Effective Thesis Statements


What is a Thesis Statement‌

A simple equation for what a thesis might look like:

What you plan to argue + How you plan to argue it = Thesis

Specific Topic+ Attitude/Angle/Argument=Thesis

 

Steps To Write Effective Thesis Statement

·     Choose a prompt or, if appropriate, select a topic: television violence and children

·     Read the prompt carefully or, if appropriate, ask an interesting question:

o What are the effects of television violence on children‌?

·     Revise the prompt or question into a preliminary or "working" thesis:

o Violence on television increases aggressive behavior in children.

· A  Avoid general phrasing and/or sweeping words such as "all" or "none" or "every".

·     Lead the reader toward the topic sentences (the subtopics needed to prove the thesis).

·     Anticipate the counter-arguments. Once you have a working thesis, you should think about what might be said against it. This will help you to refine your thesis, and it will also make you think of the arguments that you'll need to refute later on in your essay. (Every argument has a counter-argument. If yours doesn't, then it's not an argument—it may be a fact, or an opinion, but it is not an argument.)

o Violence on television increases aggressive behavior in children.

·    This statement is on its way to being a thesis. However, it is too easy to imagine possible counter- arguments. For example, an observer of societal trends may believe that parenting or easy access to weapons are important factors in youth violence. If you complicate your thesis by anticipating the counter-argument, you'll strengthen your argument, as shown in the sentence below.

o While poor parenting and easy access to weapons may act as contributory factors, in fact when children are exposed to television violence they become less sensitive to the pain and suffering of others, are more fearful of the world around them, and are more likely to behave in aggressive or harmful ways toward others.

 

 

The Components of an Effective Thesis Statement

 

The best thesis statement is a balance of specific details and concise language. Your goal is to articulate an argument in detail without burdening the reader with too much information.

 

Questions To Review Your Thesis

 

Myths about Thesis Statements

 

Progressively Complex Thesis Statements

Thesis Statement Evaluation
The North and South fought the Civil War for many reasons, some of which were the same and some different. The worst thesis imaginable (other than non-existent). You’ve said nothing of value.
While both sides fought the Civil War over the issue of slavery, the North fought for moral reasons while the South fought to preserve its own institutions. A good pre-draft thesis. Not a bad start at all. Here’s the catch, and the time consuming part of the process. As you write, your argument may become more refined or changed. When it does, so should the thesis.
While there were many underlying causes of the Civil War, three factors converged to make conflict inevitable: the issue of slavery, the idea of states’ rights, and the fight to control the future of the West. A solid preview of your argument and the main points you intend to make. This would be a strong approach for a persuasive or exemplification essay.

While both Northerners and Southerners believed they fought against tyranny and oppression, Northerners focused on the oppression of slaves while Southerners defended their own rights to property and self-government.

Bien! The thesis statement is nuanced, recognizing the existence of an opposing point of view, while strongly defending your point. It is relatively specific, yet concise—and doesn’t make the reader want to stop reading.

 

Sources

 

 

Additional Resources