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THESIS STATEMENTS

Thesis statements perform the following functions:

· States central idea of the essay (reveals writer’s purpose)

 

· Limits the topic covered in the essay

 

· Controls the selection of evidence to support the essay’s thesis

 

· Suggests how the writer has organized the essay

 

· Helps the writer maintain unity in the essay

 

Simple statements vs. thesis statements

 

A simple statement is just simply a statement; there is little more to be said.

Example: Applicants must take a test before getting their driver’s license.

 

A thesis statement contains both a subject (what is being written about) and a focus (what is stated about the subject).

Example: In addition to the standard driver’s test, applicants should also have to take a road rage safety course.

 

Also, be wary of writing thesis statements that are too broad, too narrow, or statements that contain more than one idea.

(Source for following examples: Langen, John. College Writing Skills with Readings. 5th ed. McGraw-Hill: New York, 2001.)

Examples:

Too Broad: (Too broad is not “incorrect,” however, a thesis with a refined focus is more desirable.)

1.      My parents have been the most influential people in my life.

2.      Crime is a major concern of everyone in our country.

3.      The “baby boom” generation has changed history.

Too Narrow:

1.      My parents had only one child.

2.      In the last year there have been over twenty robberies in our neighborhood.

3.      The members of the post-World War II “baby boom” make up the largest single age group in the United States.

Two or more ideas:

1.      My parents helped me grow in important ways, although in other respects I was limited.

2.      The problem of overcrowded American prisons must be solved, and judges must start handing out tougher sentences.

3.      The “baby boom” generation has had many advantages, but it also faces many problems.