#9 - Thesis statement

HOW TO WRITE A THESIS STATEMENT

WHAT IS A THESIS STATEMENT?

ü  It's the single, specific claim that your essay supports.

ü  It is not simply an observation, a question or a promise. It includes a topic, a precise opinion and reasoning.

PARTS OF A THESIS STATEMENT

1.       The subject: the topic of your essay.

2.       The precise opinion: your opinion on the subject of your essay.

3.       The blueprint of reasons: This is where you show your reader how you plan to argue and prove your opinion. Typically, you should have 3 strong pieces of evidence to support your opinion. Later, you will expand on each detail in the body of the essay.

The Thesis Statement tells your reader:

ü  Where you are going in your essay.

ü  How you plan on getting there.

WHEN YOU ARE COMPOSING THESIS STATEMENTS, YOU NEED TO KNOW THE FOLLOWING:

·         YOUR TOPIC: what your paper will deal with.

·         YOUR CLAIM: what you think about the topic.

·         REASONS THAT SUPPORT YOUR CLAIM: 3 points that will persuade your readers to believe your claim.

These points can be listed:

1.       at the beginning of the thesis statement.

2.       at the end of the thesis statement.

3.       in the sentence after the thesis statement.

      (You can also have a thesis with no points listed)

Sources

• Jerz, Dennnis G. (2006) How to write an A+ thesis statement, from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=233&v=5HePQWodWiQ
• Heafner, Chris (2011) Thesis Statements--How to Construct and Compose (A Review), from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=301&v=DfUkhdh8Z08