Roadrunner 1

Thesis Statement

As you are reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, you should be interacting with the text and reacting to the authors’ message(s) in order to formulate a thesis statement for your research paper. You may agree or disagree with the author's main points as you determine the main topic for your research. The author of the book has addressed popular culture issues in a variety of ways. Your challenge in this research paper is to focus your research on one argument the author has made and, through your research, prove or disprove the correctness of the author's claims. The first step in the process is to produce a thesis statement to guide your research.

All thesis statements have a few things in common:

  • a declarative statement
  • an imperative statement
  • assumptions

Declarative statement

  • This statement introduces the general topic of discussion by supplying a brief introduction to the subject of the research paper.

Imperative statement

  • This statement makes the claim of the research paper and ultimately becomes the argument of the thesis statement.

Assumptions

  • This statement suggests outcomes that arise as a result of the claim made

in the thesis statement.

Possible topics to guide your research

A good research paper will investigate all possible facets of a topic. Below are

a few general areas that most researchers investigate as a means to support

the different components of their arguments.

  • Sociologysociety, interaction, community
  • Psychologynorms, morals, values
  • Governmentlaws, enforcement, consequences
  • Politicspoliticians, legislation, elections
  • Economicsfinances, economy, money
  • Mediaadvertisements, programs, publishers
  • Peoplemodels, stars, role models
  • Newslocal, national, international

Ronnie Roadrunner

English 110

B. Ruff

23 Sep. 2013

Thesis Statement

Mims, Joan, and Elizabeth Nollen. “Introduction for Students.” Mirror on America: Short
Essays and Images from Popular Culture. Eds. Joan Mims and Elizabeth Nollen.
Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2006. xv-xvii.

Declarative Statement

  • Popular culture consists of a society’s objects, people, events, and places; it reflects that society’s values and preferences. All citizens in a society will readily recognize at least some of the components of that society’s popular culture.

Imperative Statement

  • It is very important for Americans to study and become intimately familiar with the components of this country’s popular culture.

Assumptions

  • Becoming aware of the people, symbols, and icons of this country will enlighten each American citizen and allow him or her to become a more engaged, active, and aware American.

Thesis statement

American popular culture, the objects, people, events, and places that reflect this country’s values and preferences, is readily apparent to all Americans in one way or another. It is very important for Americans to study and become intimately familiar with the components of this country’s popular culture in order to become enlightened, engaged, active, and aware Americans.

Possible research topics

  • Sociology – cultures, societies, trends
  • Psychology – norms, values, preferences
  • Economics –advertisements, products, trademarks, logos
  • Politics – politicians and their effects on society
  • Law – laws and legislation