Thesis Statement
1. Take a broad subject: A Christmas Carol
2. Turn to a specific topic: Bob Cratchet
3. Find a question about the topic: Why is Bob important to the story?
4. Thesis: Bob Cratchet represents the ideal father.
Check the thesis: Topic + Debatable Opinion
1. Can the writer identify the topic of the thesis statement? The subject might be a symbol, a character, a motif, an archetype, or an aspect of DIDLS (diction, imagery, details, language, sentence structure)
2. Can the writer identify the opinion? Or does the statement merely identify something in the text?
3. Does the thesis merely summarize or only point out an obvious detail or pattern?
4. Does the diction in the thesis include vague or abstract words that contain too many meanings, thus preventing a clear focus?
What a thesis is NOT:
1. A title: Homes and schools (title) vs. Parents ought to participate more in the education of their children (opinion)
2. The announcement of a subject: My subject is the incompetence of the Supreme Court vs. The Supreme Court made a mistake when it ruled in favor of President George W. Bush in the 2000 election.
3. A statement of absolute fact: Jane Austen is the author of Pride and Prejudice.
4. The whole essay: A thesis is your main idea/claim/refutation/problem-solution expressed in a single sentence or a combination of sentences.
Examples of Theses Without an Opinion (BAD):
1. Ebenezer Scrooge is forced to remember events of the past.
2. Huck and Jim experience several conflicts during their travel down the river.
3. There are many symbols in the book.
4. Dickens repeats images of “hands” throughout the novel.
5. Matthew Arnold’s sea metaphor plays a significant role in the poem.
Examples of Theses With an Opinon (GOOD. YES, PLEASE):
1. Scrooge’s encounters with the ghosts illustrate the transformative power of memory.
2. In Great Expectations the hands motif indicates Pip’s location in the journey toward maturity.
3. Huck and Jim’s friendship moves through three stages: the meeting, the challenge and survival, and the developing love.
4. The diction and imagery Twain uses in relaying Huck’s love story reveals his personal struggle with freedom and civilization.
5. The archetype of clothing reflects Huck’s desire for individuality.
6. The sea metaphor allows Matthew Arnold to develop a political commentary on the Victorian Age, a time in which man is isolated and void of religious conviction, a situation that can only be rectified by human love.
Transitional Words
Time: after, afterward, at first, as before, finally, immediately, later, next now, previously, soon, then
Place: above, ahead, among, beyond, down, elsewhere, farther, here, in front of, in the background, near, nearby, next to, there
Idea: first, second, third, similarly, as, in the same way, for instance, likewise, however, one, two, three
Extend Elaboration By
Comparing: as, at the same time, by comparison, compared with, equally, in the same manner, like, likewise, similarly, the same as
Contrasting: although, and yet, as, as if, as though, at the same time, but, by (in contrast), conversely, different from, even so, unlike, even though, however, in spite of, instead of, neither, nevertheless, on the one hand, on the other hand, otherwise, provided that, though, unfortunately, whereas, yet
Emphasizing/Clarifying: especially, for instance, in fact, indeed, that is, in other words
Adding Another Example: moreover, most important, now, so, to repeat, additionally, again, also, especially, in addition, in fact, last, again, also, besides, equally important, furthermore, related to this, similarly, in contrast
Degen, Michael. Crafting Expository Argument: Practical Approaches to the Writing Process for Students & Teachers. Dallas, TX: Telemachos Pub., 1999. Print.
"Welcome to the Purdue OWL." Purdue OWL: Creating a Thesis Statement. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Sept. 2013.