror films did.

4. Is your thesis statement clear?

Your thesis statement is no exception to your writing: it needs to be as clear as

possible. By being as clear as possible in your thesis statement, you will make sure
that your reader understands exactly what you mean.

Tips on how to write clear thesis statement

Unless you're writing a technical report, avoid technical language. Always avoid
jargon, unless you are confident your audience will be familiar with it.
 Avoid vague words such as "interesting,” "negative," "exciting,” "unusual," and
"difficult."
 Avoid abstract words such as "society," “values,” or “culture.”

These words tell the reader next to nothing if you do not carefully explain what
you mean by them. Never assume that the meaning of a sentence is obvious. Check
to see if you need to define your terms (” socialism," "conventional,"
"commercialism," "society"), and then decide on the most appropriate place to do so.
Do not assume, for example, that you have the same understanding of what
“society” means as your reader. To avoid misunderstandings, be as specific as
possible.

Compare the original thesis (not specific and clear enough) with the revised
version (much more specific and clear):

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Original thesis: Although the timber wolf is a timid and gentle animal, it is being
systematically exterminated. [if it's so timid and gentle -- why is it being
exterminated?]

Revised thesis: Although the timber wolf is actually a timid and gentle animal, it is
being systematically exterminated because people wrongfully believe it to be a fierce
and cold-blooded killer.

Original: "is, are, was, to be" or "to do, to make"

Revised: any great action verb you can concoct: "to generate," "to demolish," "to
batter," "to revolt," "to discover," "to flip," "to signify," "to endure..."

Use your own words in thesis statements; avoid quoting. Crafting an original,
insightful, and memorable thesis makes a distinct impression on a reader. You will
lose credibility as a writer if you become only a mouthpiece or a copyist; you will gain
credibility by grabbing the reader with your own ideas and words.

A well-crafted thesis statement reflects well-crafted ideas. It signals a writer who

has intelligence, commitment, and enthusiasm.

POST ASSESSMENT

Directions: Read the following statements very carefully. Select only one more
effective thesis in the introductory paragraph of a short essay. Keep in mind that an
effective thesis statement should be sharply focused and specific, not just a general
statement of fact. Write the letter of your answer in your notebook.

1. A. The Hunger Games is a science fiction adventure film based on the

novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins.
B. The Hunger Games is a morality tale about the dangers of a political
system that is dominated by the wealthy.

2. A. There is no question that cell phones have changed our lives in a very
big way.
B. While cell phones provide freedom and mobility, they can also become a
leash, compelling users to answer them anywhere and at any time.

3. A. Finding a job is never easy, but it can be especially hard when the
economy is still feeling the effects of a recession and employers are
reluctant to hire new workers.

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 B. College students looking for part-time work should begin their search by
taking advantage of job-finding resources on campus.

4. A. For the past three decades, coconut oil has been unjustly criticized as
an artery-clogging saturated fat.
B. Cooking oil is plant, animal, or synthetic fat that is used in frying, baking,
and other types of cooking.

5. A. There have been over 200 movies about Count Dracula, most of them
only very loosely based on the novel published by Bram Stoker in 1897.
B. Despite its title, Bram Stoker's Dracula, a film directed by Francis Ford
Coppola, takes considerable liberties with Stoker's novel.

6. A. There are several steps that teachers can take to encourage academic
integrity and curtail cheating in their classes.
B. There is an epidemic of cheating in America's schools and colleges, and
there are no easy solutions to this problem.

7. A. J. Robert Oppenheimer, the American physicist who directed the building

of the first atomic bombs during World War II, had technical, moral, and
political reasons for opposing the development of the hydrogen bomb.
B. J. Robert Oppenheimer often referred to as "the father of the atomic
bomb," was born in New York City in 1904.

8. A. The iPad has revolutionized the mobile-computing landscape and

created a huge profit stream for Apple.
B. The iPad, with its relatively large high-definition screen, has helped to
revitalize the comic book industry.

9. A. Like other addictive behaviors, Internet addiction may have serious

negative consequences, including academic failure, job loss, and a
breakdown in personal relationships.
B. Drug and alcohol addiction is a major problem in the world today, and
many people suffer from it.

10. A. When I was a child, I used to visit my grandmother in Moline every

Sunday.
B. Every Sunday we visited my grandmother, who lived in a tiny house that
was undeniably haunted.

https://www.thoughtco.com/exercise-in-identifying-effective-thesis...

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 ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES

Open this link below to enhance your skill in identifying thesis Statement

https://human.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Composition/Book%3A_Basic_Reading_an
d_Writing_(Lumen)/Module_2%3A_Critical_Reading/2.05%3A_Identifying_Thesis_S
tatements

LESSON 6

OUTLINING

WHAT I NEED TO KNOW

Competency 4: Outlines Reading Texts in Various Disciplines

Learning Objectives: At the end of the lesson, the learners shall be able to:
1. define outlining;
2. identify the various techniques in outlining; and
3. make an outline of the various academic texts.

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