Colleen Mainger 2008
Learning to Write a Good Thesis Statement
A good thesis statement answers the question you have been given (and does not simply restate the question.)
Question: Compare and contrast families with one child to families with many children.
Bad thesis: Families with one child and families with many children share some similarities but also some differences.
Why? It is not specific enough—it does not include any information that wasn’t already given in the question.
Good thesis: While families with any number of children experience the same joy of watching a child learn new things, families with many children struggle because they have more messes to clean up.
Why? The statement includes both similarities and differences and includes details that answer the question.
A good thesis takes a stand.
Question: Compare the benefits of staying in school to dropping out.
Bad thesis: Staying in school and dropping out of school are two options that high school students have.
Why? It doesn’t answer the question, nor does it take a stand. What is the opinion of the writer? Also, compare means compare AND contrast.
Good thesis: Despite the fact that high school graduates and dropouts can possibly achieve success outside of school, students who complete high school learn skills that non-graduates do not learn.
Equally good thesis, different stand: While high school graduates and dropouts can each achieve success outside of school, dropouts make the better choice by getting a job earlier and saving time.
* As long as you can defend your thesis, there isn’t a correct answer.
A good thesis justifies the need for a discussion.
Using the same question about staying in school:
Bad thesis: High school graduates have more success than dropouts.
Good thesis: High school graduates have more success than dropouts because they learn valuable skills in school that dropouts do not experience.
This is a better thesis because it summarizes your argument—you are going to argue that certain skills are learned in high school and that dropouts need those skills. The first thesis is weak because it does not specifically address your argument.
A good thesis is a roadmap for the reader showing exactly what you will write about. Every sentence in your essay should relate to the thesis in some way.
Your thesis statement is the answer to the question. It should summarize what you intend to write about and should tell the reader what to expect. In an essay where your thesis statement is:
Despite the fact that high school graduates and dropouts can possibly achieve success outside of school, students who complete high school learn skills that non-graduates do not learn.
You will have a paragraph with examples of how both graduates and dropouts experience success, then another paragraph where you give examples of skills that non-graduates miss by not finishing school.
Helpful Thesis Hints
To ensure your thesis takes a stand and is sophisticated enough for AP standards, use one of the following words to begin your thesis statement every time. When you have proven your ability to write a good thesis with one of these words, then I will tell you when you may branch out from them. Until that time, use:
Despite… or In spite of…
Although…
While…
And to ensure that you’re being specific and clear DO NOT use the following words, or Thesis Killers:
Very
Many
Things
Lots
Stuff