This document provides guidance on writing thesis statements. It defines a thesis statement as a central idea or argument that a paper will explore. A thesis statement should be specific, reveal the author's position, and preview the major points to be discussed. The document offers tips for formulating a thesis statement, such as considering the main ideas from pre-writing and research. It also lists characteristics of an effective thesis statement, such as responding to the assignment, being focused, and leaving the reader wondering "so what?" Exercises are included to help readers practice deriving thesis statements from general topics.

1. WRITING THESIS
STATEMENTS
Prepared by:
JOEY F. VALDRIZ
The Writing Process

2. “If you have a goal, write it
down. If you do not write it
down, you do not have a goal
– you have a wish.”
~Steve Maraboli

3. Introduction
Have you ever been to a different
province or a foreign country? Recall a
time you traveled to an unfamiliar
destination with your family or friends.
How did you prepare for such an
excursion?

4. Introduction
A thesis statement prepares you for
writing your essay.
It serves as your guide and a roadmap
to your destination.

5. Definition
A thesis statement is the central idea
of an essay, around which all other
ideas revolve. It controls the essay by
determining what you should or should
not include in your work.
In one sentence, it reveals and
summarizes the argument you intend to
develop and defend.

6. Definition
A thesis statement is not the subject or
topic itself, but an interpretation of the
topic.
Example: If you were asked to write an
essay on Martial Law during the time of
President Ferdinand E. Marcos, your thesis
statement would inform the reader of how
you understand such a topic and what you
deem to be important or debatable about it.

7. Formulating a Thesis Statement
Questions to help you find out a thesis statement:
• What main idea does most of my pre-writing
support?
• What are the relationships that exist among my
ideas?
• Which aspect of the topic seems to be given the
most detail?
• Where does my stand seem to be the most
consistent?
• What is the focus of the most interesting and
significant points of my pre-writing?
• What ideas should I do more research on?

8. Formulating a Thesis Statement
Whatever thesis statement you come
up with initially is called a working
thesis statement, an argument
containing your stand and that you
intend to prove with evidence in the
essay. It is called such because you
may have to adjust your thesis
statement depending on your research
and writing.

9. Formulating a Thesis Statement
You are writing a reaction paper about
your schools’s Reserve Officers
Training Corps program for your fellow
high school students. After going over
your pre-writing, you come up with the
following working thesis statement:
“High school seniors become more
responsible because of joining the
Reserve Officers Training Corps
program.”

10. Formulating a Thesis Statement
After doing some research, you decide to
revise the working statement as follows:
“High school seniors who join the
Reserve Officers Training Corps
program develop better leadership
skills because of the discipline instilled
in them by the program.”
Note: Creating a thesis statement results
from looking at your paper’s general
subject and narrowing it down to
something specific.

11. Characteristics of an
Effective Thesis Statement
1. Responds to the assignment by following
instructions.
2. Expresses the main idea in one or two sentences.
3. Focuses on a specific issue.
4. States a stand on the topic.
5. Says something meaningful by answering
questions: “So what?” “How?” “Why?”
6. Previews the rest of the essay by being placed in
the introduction.
7. Reflects a tone and point-of-view appropriate to
the identified purpose and audience.

12. More Guidelines on
Writing Thesis Statement
1. Avoid making overly-opinionated
stands.
2. Avoid making announcements.
3. Avoid stating only facts.

13. Exercises
Fill in the blanks by deriving a specific
topic and thesis statement for the given
general subject.
General Subject Specific Topic Thesis Statement
1. Sports
2. Communication
3. Music
4. Education
5. Transportation

14. Rodriguez, Maxine Rafaella C. and
Marella Therese A. Tiongson. 2016.
Reading and Writing Skills. Manila: Rex
Book Store, Inc.