2. What is a thesis statement?

3. …I’m so glad you asked!

4. A thesis statement is
the “backbone” of
your paper.
It connects all of the elements of
your paper, just like your spine
controls your whole body.

5. Thesis statements
0 are sentences that define the purpose of an essay
0 unify the writer’s thoughts under one idea.
0 are the heart of any good paper.
0 prevent your reader from saying, “So what?” about
your topic.
0 contain
0 A topic
0 A claim/position about that topic

6. More on thesis statements
0 A good thesis may also:
0 Make a comparison or contrast:
0 Example: Mercutio’s view of love in Romeo and Juliet differs from
that of Romeo; Mercutio sees love as a game whereas Romeo views
it as a serious matter of the heart.
0 Focus on the causes or effects of a particular event, condition or
change:
0 Example: A number of ill-fated events make Romeo and Juliet’s
deaths in the play inevitable.
0 Propose a solution to a problem or recommend a policy.
0 Example: Romeo and Juliet could have avoided their tragic demise
if they had not acted in such an impulsive fashion throughout the
play.

7. More on thesis statements
0 A good thesis is NOT:
0 A statement of fact:
0 William Shakespeare modeled his play The Tragedy of Romeo
and Juliet after an earlier story.
0 A personal opinion:
0 I think Romeo and Juliet is a great story.
0 A vague generalization:
0 Romeo and Juliet had a lot of problems throughout the play.
0 A question:
0 Were Romeo and Juliet’s impulsive actions a contributing factor
to their demise?

9. Example
0 The book Twisted is about teenagers.

10. Example
0 Through characterization and plot events, Laurie
Halse Anderson accurately represents the American
teenager in the novel Twisted.

11. Example
0 Water is good for people to drink.

12. Example
0 Elie Wiesel’s Night discusses the topic of survival.

13. Example
0 In his memoir, Wiesel argues that courage and faith
are essential for survival when one is faced with great
difficulties.

15. Necessary Materials
0 Topic
0 Position
0 Reasons you’re right

16. Ways of Constructing Thesis Statements:
The List (Essay Map)
0 Contains essay’s
topic, position, and three
supporting reasons
0 Example: “Elie Wiesel
expresses the that faith is
tested in difficult times in
Night [topic and point]
through characterization
of Akiba Drumer and
himself, allusions to
Job, and the use of
rhetorical questions
[three reasons].”

17. Ways of Constructing Thesis Statements:
The Umbrella
0 Contains essay’s topic, position, and
alludes to reasons why the reader
should believe you.
0 Do not directly state the supporting
reasons, but instead allude to them.
0 Example: “Elie Wiesel proves that
faith can overcome great
difficulties[topic and point] with
evidence that makes the reader
believe a person with faith can
survive anything[reasons].”
0 Do NOT use language like, “There are
many reasons Elie proves faith is
important.”