A well-written thesis statement should meet the following criteria: You can use the above tips to write a clear, concise thesis statement for your forthcoming informative speech. They need to be refined. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Hence, try not only to introduce your topic in your thesis statement but also to add your analysis in it. Start with a question -- then make the answer your thesis. Examples of such thesis statements are: example 1: for example:- “access to clean water is a human right”, is a non-disputed research thesis proposal fact. 3. You’re A Writer. (2015). These are the considerations that will lead you to write a defining argument of your essay. Improving your thesis statement [Video file]. math problem solving questions grade 4. This statement will be a precise answer to the questions that you have discussed in your entire essay. …ask yourself a genuine, difficult question about the topic (usually a “how” or “why” question), and state your response, even if you are not sure why you want to give that answer. Incorrect: Jon will let me know in the event that he can get away and make the trip. The clearer version specifies sites (Facebook and Twitter), the type of harm (privacy issues), and whom the issue is harming (users). Library. Correct: Jon will call me if he can go. Hypothesize. Do you believe that Bigfoot really exists? Library. Often a statement of tension, where the author refutes or complicates an existing assumption or claim (counterargument). Have any of you ever seen Bigfoot or some other type of man-beast. In your explanation, consider the following questions: Does your thesis statement introduce the claim you want to make? Clear, concise, and goes beyond fact or observation to become an idea that needs to be supported (arguable). Before we get into the discussion as to how to write a thesis statement, let’s identify what a thesis statement actually is. Everything you need to know about writing Writing a Clear and Concise Thesis Statement. Would that particular audience be interested in this question? In other words, the thesis must be something that people could reasonably have differing opinions on. The issue is that the topic which you have chosen for your essay is not a generally agreeable topic. The more complex version is written in two parts; it is thought-provoking and requires both significant investigation and evaluation from the writer. Regardless of how complicated the subject is, almost any thesis can be constructed by answering a question. …think of a strong statement or observation you have made about the subject beginning with the words “In this essay, I will…” Then ask yourself why this observation is important, or “So What?” [1]. Then revise out the “I” statements. A good thesis statement adds specific terms or language. Adapted with permission from George Mason University Writing Center (2014). Before we get into the discussion as to how to write a thesis statement, let’s identify what a thesis statement actually is. After you’ve come up with a question, think about what path you think the answer will take. Choose an interesting general topic. 1. You’re asking the wrong question, How to Get Started Building Your Author’s Platform Today. A thesis must change a reader’s mind to be of value. For example, Why should parents and caregivers limit the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages in Canadian children’s diets? There has not been much previous work on this topic. So always keep in mind that the topic you select should be agreeable for all. Evaluate your question. [2]The following statements on writing in the disciplines have been borrowed from the Writing Guides found at the Writing Across the Curriculum website at http://wac.gmu.edu/. Introduction: Getting Ready for Research, 6. http://writingcenter.gmu.edu/writing-resources/wc-quick-guides, Wilfrid Laurier University. 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." Often a statement of tension, where the author refutes or complicates an existing assumption or claim (counterargument). Retrieved from https://library.wlu.ca/help/tutorials/developing-research-question. A statement of personal conviction or opinion. What if your research contradicts your planned argument? Revised on September 25, 2020. You will spend a good deal of time doing background reading, choosing sources, and writing about your findings; if the question doesn’t motivate you to begin with, it will be harder to stay interested in your research throughout the process. Consider these questions as we watch a video narrated by researcher Mike Rugg. Imagine a situation where you have clearly stated your thesis in one or two sentences but the readers still find it ambiguous or unbelievable. A good thesis statement is the basis for an excellent essay. Ask yourself: So what? A Thesis statement is: The statement of the author’s position on a topic or subject. Your thesis statement is the central argument of your essay. Examples of general topics might be: Child nutrition, Supply chain management, or Oscar Wilde’s essays. To write a thesis statement, figure out the type, purpose, and audience of your paper. 5. How to Write a Research Question. Write a clear and concise thesis statement for a speech on the use of technology in the classroom (or use one you have already written). Answer the question with “I believe this is because…” In the draft stage you might phrase a working thesis as the following: In this essay, I plan to explain how Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn contrasts his river and shore scenes. Developing Your Argument. Clear: How are online users experiencing or addressing privacy issues on such social networking sites as Facebook and Twitter? Do some background reading in reference sources, and a few quick searches in current periodicals and journals on your topic, to see what’s already been done and to help you narrow your focus. Incorrect: It has come to my attention that there is a vast proliferation of undesirable vegetation surrounding the periphery of this facility. Too simple: How are doctors addressing diabetes in North America? The last sentences of the introduction should be a statement of objectives and a statement of hypotheses.”, Business: “When you write in business courses, you will usually write for a specific audience. Additionally, explain why you feel it is effective. It must be concise and well-written. Where do you think your research will lead you? Even directed academic research should focus on a topic in which the writer is at least somewhat personally invested. Would you consider Mike Rugg an unbiased researcher? animal testing. Without it, your writing won’t have a starting point or clear structure. Authority is Constructed and Contextual, Research Question, Thesis Statement, and Avoiding Researcher Bias, Academic integrity and avoiding plagiarism, Who's Watching You? Have you written an organized argumentative statement that could work as a clue to the whole essay? It’s nothing but your own views about the topic or the analysis of the topic you do personally. Remember, you’re writing the problem statement as part of an essay for your class; you’re not texting your friends. find a focus: when dealing with this type of statements, you should pay particular attention to a few things you should and should not do one of the keys you need to succeed in tips and examples for writing thesis statements model of a business plan this assignment is your ability to write a concise and compelling thesis statement that enables you to autobiography essay outline give the reader a clear sense of direction and a glimpse of what you business plan pro premier edition intend to discuss. This might shock you and you may wonder why it is so? Without a well-thought-out thesis statement, your paper is likely to end up jumbled and with an how to write a lab report biology unclear purpose. For example, you should not write that hunger kills many people in the world, rather provide your reader with the exact number of people who died of hunger. Correct: Luis was interested in data processing. Avoid any ambiguous wordings in your thesis statement. Required fields are marked *. Published on January 11, 2019 by Shona McCombes. Correct: I have noticed many weeds growing around the building. 4. Retrieved from https://library.wlu.ca/help/tutorials/improving-your-thesis-statement. Should You Write What You Know? Shorten wordy phrases. Incorrect: Luis was interested in the data processing field. Objectivity is needed when researching and writing. The simple version of this question can be looked up online and answered in a few factual sentences; it leaves no room for analysis. Draft your thesis : Good ideas are rarely born fully formed. Tip 3: Use formal language. If it presents only facts or an obvious finding, it will merely confirm what the reader already believes.”. to clear how a thesis statement write. Appropriately Complex: What are common traits of those suffering from diabetes in North America, and how can these commonalities be used to aid the medical community in prevention of the disease? Unfocused: What is the effect of global warming on the environment? Research questions help writers focus their research by providing an anchor for the research and writing process. Have any of you done serious research on the subject of Bigfoot, Sasquatch, yetis, etc.? (2015). Keep in mind that thesis statements vary depending on the purpose of the assignment (or type of essay), and also by discipline. Taking into consideration all of the above, start asking yourself open-ended “how” and “why” questions about your general topic. It’s a must to add your individual analysis of the topic of your essay to the thesis statement of your essay. If it is a compare and contrast essay , you should point out the similarities and differences of the works discussed in your thesis statement and develop the details in the body of your paper. Unclear: I do not want that. A thesis statement is an introduction to the whole thesis that you built in your essay. Tip 2: Write the problem statement after you write your paper. You should ask a question about a topic that you are genuinely curious to answer. Shared with the permission of Joanne Oud, Instructional Technology Librarian, Wilfrid Laurier University Library. Even if you have a limited choice of topics, assigned by a professor, try to find aspects of a topic, or issues that arise from it, that you wish to explore in more detail. Unclear: Why are social networking sites harmful? Please reach out to your instructor or email the Writing Center for assistance! The unclear version of this question doesn’t specify which social networking sites or suggest what kind of harm the sites are causing.