Help Yourself Beat the

Clock:
How to Write an Effective Thesis
Statement

Created by C. Wishart, Literacy Coach

Based on work by Joy Wingersky, Jan Boehner, and Diana Holguin-Balogh
Types of Thesis Statements:
 Thesis statement  Thesis statement that
that states states direction and
direction: previews main points:
 A general  Lists what each paragraph
statement will be about
 Good for a  Keeps the paper on topic
longer paper –  Example: Students with
5 to 10 pages learning disabilities may
 Example: encounter academic,
Students with social, and personal
learning problems.
disabilities may
encounter
many
academic
problems.
Each point listed in the thesis
statement will be covered in one
paragraph in the 5 paragraph essay:

 Students with learning disabilities may

encounter academic, social, and personal
problems.
 Paragraph 1 in the essay will be the
introduction with the thesis statement.
 Paragraph 2 will cover academic problems.
 Paragraph 3 will cover social problems.
 Paragraph 4 will cover personal problems.
 Paragraph 5 will be the conclusion.
Important Points About Thesis
Statements:
 Ideas in the thesis statement must be
coordinate and not subordinate.
 Ideas in thesis statement must be broad
enough to write a paragraph about, but not
so broad that they can’t be addressed in
detail
 Ideas in thesis statement must not overlap
 Ideas in thesis statement must be parallel
 Ideas in thesis statement must be
presented in a logical order
Ideas in the thesis statement must be
coordinate and not subordinate.

 Coordinate means of
equal value.
 Example: Car
maintenance involves
checking the oil, “I’m more
checking the coolant,
and checking the air important than
– all are coordinate you are!!!”
 Subordinate means of
lesser value.
 Example: Car
maintenance involves
tuning the engine,
servicing the tires,
and checking the air
– checking the air is
subordinate to
servicing the tires.
Ideas in thesis statement must be broad
enough to write a paragraph about, but not so
broad that they can’t be addressed in detail.
Think about Goldilocks and the Three
Bears:

 Simple facts cannot sustain an entire

paragraph; they are too small.
 Goldilocks went into the house.
 Broad ideas cannot be contained in a single
paragraph; they are too big.
 Fairy tales have many different types of themes.
 Points in the thesis need to be just right.
 Goldilocks learned to respect others’ property.
Ideas in a thesis statement must
not overlap.
When fighting a fire, Why am I reading
the firefighter must the same point
pre-plan, initiate, and twice?
evaluate.

Paragraph 2

When fighting a fire,

the firefighter must
pre-plan, strategize, Paragraph 3
and evaluate.
Ideas in thesis statement must be
parallel:

 Each point must be balanced.

 Choose a grammatical structure.
 Use nouns, verbs, phrases, or
clauses to organize your thesis
statement.
If an “-ing” verb form is used,
all divisions must be “-ing.”
 For the elderly, having a pet means
receiving companionship, getting
exercise, and having protection. – Correct
 For the elderly, having a pet means
companionship, getting exercise, and to
have protection. – Not parallel
If the present tense of the verb is
used, all divisions must be in the
present tense.
 Elderly people with pets receive
companionship, get exercise, and
have protection. – Correct
 Elderly people with pets receive
companionship, getting exercise,
and could have protection. – Not
parallel
If a noun is used, all divisions
must be nouns.
 Having a pet can provide
companionship, exercise, and
protection for the elderly. – Correct
 Having a pet can provide
companionship, exercise, and will
give protection for the elderly. – Not
parallel
If “to” is used before verb, must
have “to” before each division.*
 Elderly people often own a pet to receive
companionship, to get exercise, and to have
protection. – Correct
 Elderly people often own a pet to receive
companionship, for exercise, and to have
protection. – Not parallel
 *Once “to” is written before the first verb, it is not
necessary to write each time. “Elderly people often own a
pet to receive companionship, get exercise, and have
protection” is also correct.
If a prepositional phrase is used,
all divisions must be prepositional
phrases.*
 Elderly people often own pets for companionship,
for exercise, and for protection.- Correct
 Elderly people often own pets for companionship,
to get exercise, and to have protection. – Not
parallel
 *If the same preposition is used, it can be used only
once. “Elderly people often own pets for
companionship, exercise, and protection” is also
correct.
Ideas in thesis statement must be
presented in a logical order.
 Divisions can be presented:

 in increasing order of importance.

 In decreasing order of importance

 with the 2nd most important point first, the

most important point last, and the weaker
points in the middle.

 in increasing interest.

 in chronological order.

 in sequential progression.
Divisions can be presented in
increasing order of importance.

 Before buying a car, the buyer needs to

consider the style, condition, and cost of
the vehicle.
 Choosing a family pet should be
determined by the family’s availability, the
family’s interests, and the family’s
dedication to meeting the animal’s needs.
Divisions can be presented in
decreasing order of importance.
 When considering human
cloning, we must examine the
moral, physical, and economic
costs.
Divisions can be presented with the
2nd most important point first, the most
important point last, and the weaker
points in the middle.

 Cigarette smoking effects a

person socially, economically,
and physically.
Divisions can be presented in
increasing interest.

 As I reflect on my life, I realize

that it has been driven by my
love of books, education, and
family.
Divisions can be presented in
chronological order.

 Harriet Tubman’s life can be

examined during her youth,
during the Civil War, and during
her senior years.
Divisions can be presented in
sequential progression.

 When cooking a cake, the baker

must assemble the ingredients,
mix the ingredients in the proper
order, and bake the cake with
care.

Take one step

at a time.
Formulas Do Work When
Writing!
 Choose the topic.
 Choose the divisions, or sub-topics.
 Write a thesis statement in parallel form.
 Follow each division for each paragraph.
 Earn a higher grade!
Give Credit Where Credit is
Due:
 Wingersky, Joy, Jan Boehner and Diana
Holguin-Balogh. Writing Paragraphs and
Essays 2nd Ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth
Publishing, 1995. Print.

 Many of the ideas for this presentation are

based on pages 132 – 152 in the above
text and the above text is often directly
quoted.