Thesis Statements
What is a thesis statement?
• A thesis statement is the main idea of an
essay.
• It is often a point you want to argue or
support in an essay.
SO
• The thesis statement explains to a reader the
main idea of the essay, and the writer’s
opinion about that idea.
• A thesis statement is usually one
sentence.
• It is often placed in the introductory
paragraph of an essay.
• A thesis statement is a claim that can
be argued.
Thesis statements avoid the following:
• the first person (I believe, In my opinion, etc.)
• unclear language (It seems, etc.)
• attempting two topics at once, even if they
seem related.
– Pick one and stick with it.
• just stating a fact . A thesis is something you
plan to make an argument about.
A thesis statement should
• contain a topic (main idea of
what you are writing about)
• contain an opinion about the
topic (what your attitude is
toward the topic)
Writing a Good Thesis
Statement
Write Statements, Not Announcements!
• The subject of this paper will be my parents.
• My parents each struggled with diligence.
• I want to talk about the crime wave in our
country.
• The recent crime wave in our city has several
apparent causes.
Avoid Statements That Are Too Broad
• Men and women are very different.
• Men and women are often treated very
differently in the workplace.
Avoid Statements That Are Too
Narrow
• In the last year there have been over twenty
robberies in our neighborhood.
• A recent increase in robbery could be due to
the three important reasons as…
A thesis statement should not be too
wordy.
• Some problems with ABC School are that it needs a
larger playground, an air conditioned gym,,
restrooms connected to each classroom, running
water in the classrooms, and a number of other
physical changes to the building.
• ABC School needs several changes to its facility to
make it a better school.
A thesis statement should not be too
general.
• Music makes people happy.
• Music therapy is useful in relieving stress and
other conditions.
A thesis statement should not be a
title
• Cost of Living
• The cost of living in Islamabad is higher than in
many other cities in Pakistan.
A thesis statement should not be a fact
• The recycling of one aluminum can saves
enough energy to run a TV for three hours.
• Recycling is one of the most important jobs a
person can do to protect our environment.
Statements Develop Only One Idea
• Teachers have played an important role in my
life, but they were not as important as my
parents.
• Teachers have played an important role in my
life.
Good or Bad ?
• Electric cars are better vehicles because they
have benefits.
• Smoking should be prohibited.
ACTIVITY
• Write a thesis statement for the
following points to be supported in
an essay.
a. My first car was a rebellious-looking one that
matched the way I felt and acted as a
teenager.
b. My next car reflected my more mature and
practical adult self.
c. My latest car seems to tell me that I'm aging; it
shows my growing concern with comfort and
safety.
a. First of all, I was a typical type personality:
anxious, impatient, and hard-driving.
b. I also have a family history of relatives
with heart trouble.
c. My unhealthy lifestyle, though, was
probably the major factor.
Support the Thesis with Specific
Evidence
