The Thesis Statement

Today's video Prayer

Review of Cause and Effect

• What are causes?
• What are effects?
• What do transitional words or phrases do for showing cause and effect relationships?
• Practice with using transitions to show cause and effect relationships

Purpose of a Thesis Statement

provides a solid plan and direction for your paper

serves as a road map for your entire essay

giving the reader both the organizational framework and evaluative stance of the essay

When paragraphs are put together into an essay

you will need a statement that expresses the entire paper’s central topic and stance

AKA
controlling statement for the entire essay

Structure of a Thesis Statement

well-constructed thesis statement serves both the reader and the writer

Writer

Reader

So how does a writer pull together an entire essay’s content and purpose in one sentence? Let's look at example

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introduction serves as a general orientation
for the reader

for the reader

• introduction serves as a general orientation
• opening content should be slightly broader than the essay topic to provide a perspective

Thesis statement should...

• reflect the main topics of the essay
• provide the evaluative stance of the essay
• serve as a guide for the essay's main topics

Reflect the Main Topics of the Essay

A thesis is formed, ideally, after the prewriting process has begun

Prewriting

FIRST STAGE OF THE WRITING PROCESS

Prewriting includes...

• mapping concepts
• outlining ideas
• Organizing thoughts/ideas

these techniques or topics can then formulate a thesis

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from the topic sentences, the writer then extracts the main topics:

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three topics will then serve as the basis for your thesis statement, forming a clear
organizational structure

Balanced in scope

• topics need to be covered in your paragraphs,
• should not be too broad or too narrow
• should have the same amount of weight
• Do not have one topic significantly broader than the other two

Balanced in perspective

• topics should work together to promote a single direction
• promoted the paper’s overall direction consistently
• Positive or negative points (choose one)

Balanced in grammatical construction

• topics are all expressed in parallel construction or share the same grammatical form
• listed with adjectives and nouns, creating a sentence that is accurate

Provides the Evaluative Stance

Once you have three topics in mind, it is time to consider the stance of the paper

thesis should also reveal your particular views on a topic

YOUR THESIS MAY EXPRESS...

in the essay on hiking in Sedona...

topics all express positive elements about hiking, so the evaluative stance comes through:

Hiking in Sedona is unparalleled because of the dramatic
views, crisp weather, and light crowds.

the word unparalleled reflects the writer’s....

stance, while the three topics show the content of the paragraphs

evaluative thesis statements

• The new education policy’s unfortunate consequences could include lower graduation rates, disproportionate teacher-student ratios, and parent frustrations.
• The causes of devastating accidents on that freeway include poor visibility, wildlife, and lack of barriers.

Once your thesis is in place, the paper’s development should correspond to it

revise your draft and make any changes

be sure to also revise your thesis, so that there is a clear correspondence between the paragraph topics and this statement

Characteristics of Thesis Statements

• expresses a claim
• an assertion or belief on a topic
• claim should be contestable or controversial
• you might ask yourself if your position could be argued.

“So what?”

• does your topic and claims matter?
• determine which statements have claims
• Determine which are merely facts
• Passing the "So What?" test ensures meaningfulness

Thesis

Think about your assignment. Will you be informing, persuading, entertaining, exposing,
defining, or analyzing?

it is important for you to shape your thesis to reflect the assignment purpose

Examples

The causes of poverty in that school district include lack of education, substance abuse, and repeated generational cycles.

Camping differs from staying in a hotel in cost, amenities, and preparation.

thesis statements....

• have clear topics
• are claim-based
• show the reader the purpose or genre

find the following word bank which serves as a resource for transitions or words to include in your thesis

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Obstacles to Writing

Roadblock 1

roadblock 1

• Do not phrase your thesis statement as a question
• because the primary purpose of a thesis is to state a claim, be sure it is in the declarative form
• of yourself as the boss of the paper, and boldly state your claim.

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Roadblock 2

roadblock 2

• Your three topics should be specific and suitable for distinct body paragraphs
• Avoid vague or clichéd writing that does not clearly state your topics

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Roadblock 3

Roadblock 3

• should not be included in your thesis statement
• Instead, think about how a quote might provide evidence later in the paper

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Roadblock 4

roadblock 4

• placed fact or statistic can support your claim effectively, but remember that a thesis needs to show controversy
• expressing a fact does not leave room for argument or discussion.

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Roadblock 5

Roadblock 5

• Good writing will always show, rather than tell, something.
• avoid the temptation to announce the topic

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Fact or claim

• 1. Jan Brewer is a wife, mother, and former governor of arizona.
• 2. her interactions with the president, veto, record, and radical stance on many issues classifies Jan brewer as most controversial governor in Arizona.
• 3. Most People can hike Piestewa Peak in less than an hour.

fact or claim

• 4. Piestewa Peak is a decent hike, but 4. many find camelback mountain superior for its stunning views, challenging summit, and amenities.
• 5. It's 120 miles from Tucson to phoenix.
• 6. Without proper planning, a drive across Arizona can have devestating results, including deyhdration, overheating, and danger from monsoons.

References

Morris, E., Cohen, S., (1996). Adventure guide to Arizona. Edison, N.J.: Hunter.