Which of the following helped Alonzo to be a competent communicator? Example of a debatable thesis statement: At least 25 percent of the federal budget should be spent on limiting pollution. Elements of a Thesis Statement For every essay you write, you must focus on a central idea. Weak thesis statements are vague in their assertions, leaving audiences confused as to what the writer intends to argue. When you begin your essay with a thesis statement that attracts interest, you engage your audience and entice them to keep reading. Tip The best way to revise your thesis statement is to ask questions about it and then examine the answers to those questions. For any claim you make in your thesis, you must be able to provide reasons and examples for your opinion. .
Exercise 1 On a separate sheet of paper, write a thesis statement for each of the following topics. On a separate piece of paper, identify each as weak or strong. Rather, they connect words and phrases to the second half of the sentence. The original includes too broad a range of people and does not define exactly what success entails. A thesis statement must present a relevant and specific argument. Alonzo met with Professor Johnson in the professor's office.
Weak thesis statement: Religious radicals across America are trying to legislate their Puritanical beliefs by banning required high school books. A thesis is one sentence long and appears toward the end of your introduction. Alonzo understood that Professor Johnson was likely rushing because it was the end of the semester, and she had grading to finish, so she could turn in final grades to the administration on time. Ex: Compared to an absolute divorce, no-fault divorce is less expensive, promotes fairer settlements, and reflects a more realistic view of the causes for marital breakdown. Clarify ideas that need explanation by asking yourself questions that narrow your thesis. Narrowed debatable thesis 2: America's anti-pollution efforts should focus on privately owned cars because it would allow most citizens to contribute to national efforts and care about the outcome.
Exercise 2 Read the following thesis statements. The author could not cover all of the topics listed above, yet the generality of the claim leaves all of these possibilities open to debate. Sub topics: Goal setting, Time Management, Motivation 3. The thesis statement or main claim must be debatable An argumentative or persuasive piece of writing must begin with a debatable thesis or claim. If your thesis states that your paper will be about the importance of student participation in sports, you should not discuss the rules of soccer in your paper, as this discussion is not directly germane to the thesis you laid out. Types of claims Claims typically fall into one of four categories. She has been actively freelancing since 2008.
Pay attention to your own everyday thesis statements as well, as these can become material for future essays. It should be specific and express one main idea. Ex: Exposing children from an early age to the dangers of drug abuse is a sure method of preventing future drug addicts. Example of a non-debatable thesis statement: Pollution is bad for the environment. Thesis Should Be a Map A quality thesis will serve as a map for your reader.
Pay attention to your own everyday thesis statements as well, as these can become material for future essays. The thesis statement for this type of essay is called a mapped thesis statement and should be one sentence in length. In this case, Sam established the relevance of his topic to. These are two different issues, so the writer has to choose one. It is one of the first things your teacher looks for and one of the main factors for your grade. Schreiner previously worked for a London-based freelance firm. This idea stems from a topic you have chosen or been assigned or from a question your teacher has asked.
Linking verbs often make thesis statements weak because they do not express action. Working thesis: Kansas City schoolteachers are not paid enough. Follow tips from this article to create a strong thesis and demonstrate your knowledge of the specific subject and academic writing skills. Would your entire audience agree with you before they had read your essay? Then revise the weak statements so that they conform to the requirements of a strong thesis. What are the components of a strong thesis statement? Linking verbs are forms of the verb to be, a verb that simply states that a situation exists. Working thesis: Kansas City schoolteachers are not paid enough.
Example: Instead of drilling for oil in Alaska we should be focusing on ways to reduce oil consumption, such as researching renewable energy sources. Ex: Weak thesis statement: The life of Abraham Lincoln was long and challenging. Strong Character qualities that make corporate managers successful often make their management styles ineffective. Strong thesis statements seek to answer a specific question. State your opinion on the topic.
It indicates to readers the kinds of ideas and evidence that will be explored in the essay body that follows. By replacing those general words like people and work hard, the writer can better focus his or her research and gain more direction in his or her writing. In this example there is also room for disagreement between rational individuals. Weak Drunk driving is a serious problem with long-lasting consequences. By asking questions, the writer can devise a more precise and appropriate explanation for joke. A strong thesis statement must be precise enough to allow for a coherent argument and to remain focused on the topic. For example, if a writer is asked to produce an essay on the death penalty, he would first ask questions that he finds interesting about that topic, such as: Is it ethically permissible to inflict a penalty that cannot be undone? Weak thesis statement: My paper will explain why imagination is more important than knowledge.