{"id":12127,"date":"2024-06-27T16:32:40","date_gmt":"2024-06-28T00:32:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/create.twu.ca\/learningcommons\/?p=12127"},"modified":"2024-12-11T10:23:35","modified_gmt":"2024-12-11T18:23:35","slug":"basics-of-thesis-statements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/create.twu.ca\/learningcommons\/2024\/06\/27\/basics-of-thesis-statements\/","title":{"rendered":"Basics of Thesis Statements"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Welcome to the Learning Commons Quick Start Guide on the basics of writing thesis statements!<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This Guide will explain:<\/p>\n

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  • The purpose and placement of a thesis statement<\/li>\n
  • The basic structure of a thesis statement<\/li>\n
  • A few different styles of thesis statements<\/li>\n
  • What kind of thesis statement does my writing assignment need?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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    \u00a0<\/h5>
    Course Information<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>

    Course Level:<\/strong>\u00a0Beginner<\/p>

    Time to Complete:\u00a0<\/strong><10 mins<\/p>

    Perfect for:<\/strong>\u00a0First-year students<\/p>

    Guide Creator:<\/strong>\u00a0Laura Gosz<\/p>

    *Caution for WRTG 101<\/b> students:\u00a0 While this guide includes helpful information about thesis statements in academic writing, WRTG 101 courses require very particular patterns for thesis statements.\u00a0 Review your WRTG 101 Course Pack<\/b> and other class materials for specific information on how to write thesis statements for your assignments.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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    Section 1 - The Purpose and Placement of a Thesis Statement<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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    What is a thesis statement?<\/b><\/h2>\n
    A thesis is a 1-2 sentence statement in which you introduce your topic, and indicate how you are going to address the topic.  It shows your readers what the paper is about and identifies a specific direction you will take in your discussion of the topic (UNC Chapel Hill, 2023).  Your thesis should be clear and specific.<\/div>\n

    Your thesis should not be a fact that is agreed upon by everyone, but should be a statement whose main idea and supporting arguments are disputable (meaning a contrasting opinion could be taken).<\/p>\n

    Where do I put my thesis statement?<\/span><\/p>\n

    Your thesis statement should typically be placed as the last sentence of your introductory paragraph (University of Arizona, 2023).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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    Section 2 - Basic Structure of a Thesis Statement<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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    Every thesis statement should be able to answer a question.  Identifying a question is the first thing you should do in your writing process.  The question itself should <\/span>not <\/span>be written in your paper, but should be directly answered by your thesis statement.<\/span>
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    Different styles of assignments (such as compare and contrast papers, personal responses, book reviews, etc.) may require different styles of thesis statements.  However, all thesis statements should include the following two building blocks: the main idea<\/u>, and sub-arguments<\/u> (sometimes called “positions”) of your claim.  As stated above, these building blocks should be designed to directly answer your research question.<\/p>\n

    Main idea<\/u> of the paper:<\/b><\/p>\n

    Your thesis statement should make clear to your reader what the main idea<\/u> of your paper is.  The main idea<\/u> is a claim that you plan to explain with supporting evidence (University of Arizona, 2023).<\/p>\n

    Example…<\/b><\/p>\n

    Let’s pretend you are writing a paper about the global coffee industry.  Your general topic is–of course–the global coffee industry, but the main idea you want to communicate about coffee should be specific.  Your first step would be to identify a specific question.  Perhaps your question is, “How does the global coffee industry benefit developing countries?”  The main idea<\/u> of your thesis should specifically answer the question.  For example, your answer–and therefore your main idea<\/u>–could be, “The global coffee industry benefits <\/b>developing countries.”  Your reader now knows that your paper will specifically be addressing the impact (in this case, the benefit) of the global coffee industry on developing countries.<\/p>\n

    Sub-arguments:<\/u><\/b><\/p>\n

    After making clear your main idea, you must insert a few words explaining how you will support<\/u> your main idea.  For example, the thesis statement about coffee needs to be more specific on HOW the global coffee industry has benefitted developing countries.  The author could explain that this happens through: 1) creating consistent positions of employment for local farmers<\/u>, and 2) providing a reliable source of national income<\/u>.<\/p>\n

    Now the thesis–with the main idea<\/u> and supporting arguments<\/u>–looks like this:<\/p>\n

    “The global coffee industry benefits developing countries through creating consistent positions of employment for local farmers and providing a reliable source of national income.”<\/b><\/p>\n

    This statement successfully answers your question, and shows your reader what the specific topic of the paper<\/u> is–the benefit of the global coffee industry on developing nations–and how it will be discussed in the paper (through the supporting arguments<\/u> of consistent employment and reliable national income).  In the body paragraphs of your paper you will provide specific evidence that fits within the sub-arguments<\/u> and supports your main idea<\/u>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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    Let's review...<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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