Thesis Statement Activity
Thesis Statement Activity
What is a thesis statement?
A thesis statement is a sentence stating the specific idea or opinion you address in a paper or essay, and it is usually located at the end of the first paragraph. In other words, a thesis is the argument you want to support in your paper. Your opinion and views on a subject are very much infused into the thesis. You’ll support this main idea, i.e. your claim, in your paper by providing good reasons and evidence from the research you’ve done.
Thesis Statements “rules.”
There are a few common features of good thesis statement. Your thesis statement should do the following:
- State your topic; from your thesis, readers should know the topic of your paper
- Present an argument that other people might dispute—must be arguable and not just a statement.
- Not be phrased as a research question
- May “road map”—briefly state the major subdivisions of the topic
- Use specific language, not vague words
- Grounded in the material that is being evaluated—contextualized with the sources.
How to write a thesis statement.
Remember, your thesis is a sentence that states your topic + your opinion on that topic. It is the main idea your want to persuade your readers to accept. Answer these questions:
- What is your topic?
- What is your opinion on the topic?
- What do you want your readers to believe or do after reading your paper? (Think of this as your “call to action” aspect of your paper):
Now consider your answers to the above questions. Based on the “rules” (above) and your answers, record a thesis statement below:
Explain why your thesis is arguable. In other words, how might a reader dispute your thesis statement or challenge your position? Explain.
