Adapted from Choices, a handbook on writing

from Pearson
 What is a thesis?

 A thesis is a complete sentence that demonstrates the
“take away value” of your writing.

 It answers the question readers may be asking

themselves: “So what?”
Answers to these questions will lead you
to the thesis or the main idea.


 Why will your readers care about your topic and
your writing?

 What do you want your readers to take away from

your writing?

 Why are you the best person to write about this topic
in this way at this time?
 An effective thesis statement
demands proof or demonstration.

 It is never a question, but it is often the answer to a
question.
 A thesis statement . . .


 Uses specific, objective language

 Identifies the topic

 States your purpose, intention, or attitude toward the

topic

 May suggest the arrangement or organization of the

ideas to come
 Writers commonly revise their
thesis statements.

 Don’t expect to think of a perfect thesis at the
beginning.

 Plan to create a “working thesis” that you can use as

you revise your sloppy copy into a draft.

 A working thesis need not be elegant or formal; it

just needs to get you started.
 Some examples of poor thesis
statements and revision:

 My instructor has an attendance policy.
 My instructor should change her attendance policy because
it is unreasonable, inflexible, and unfair.
 Some children show violent behavior.
 Conflict-resolution courses should be taught to help
prevent violence in America’s schools.
 Social networking sites such as Facebook can cause
problems.
 College students should be careful of what they put on
their Facebook pages because prospective employees
routinely check them.
 Some strategies that can help you
create a working thesis:

 Reword the topic question into a statement.

 Use “I” statements. Writing from your own

viewpoint can help you figure out what you are
trying to say. If first person is not appropriate for
your audience, you can edit the wording later.
 More Strategies

 Choose a sentence from the last paragraph of your
sloppy copy. Writers often figure out what they want
to say as they are writing.

 Choose any sentence from your sloppy copy that

meets the criteria. You just need something to get
you started; you can change your working thesis as
you write.
 Use a fill-in-the-blank
sentence.

 “Although many people think ____, in reality, ____
because ____.”

 “_____ is the most significant _____ because _____.”

 “______ illuminates the role of ______ in people’s

lives by showing us how _______, _____, and _____.”
 More fill-in-the-blanks

 “Although many reasons have been suggested for _____,
they all boil down to _____.”

 “_____ is true for these reasons: _____, _____, _____, and

_____.

 “X has argued that _____, but Y’s position is stronger

because _____.”

 “The more important effects of _____ went beyond those

of _____.”
 Remember that a thesis statement
helps to shape the rest of your paper.

 Different thesis statements lead to different papers.

 If you find that your paper does not match your

working thesis, you will need to change one to fit the
other.
 Any Questions?

Note: This PowerPoint was first developed by Professor
David Carithers, Department of English and MFL, and has
helped numerous students with shaping thesis statements.
Example thesis statements were taken from Patterns for
College Writing by Laurie G. Kirszner and Stephen R.
Mandell. In September of 2014, Riley Rich, student assistant
in the Writing Center, redesigned this PowerPoint and
added example thesis statements.