Effective Thesis Statements

 

Thesis Statement:  Final sentence in the intro ¶.

 

·       Claim/statement of opinion re: a specific topic

·       Directed toward an identifiable audience

·       Tells the reader what to know (informative), think (convincing), or do (persuasive)

·       Supportable: Lends itself to reasons/examples

 

*Santa Clara County voters should vote “No” on Prop. 14 due to the financial hardship it will cause.

 

Examples:   

 

*Who is the intended audience for each?  Which is a “think,” which is a “know,” and which is a “do”?

 

1.  Smokers who still smoke pre-made cigarettes need to seriously consider rolling their own.

 

2.  Knowing how to file for divorce is the most crucial information a mail-order bride can have.

 

3.  Family Guy is funnier than the Simpsons. 

 

 


Characteristics of an Effective Thesis:

 

 

·       Not too broad, too vague, or too narrow

Broad:  We need to bring the troops home.

Vague:  Pro-lifers have a respectable stance.

Narrow:  Eng. 1A is a graduation requirement.

 

·       Strong; confident (no I; no announcements)

 

·       Only states one idea

Negative Example:  Smoking not only shortens a person’s life, but it also shortens the lives of those with whom the smoker lives/associates. 

 

·       Directed to a narrowed target audience (A certain group needs to hear your argument.)

 

·       Sparks interest (Don’t write about what your reader already knows, already agrees with, or is already doing.)

 

·       Conveys purpose (Know, think, or do is clear)