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The Thesis and its Formulation. All essays that involve the development of an argument require a thesis. Remember, the thesis defines your position on the subject. Figuratively speaking, the thesis is the spine of the essay.
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All essays that involve the development of an argument require a thesis. Remember, the thesis defines your position on the subject. Figuratively speaking, the thesis is the spine of the essay.
Your thesis, despite how strong it is, requires convincing evidence to support it. This evidence is found in the body of the essay.
In most essays, especially formal ones, the topic sentences of each paragraph are directly linked to the thesis. The body of each paragraph supports the topic sentence.
THESIS Topic Sentence Topic Sentence Topic Sentence Paragraph Body Paragraph Body Paragraph Body
It is important to develop a working thesis early because it will help direct your thoughts; of course your thesis may change as your reading and writing progresses and you begin to incorporate new information.
Once you have chosen your topic, you can begin to formulate your thesis. • Topic = what something is about – usually one or two words • Theme = says something about a topic - a complete sentence
One way to develop a thesis is to ask yourself questions about the topic and to focus on a central issue or problem that the topic raises. Your answer to this question, and why it is significant, will be your thesis.
TASK • First, think of a topic that interests you (eg. Music, school, teenage life, friends, family, sports, etc.). • Next, ask five meaningful questions about the topic. • Finally, answer your questions, being as specific and thorough as possible.
EXAMPLE • Topic- Music • Question – Why does music have the potential to offend certain listeners? • Answer (i.e. thesis) – Music has the potential to offend certain people because it can conflict with their beliefs and values. • How can we improve this thesis statement?
Answer (i.e. thesis) – Music has the potential to offend certain people because it can conflict with their beliefs and values. • Possible Improvement: Music has the potential to offend certain people because its lyrics and content can conflict with their beliefs and values.