The Thesis Statement

1. The Thesis Statement Dr. Richard Sanzenbacher And Dr. Mary Custureri

2. Importance of thesis statement • The thesis statement • Most important sentence in your paper. • Directs the reader’s attention to • point • arguable position • strong belief • or exploratory question you want reader to consider/think about.

3. When do you create your thesis? • Write it before you write your first draft. Why? • A thesis is tentative • It can change if your paper changes direction or focus

4. Writing a Tentative Thesis

5. Constructing the Thesis • Consider a possible aspect of the topic you have chosen. • Ask yourself: • “Of all the things I want to convince my reader of about the subject, what would that one angle be. Why? • Why do I consider this perspective so important for my readers to think about?” Write this down. 3. Ask yourself a. “How will Imake my readers understand this aspect of the subject? b. “What specific ideas, examples, situations, etc. could I use to help my reader understand the focus I have selected? 4. Suggested formula for the thesis statement: “To understand ________, we must __________________.

6. Questioning If Thesis sentence is Correct 1. WHICH LIMITED ASPECT? 2. HOW TO MAKE READERS UNDERSTAND ASPECT? 3. SPECIFIC IDEAS, SITUATIONS, SCENES TO MAKE READERS UDERSTAND ASPECT? 4. HOW DO THESE IDEAS, SITUATIONS, CONCEPTS HELP MY READER FULLY COMPREHEND LIMITED ASPECT?

7. Examples of Thesis Statements • To understand the social satire of some of Gary Larson’s cartoons in THE FAR SIDE, we must examine the interplay between humans and animals in selected cartoons and determine how this interplay emphasizes the weaknesses and ludicrous behavior of humans Comment 1. First part of thesis: narrowed topic to the social satire of some of Larson’s cartoons. 2.Comment 2: Identified the specific area of study –“The weaknesses and ludicrous behavior of humans” and the limited subject matter: “The interplay between humans and animals” that would demonstrate this behavior.

8. Two-part Structure of This Thesis • Part 1: “To understand the satire of some of Larson’s cartoons in THE FAR SIDE…. The writer asserts that he wants his readers to understand something: “the satire of some of Gary Larson’s cartoons…” The writer has narrowed his focus

9. Part 2 of Thesis Structure “…we must examine the interplay between humans and animals in selected cartoons and determine how this interplay emphasizes the weaknesses and ludicrous actions of humans.” • Writer refers back to first part of the thesis, stating how his readers are going to understand Larson’s social satire in selected cartoons by “examining the interplay between humans and animals in selected cartoons.” • Writer adds how this interplay between humans and animals will “emphasize theweaknesses and ludicrous actions of humans”

10. Another example of the two-part structure: • To understand the concept of the quest in the Grimms’ Hansel and Gretel, we must examine their departure from the home, their journey into the unknown, and the experience they undergo. (This might be changed from we must to the reader might or the reader should. )

11. More examples of 2 part structure“To understand…..we must…” To understand the mood that certain photographs of Robert Doesneau emanate, we must scrutinize the demeanor of the people and the play of light and shadow

12. Two-part thesis structure, cont.. • To understand the presence of evil in Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw, we must analyze the characters of Peter Quint and Miss Jessel, their effects on the children,and their encounters with the governess. Note that this two-part structure also includes a divided thesis.

13. Review of the two-part structure • This thesis statement format is easy to follow and works. • A writer cannot go in a wrong direction; neither can the reader. • This structure has the basic essentials needed for understanding the author’s intent. • The first part of the thesis statement, beginning with the words to understand, delineates the focus of the essay. • The second part, beginning with we must, or the reader must, focuses on the specific ways in which the author of the essay is going to make the reader understand.

14. THESIS: LIMITING SPLIT THESIS versusBROAD GENERAL THESIS • Your thesis pinpoints the angle at which you will approach your essay or the point/s you address. • The first thesis is the Limiting Split Thesis. • The second is a Broad General Thesis. • Whichever you use depends upon the points your essay will cover. • The controlling idea, the thesis, gives your reader expectations about the information or ideas your essay will cover.

15. Limiting Split Thesis • Specifically identifies number of points included (usually three). • Probably the easiest to use: Gives blueprint to writer • Easiest for reader to follow. • You can write a limiting split thesis in one sentence or in sentences that each express one main point. • NOTE: If more than three points, a limiting split thesis will not work well. You will need a broad general thesis.

16. Limited Split Thesis cont… • Important: You may want to list your points in order of importance. • You might list the least important first and proceed to the most important at the end, • OR list the more important first and proceed to the least important at the end. You must plan first.

17. Broad General Thesis Suggests points that will be covered in essay. • Use when you are sure you can present your ideas skillfully, without initial narrow split of main points you will cover. • Still need mental or written blueprint to follow in sequence, so readers can follow the argument • Do not jump from one point to another in your essay or inject material not relevant to your general thesis.

18. Examples: Split Thesis and Broad General Thesis SPLIT: While aspirin seems to be a panacea to treat a number of ills such as pain, fever, and control of blood clots, one should consider research that has revealed aspirin may cause bad side-effects such as allergic reactions, bleeding and ulcers. GENERAL,BROAD: Although aspirin is commonly used to treat a number of ills, people should approach this medication with caution.

19. Split Thesis and Broad General Thesis SPLIT THESIS: Illiteracy in in our country causes harm not only to the illiterate in social,mental and physical ways, but also to the country, because an illiterate person may be easily manipulated politically. BROAD GENERAL THESIS: Illiterate people face many drawbacks which may hurt themselves and which make them vulnerable to the manipulations of others.