Creating A Strong Thesis

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Creating A Strong Thesis

• Creating a sustained thesis for a stronger paper.

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Probably the most daunting task for any writer
is to generate an effective thesis statement. In
college, academic writing follows a specific
pattern after a brief opening, you state your
position in one clear sentence.
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Why do you need a thesis?

• It gives your essay a sense of purpose
• It narrows your subject
• It previews the order or arrangement of your
  argument
• It excludes points you will not be covering
• It shows the focus of the essay for the reader

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What is the difference between a subject and
thesis?

• Subject-general
• Student loans
• Crime
• AIDS

• Thesis-specific
• Ohio should lower the interest rate on student
  loans.
• Crime can be diverted by instituting job,
  education and mentoring programs.
• AIDS can be fought with more education and
  funding.

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How do I go from a subject-gt thesis?

• First ask what your position is. By answering
  this question, you will establish a thesis that
  demonstrates the focus or main point of your
  essay.
• Once you have an idea of what you hold to be
  true, write it down but then delete the phrase I
  believe

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For example

• I believe that Kurt Cobain is an amazing song
  writer.
• Becomes
• Kurt Cobain is an amazing song writer.
• But there is still something missing

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Is my statement significant?

• Kurt Cobain is an amazing song writer.
• A few questions that arise
• What is the criteria for this statement?
• Why is he amazing?
• What time frame is being used?
• Who thinks he is amazing poets,musicians or
  political activists?
• What is important about this topic?

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A more significant statement

• Kurt Cobains lyrics, variety of sounds, and
  scope of social issues make him one of the most
  influential musicians of all time.
• Topic- Kurt Cobains music
• Mapping of essay topics, criteria or focus
• The opinion or your position

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Whether your essay is explanatory or
argumentative, a strong thesis statement will
provide the map, guiding the entire essay.
Confusion arises, however, over the difference
between a purpose statement and a thesis.
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What is the function of a purpose statement?

• It announces the purpose, scope and direction
  of the paper.
• It makes a promise to the reader about
• the development of the argument

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Sample purpose statement

• This paper will examine the ecological damage
  caused by Katrina on the Gulf Coast. The focus
  will be on the economic, political and social
  relationships affected by the environmental
  problems.

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What are the characteristics of a good thesis
statement?

• It answers a specific question.
• It is narrow or broad enough to be covered within
  the assignment parameters.
• It focuses on one main idea.
• It is controversial enough that a reasonable
  person could disagree.

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How do I generate a good thesis statement?

• Read your sources looking for connections.
• Once you have analyzed your evidence, you will
  have a main idea or a working thesis.
• Like using a funnel, begin with a general
  subject, narrow it by the purpose, and end with a
  specific assertion, claim, or thesis.

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Sample thesis statement

• The ecological damage produced by Katrina on
  the Gulf Coast was caused by the political and
  social environment of the region.

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How do I generate a thesis if the topic is
assigned?

• Any assignment can be narrowed down to a single
  question.
• First select the focal question that your essay
  will answer. If the assignment is a request for
  information, such as Write a report on the
  benefits of expanding the Marina District in
  Downtown Toledo, start by turning the request
  into a question What are the benefits of
  building the Marina District in Downtown Toledo?

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How do I generate a thesis if the topic is not
assigned?

• Even if a specific question has not been posed by
  your instructor, you will need to create a
  question about the issue you plan to investigate.
  It is best if you first establish your subject
  next, consider the purpose of the essay. From
  this point you should be able to ask a question
  about the topic to then state a position or
  thesis.

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Brainstorm the topic

• What are your concerns? What concerns are facing
  your field of study?
• For example, you are in construction and you are
  concerned with the slow recovery in New Orleans
  after Katrina. You begin the thought process like
  this

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• Because a majority of the damage caused by
  Katrina was due to inadequate construction, the
  federal government needs to establish more
  stringent building codes before financing
  reconstruction.

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This is not a thesis it is the start of a
thesis. This is a general subject from which you
could take your paper in many directions. Perhaps
from your research you have found that there were
oversights in the codes for homes constructed in
hurricane and flood zones. While everyone will
agree that rebuilding flimsy homes is a bad idea,
narrowing your topic to who should make the
reform and what specific types are needed will
assert your position.
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Test your thesis

• Does it take a stand and capture the subject?
• Does it invite discussion and avoid a simple
  response?
• Is it specific to your paper?
• Is your claim significant?
• Are the words and phrases unified on a single
  idea?

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Test the sample thesis

• Because a majority of the damage caused by
  Katrina was due to inadequate construction, the
  federal government needs to establish more
  stringent building codes before financing
  reconstruction.

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1. Does it take a stand?

• Yes, the damage was due to inadequate
  construction and the federal government needs to
  step in.

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2. Does it invite discussion?

• Yes, some reasonable people may feel that it
  is not the governments responsibility to enforce
  codes and that no building could withstand the
  force of Katrina.

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3. Is the thesis specific?

• Yes, it focuses on the aftermath of one
  storm and the steps to be taken before more
  federal funds should be used.

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4. Is the claim significant?

• Yes, rebuilding still needs to take place.

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5. Are the words focused on a single idea?

• Yes, not all issues are being addressed, just one
  aspect of a condition for rebuilding. Yet the
  thesis is still broad enough to allow the paper
  to explore examples of the types of destruction,
  building codes, and financial needs facing those
  devastated by Katrina.