Question: “What are the benefits of using computers in a fourth-grade classroom?” Thesis: “Computers allow fourth graders an early advantage in technological and scientific education. " Question: “Why is the Mississippi River so important in Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn??” ‘Thesis:“The river comes to symbolize both division and progress, as it separates our characters and country while still providing the best chance for Huck and Jim to get to know one another. " Question: “Why do people seem to get angry at vegans, feminists, and other “morally righteous” subgroups?” Thesis: “Through careful sociological study, we’ve found that people naturally assume that “morally righteous” people look down on them as “inferior,” causing anger and conflict where there generally is none. "
Thesis: “Computers allow fourth graders an early advantage in technological and scientific education. "
‘Thesis:“The river comes to symbolize both division and progress, as it separates our characters and country while still providing the best chance for Huck and Jim to get to know one another. "
Thesis: “Through careful sociological study, we’ve found that people naturally assume that “morally righteous” people look down on them as “inferior,” causing anger and conflict where there generally is none. "
Analytical: Breaks down something to better examine and understand it. Ex. “This dynamic between different generations sparks much of the play’s tension, as age becomes a motive for the violence and unrest that rocks King Lear. " Expository: Teaches or illuminates a point. Ex. “The explosion of 1800’s philosophies like Positivism, Marxism, and Darwinism undermined and refuted Christianity to instead focus on the real, tangible world. " Argumentative: Makes a claim, or backs up an opinion, to change other peoples’ minds. Ex. “Without the steady hand and specific decisions of Barack Obama, America would never have recovered from the hole it entered in the early 2000’s. "
Ex. “This dynamic between different generations sparks much of the play’s tension, as age becomes a motive for the violence and unrest that rocks King Lear. "
Ex. “The explosion of 1800’s philosophies like Positivism, Marxism, and Darwinism undermined and refuted Christianity to instead focus on the real, tangible world. "
Ex. “Without the steady hand and specific decisions of Barack Obama, America would never have recovered from the hole it entered in the early 2000’s. "
“While both sides fought the Civil War over the issue of slavery, the North fought for moral reasons while the South fought to preserve its own institutions. " “The primary problem of the American steel industry is the lack of funds to renovate outdated plants and equipment. " “Hemingway’s stories helped create a new prose style by employing extensive dialogue, shorter sentences, and strong Anglo-Saxon words. "
“After the third and fourth time you see him beat himself, one finally realizes that Huck Finn is literature’s first full-blown sadomasochist. " “The advent of internet technology has rendered copyright laws irrelevant – everyone can and should get writing, movies, art, and music for free. " “Though they have served admirably for the past two centuries, recent research shows that America needs to ditch the two-party system, and quickly. "
Good Theses Examples: “By owning up to the impossible contradictions, embracing them and questioning them, Blake forges his own faith, and is stronger for it. Ultimately, the only way for his poems to have faith is to temporarily lose it. " “According to its well-documented beliefs and philosophies, an existential society with no notion of either past or future cannot help but become stagnant. " “By reading “Ode to a Nightingale” through a modern deconstructionist lens, we can see how Keats viewed poetry as shifting and subjective, not some rigid form. " Bad Theses Examples: “The wrong people won the American Revolution. " While striking and unique, who is “right” and who is “wrong” is exceptionally hard to prove, and very subjective. “The theory of genetic inheritance is the binding theory of every human interaction. " Too complicated and overzealous. The scope of “every human interaction” is just too big “Paul Harding’s novel Tinkers is ultimately a cry for help from a clearly depressed author. " Unless you interviewed Harding extensively, or had a lot of real-life sources, you have no way of proving what is fact and what is fiction. "
“By owning up to the impossible contradictions, embracing them and questioning them, Blake forges his own faith, and is stronger for it. Ultimately, the only way for his poems to have faith is to temporarily lose it. " “According to its well-documented beliefs and philosophies, an existential society with no notion of either past or future cannot help but become stagnant. " “By reading “Ode to a Nightingale” through a modern deconstructionist lens, we can see how Keats viewed poetry as shifting and subjective, not some rigid form. "
“The wrong people won the American Revolution. " While striking and unique, who is “right” and who is “wrong” is exceptionally hard to prove, and very subjective. “The theory of genetic inheritance is the binding theory of every human interaction. " Too complicated and overzealous. The scope of “every human interaction” is just too big “Paul Harding’s novel Tinkers is ultimately a cry for help from a clearly depressed author. " Unless you interviewed Harding extensively, or had a lot of real-life sources, you have no way of proving what is fact and what is fiction. "
is an assertion, not a fact or observation. Facts are used within the paper to support your thesis. takes a stand, meaning it announces your position towards a particular topic. is the main idea and explains what you intend to discuss. answers a specific question and explains how you plan to support your argument. is debatable. Someone should be able to argue an alternate position, or conversely, support your claims.
Example thesis statements with good statement language include: “Because of William the Conqueror’s campaign into England, that nation developed the strength and culture it would need to eventually build the British Empire. " “Hemingway significantly changed literature by normalizing simplistic writing and frank tone. "
A clear topic or subject matter A brief summary of what you will say Another way of looking at a thesis is as a formula, or a pattern, that comfortably holds your ideas: [Something] [does something] because [reason(s)]. Because [reason(s)], [something] [does something]. Although [opposing evidence], [reasons] show [Something] [does something]. The last example includes a counter-argument, which complicates the thesis but strengthens the argument. In fact, you should always be aware of all counter-arguments against your thesis. Doing so will refine your thesis, and also force you to consider arguments you have to refute in your paper.
There are two schools of thought on thesis timing. Some people say you should not write the paper without a thesis in mind and written down, even if you have to alter it slightly by the end. The other school of thought says that you probably won’t know where you’re going until you get there, so don’t write the thesis until you know what it should be. Do whatever seems best to you.
