Thesis Statements and Outlines

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What is a thesis statement? What is a thesis statement? A A thesis statementthesis statement is a concise is a concise

statement of the purpose of your paper.statement of the purpose of your paper.

A thesis statement states the main idea A thesis statement states the main idea that you will prove in your paper.that you will prove in your paper.

Your thesis statement should be Your thesis statement should be specificspecific. . It should cover only what you will discuss in It should cover only what you will discuss in your paper and should be your paper and should be supportedsupported with with specific evidence.specific evidence.

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Your Thesis StatementYour Thesis Statement The thesis statement needs to be in your The thesis statement needs to be in your

introductionintroduction and is sometimes the final and is sometimes the final sentence of this paragraph, but it is not sentence of this paragraph, but it is not required to be the final sentence.required to be the final sentence.

Keep in mind that your topic may Keep in mind that your topic may changechange as you research and as you write, so you as you research and as you write, so you may need to revise your thesis statement may need to revise your thesis statement to reflect exactly what you have discussed to reflect exactly what you have discussed in the paper.in the paper.

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More on Thesis StatementsMore on Thesis Statements A thesis should not be a simple A thesis should not be a simple statement statement

of factof fact because there are no because there are no controlling controlling ideasideas that need that need developmentdevelopment

NotNot a good thesis statement: a good thesis statement: Christmas is Christmas is a holidaya holiday. .

In the example above, there is nothing to In the example above, there is nothing to prove; there is no argument. prove; there is no argument.

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Even more...Even more... A thesis should not offer a simple A thesis should not offer a simple personal personal

opinionopinion; the controlling idea in ; the controlling idea in ““I likeI like”” or or ““I I thinkthink”” is difficult to support. is difficult to support.

NotNot a good thesis statement: a good thesis statement: I think I think Christmas is funChristmas is fun. .

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Even more. . . Even more. . . A thesis should not be a statement of A thesis should not be a statement of personal preferencepersonal preference..

Not Not a good thesis statement: Cats are a good thesis statement: Cats are better than dogs.better than dogs.

This is not something that you can prove This is not something that you can prove through researched evidence.through researched evidence.

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A simple formula:A simple formula:

a specific topica specific topic + a particular feature or stand+ a particular feature or stand + (a list of reasons)***+ (a list of reasons)*** = an effective thesis statement= an effective thesis statement

***A specific list of reasons is not necessary. In fact, more ***A specific list of reasons is not necessary. In fact, more sophisticated thesis statements will provide a broad, sophisticated thesis statements will provide a broad, overall reason that you will expand on in the body of the overall reason that you will expand on in the body of the essayessay

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ExampleExample Task: Write about high schoolTask: Write about high school The first year of high school (specific topic)The first year of high school (specific topic) is the most important year (particular stand)is the most important year (particular stand) because it builds academicbecause it builds academic foundations, establishes foundations, establishes important relationships and important relationships and introduces new activities (a list of reasons)introduces new activities (a list of reasons)

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ExampleExample Task: Write about high schoolTask: Write about high school The first year of high school (specific topic)The first year of high school (specific topic) is the most important year (particular is the most important year (particular

stand)stand) because it allows students to develop in because it allows students to develop in

many important ways. (an overall/broad many important ways. (an overall/broad reason)reason)

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Another example: Another example: Prompt:Prompt: Are zoos helpful or Are zoos helpful or harmful? Choose an opinion and harmful? Choose an opinion and

support it.support it.

Sample thesis:Sample thesis: "Zoos are good in some "Zoos are good in some ways, but not so good in others.ways, but not so good in others.””

CommentComment: This thesis is vague in terms of : This thesis is vague in terms of both its position and direction. It takes a both its position and direction. It takes a fence-sitting position in that it's unclear fence-sitting position in that it's unclear whether or not the writer favors the abolition whether or not the writer favors the abolition of zoos.of zoos.

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Sample thesis:Sample thesis: "Zoos provide an "Zoos provide an invaluable service and therefore should not invaluable service and therefore should not be abolished.be abolished.””

Comment:Comment: This thesis establishes a This thesis establishes a position on the topic, but it could be clearer position on the topic, but it could be clearer in terms of direction. What is the in terms of direction. What is the "invaluable service" provided by zoos? Is "invaluable service" provided by zoos? Is this invaluable service unique to zoos, this invaluable service unique to zoos, thereby supporting the view to keep them?thereby supporting the view to keep them?

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A better thesis:A better thesis: ““While captive surroundings can never While captive surroundings can never

fully mimic life in the wild, zoos should not fully mimic life in the wild, zoos should not be abolished because they provide an be abolished because they provide an invaluable service to society through the invaluable service to society through the medical and wildlife research their medical and wildlife research their facilitates provide.facilitates provide.””

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Other resourcesOther resources

The OWL (online writing center) at PurdueThe OWL (online writing center) at Purdue Writesource.comWritesource.com

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Your ThesisYour Thesis Now, take a few minutes and draft a thesis Now, take a few minutes and draft a thesis

statement, remembering that it will statement, remembering that it will probably change, at least a little bit, as you probably change, at least a little bit, as you work through the rest of the research work through the rest of the research process.process.

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A Good OutlineA Good Outline Has clear body paragraphsHas clear body paragraphs The topic sentence of each paragraph is written The topic sentence of each paragraph is written

in fullin full The topic sentence of each paragraph links back The topic sentence of each paragraph links back

to the thesisto the thesis Each paragraph has multiple pieces of evidence Each paragraph has multiple pieces of evidence

(quotations or paraphrases) from your research(quotations or paraphrases) from your research Has a clear explanation for each piece of Has a clear explanation for each piece of

evidence (remember the PEE format)--you must evidence (remember the PEE format)--you must clearly explain how each piece of evidence clearly explain how each piece of evidence supports the idea you are trying to prove.supports the idea you are trying to prove.

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Starting an OutlineStarting an Outline Write your thesis statement on a piece of Write your thesis statement on a piece of

paper.paper.

Brainstorm a list of reasons why you agree Brainstorm a list of reasons why you agree with your thesis statement.with your thesis statement.

Write each reason as a complete sentence.Write each reason as a complete sentence.

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ExampleExample Thesis: Thesis: Although it can be stressful and difficult, teaching Although it can be stressful and difficult, teaching

is a rewarding profession. (The thesis implies the is a rewarding profession. (The thesis implies the question, question, ““Why is it a rewarding profession?Why is it a rewarding profession?””))

Reasons why I think this:Reasons why I think this: The job is exciting because working with students is The job is exciting because working with students is

unpredictable.unpredictable. Teaching is interesting because teachers work with a Teaching is interesting because teachers work with a

subject that they are passionate about.subject that they are passionate about. Teachers have the opportunity to impact the lives of Teachers have the opportunity to impact the lives of

their students.their students. Teachers constantly have opportunities to grow Teachers constantly have opportunities to grow

personally and professionally.personally and professionally.1717

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Creating the OutlineCreating the Outline Each of the reasons that you wrote is a Each of the reasons that you wrote is a

topic sentence--see how easy that was?topic sentence--see how easy that was?

Each topic sentence will be one paragraph Each topic sentence will be one paragraph in your paper.in your paper.

Below each topic sentence, list your points, Below each topic sentence, list your points, evidence (from research) and explanations evidence (from research) and explanations (of how the evidence proves each point).(of how the evidence proves each point).

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Formatting the OutlineFormatting the Outline Type your thesis statement at the top of the page.Type your thesis statement at the top of the page.

I. Topic sentenceI. Topic sentence Point supporting or explaining topic sentencePoint supporting or explaining topic sentence

• Evidence from your research supporting or proving the Evidence from your research supporting or proving the point (make sure that you indicate which source the point (make sure that you indicate which source the information comes from, and include the entire quotation information comes from, and include the entire quotation you will use)you will use)

Explanation of how the evidence supports or proves Explanation of how the evidence supports or proves the point (this does not have to be in complete the point (this does not have to be in complete sentences, but the more thorough the explanations, sentences, but the more thorough the explanations, the easier it will be to write the paper later)the easier it will be to write the paper later)

Repeat this until you have filled in information beneath each Repeat this until you have filled in information beneath each topic sentence.topic sentence. 1919