WRITING A THESIS STATEMENT

A Thesis Statement…

States exactly what you plan to write and research

Declares what you believe and what you intend to prove.

It is an interpretation or argument explaining the significance of this information.

Typically the last sentence of the lead paragraph

A good thesis statement is what makes an essay or project thoughtful instead of a simple retelling of facts.

How to Write a Thesis Statement: Ask yourself the following question:

What do I want readers to know, believe, or understand about this topic?

Begin your thesis statement by directly stating your topic Example: The physics of…

Then complete the sentence with your answer to the question above.

Example

Topic: Dogs

Question: What makes Australian Shepherds good working dogs?

Thesis: Australian Shepherds’ intelligence, loyalty , and willingness to learn make them excellent working dogs.

OrAustralian Shepherds make good working dogs because they are intelligent, loyal, and willing to learn.

Do’s & Don’t for Constructing a Thesis Statement

Effective thesis's DO:

takes a stand is the main idea of

essay is narrow is specific is one main point contains evidence

and support

Effective thesis's Do Not’s:

should not contain two conflicting ideas.

should never be too broad

should not contain several main points

Examples of Science Thesis Statements:

Famous Physicists Sir Isaac Newton changed the world of science with his

discovery of Newton’s First Law, Newton’s Second Law and Newton’s Third Law.

Physics of Sports Physics concepts can be seen in the sport of football in the

form of tackling, throwing a ball and blocking your opponent.  

Physics of Nature Birds in flight show a great example of physics in nature

through the force that their wings must exert to maintain altitude, the continuous pull of gravity upon them and their ability to streamline and dive for their prey.