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Building Your Thesis Statement

Building Your Thesis Statement. Vietnam Research http://www.sdst.org/shs/library/thesis.html. What is a Thesis?. A thesis statement declares what you believe and what you intend to prove makes the difference between a thoughtful research project and a simple retelling of facts.

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Building Your Thesis Statement

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  1. Building Your Thesis Statement Vietnam Research http://www.sdst.org/shs/library/thesis.html

  2. What is a Thesis? • A thesis statement declares what you believe and what you intend to prove • makes the difference between a thoughtful research project and a simple retelling of facts. • located at the end of your opening paragraph • your reader will be looking for your thesis. Make it clear, strong, and easy to find

  3. Example Thesis Statements • The Simpsons represents the greatest animated show in the history of television. • Although many parents of teens struggling with body image may blame television models and other such stars, these body issues and their disorders stem back to their daughters' younger days of pigtails and Barbies. • Despite their high-tech special effects, today's graphically violent horror movies do not convey the creative use of cinematography or the emotional impact that we saw in the classic horror films of the 1940s and 50s.

  4. Attributes of a Good Thesis • propose an arguable point with which people could reasonably disagree • It is specific and focused. (Instead of music, think "American jazz in the 1930s" and your argument about it.) • It clearly asserts your own conclusion based on evidence • It avoids vague language (like "it seems"). • It avoids the first person. (“In my opinion…”)

  5. Attributes of a Good Thesis • It should pass the So what? or Who cares? test (Would your most honest friend ask why he should care or respond with "but everyone knows that"?) • For instance, "people should avoid driving under the influence of alcohol," would be unlikely to evoke any opposition.

  6. How do you know if you've got a solid tentative thesis?  • Try these five tests: • Does the thesis  inspire a reasonable reader to ask, "How?" or Why?" • Would a reasonable reader NOT respond with "Duh!" or "So what?" or "Gee, no kidding!" or "Who cares?" • Does the thesis  avoid general phrasing and/or sweeping words such as "all" or "none" or "every"? • Does the thesis lead the reader toward the topic sentences (the subtopics needed to prove the thesis)? • Can the thesis be adequately developed in the required length of the paper or project?

  7. Thesis Brainstorming • Example of brainstorming a thesis: 1.Select a topic: television violence and children 2. Ask an interesting question: What are the effects of television violence on children? 3. Revise the question into a thesis: Violence on television increases aggressive behavior in preschool children. 4. Remember this argument is your “preliminary” or “working” thesis. As you read you may discover evidence that may affect your stance. It is okay to revise your thesis!

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