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A Word about the Thesis – EH 1302

An underlined thesis will be required in almost every EH 1302 essay and the research

paper. Prior to writing a paper, read the points below about developing a thesis (also

called an argument, opinion, or claim). For further help with understanding a thesis, refer

to Chapters 1, 4, 17, and pp. 98-102 of the textbook.

• The thesis (argument, opinion, or claim) is the main point of the essay or research paper. It is the primary argument upon which the entire essay or research paper will

focus.

• In EH 1302, the thesis must be placed in the introductory paragraph.

• The thesis must be one, underlined declarative sentence.

• The thesis must be stated as your argument from an omniscient point of view, and the thesis must be a debatable opinion developed after completion of the reading

assignment. Leave yourself out of the thesis. In other words, do not use personal

pronouns I, me, my, mine, us, ours, or we in the thesis.

• Avoid the use of quotations and clichés in the thesis.

• The thesis must be supported in all paragraphs of the essay or research paper.

• Do not include forms of the verb “be” in the thesis (be, is, am, was, being, are, been,

were).

• The thesis must be restated (not in the same words) in the concluding paragraph of the essay or research paper. Nothing in the concluding paragraph should be

underlined.

• Use this document as the primary guidance to develop a thesis for this class.

Mike Wright

English Composition Instructor

mwright@faulkner.edu

251-533-3119