S&S 2q

Shaping & Writing a Thesis

A thesis statement is the central

message of an essay. • It is evidence that you have something definite to say about

the topic. • An effective thesis statement prepares your readers for the

essence of what you discuss in an essay.

• As the writer, you want to compose a thesis statement with care so that it accurately reflects the content of your essay.

• If you discern a mismatch between your thesis statement and the rest of your essay, revise to coordinate them better.

• The basic requirements for a thesis statement are presented in S&S Chart 12.

Basic requirements for a thesis statement

 • It states the essay’s subject—the

topic that you are discussing;• • It reflects the essay’s purpose—

either to give your readers information or to persuade your readers to agree with you;

• • It includes a focus—your assertion that conveys your point of view;

• • It uses specific language—vague words are avoided;

• • It may briefly state the major subdivisions of the essay’s topic.

Until you have written one or more drafts, your thesis statement may not yet reflect what you say in the essay. Still, you can begin.

• At the start, make an assertion—a sentence,

• stating your topic and the point you want to make about it.

• The exact wording of this assertion will probably not appear in your final draft—

• But it serves to focus your thinking as you progress through a preliminary thesis statement toward a fully developed one.

• Eventually you should be able to develop your thesis into 3 main points.

Thesis Evolvement• NO I think women can “pump iron” like men.

[This assertion is a start.]• NO If she is trained well, any woman can

“pump iron” well, just like a man. [This preliminary thesis is more developed because it mentions training, but the word well is used twice and is vague, and the word any is inaccurate.]

• NO In spite of most people thinking only men can “pump iron,” women can also do it successfully with the right training. [This draft is better because it is becoming more specific, but “most people thinking only men” is not an aspect of the topic Moreno intends to explore. Also, the concept of building strength, a major aspect of Moreno’s final draft, in S&S 3g, is missing.]

• YES With the right training, women can also “pump iron” successfully to build strength. [This is the final version of Moreno’s thesis statement in 3g.]

• . Also is a transitional word connecting the thesis statement to the sentence that comes before it in Moreno’s introductory paragraph in the sample paper in S&S 3g.]

 Here are more examples of thesis statements, written for 500- to 700-word essays with an

informative purpose. The ineffective versions resemble assertions or preliminary thesis statements. The effective versions are final thesis statements written by students after they had gathered and grouped

ideas. The good versions fulfill the requirements in Chart 12.

• TOPIC classical music• NO Classical music combines many different

sounds.• YES Classical music can be played by groups

of various sizes, ranging from chamber ensembles to full symphony orchestras.

•  

• TOPIC malpractice suits• NO There are many kinds of malpractice

suits.• YES Most people are familiar with malpractice

suits against physicians, but an increasing number of suits are being filed against lawyers, teachers, and even parents.

•  

• TOPIC woman artists• NO The paintings of women are getting more

attention.• YES During the past ten years, the works of

artists Mary Cassatt and Rosa Bonheur have finally gained widespread critical acclaim.

 

You should aim to finalize your thesis into one with 3 main points; these 3 main points are your 3 topic sentences--You should have 3 body paragraphs (in addition to an introduction and a

conclusion).

• More on ESSAY STRUCTURE & DEVELOPMENT:

• http://a-s.clayton.edu/walsh/ENGL1101/essay%20outline.htm

• http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Aegean/6354/essay_structure.html