A Strong Thesis Statement

When writing a detailed document such as an essay or a web article, the Thesis Statement is one of the most important aspects of the project. A well written thesis aids in the outline of the paper, establishing a valid question or problem, and a quick explanation of how the writer plans to answer the question.

A Thesis Breakdown Example (provided by Harbrace College Handbook)

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How To Begin a Thesis.

A thesis statement, which is the backbone of a well written paper consists of three primary elements [[1]]:

• A subject or the question to be discussed in the paper.
• The author's opinion about the question prosed by the thesis.
• The blueprint or exactly how the author plans to argue their point.

Example: "Through its contrasting river and shore scenes, Twain’s Huckleberry Finn suggests that to find the true expression of American democratic ideals, one must leave “civilized” society and go back to nature." - The Writing Center[2]

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How To Distinguish a Strong Thesis from a Weak one.

In order to ensure the writer has developed a Strong Thesis statement, it is advised that the thesis follow four specific criteria [3]:

1. Make a Stand.

• The thesis should establish the message the writer hopes to convey, or better yet provide a conclusion to the question being asked. (Example: “Since long term video game playing by children can be considered a potent distraction from household chores, parents should effectively limit the amount of time for children’s game playing.”)
• A bad example would be "Kids spend too much time playing games."

2. Justify Further Discussion.

• The thesis statement should do more than state an observation. It should invite readers to continue reading the writer’s work in order to see how the writer defends his or her statement. (Example: “Since many people carry a negative stigma towards Muslim Americans after the events of September 11th 2001, in this study, I plan to shed light on the positive and negative facets of being a proud member of an American Muslim family.)
• A bad example would be "Don't mess with Islam."

3. A Focused Idea.

• A strong thesis should ensure the reader is aware of the primary purpose of what’s written, and not confuse the reader with multiple points. (Example: “When learning to play athletic sports, it would be wise to the student to first do a proper calisthenic routine prior to training to lower the chances of hurting themselves from being “too stiff” prior to playing.”)
• A bad example would be "Dancing is a great exercise that prevents growth of cancer cells by giving children high self esteem in the eyes of strange people."

4. Specifics

• A thesis should tell the reader specifically what the paper will be about, and keep the paper organized. (Example: “Poverty will continue to exist in southern Ecuador due to the lack of education and employment opportunities in the immediate vicinity.”)
• A bad example would be "Can a haircut really end war? Or does it only make a person a better fiction writer?"

External Links:

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How to Write a Thesis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HePQWodWiQ" (A handy YouTube video giving a simple explanation of writing a Thesis)

What is a Thesis Statement, and How Do I Write a Strong One? http://litmuse.mga.edu/litwiki/index.php/What_is_a_%E2%80%9Cthesis_statement%E2%80%9D_and_how_do_I_write_a_strong_one%3F (LitWiki entry)

What is a Thesis Statement? http://litmuse.mga.edu/litwiki/index.php/What_is_a_%E2%80%9Cthesis_statement%E2%80%9D%3F(LitWiki entry)

What are Some Guidelines for Writing at Thesis? http://litmuse.mga.edu/litwiki/index.php/What_are_some_guidelines_for_writing_a_thesis%3F(LitWiki entry)

How to Write a Thesis Statement. http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/thesis_statement.shtml#strongthesis(Tutorial service provided by the Indiana University Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning.)

Creating a Strong Thesis. http://uwc.utexas.edu/handouts/thesis (Another Tutorial from The University of Texas at Austin)

How to Write Thesis Statements http://utminers.utep.edu/omwilliamson/engl0311(Basic English Composition: University Texas El Paso)

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LitMuse Composition FAQ http://litmuse.mga.edu/litwiki/index.php/Composition_FAQ