{"id":7245,"date":"2023-12-12T20:19:54","date_gmt":"2023-12-12T20:19:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/create.twu.ca\/learningcommons\/?p=7245"},"modified":"2024-06-12T13:30:56","modified_gmt":"2024-06-12T21:30:56","slug":"basics-of-writing-thesis-statements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/create.twu.ca\/learningcommons\/2023\/12\/12\/basics-of-writing-thesis-statements\/","title":{"rendered":"Basics of Writing Thesis Statements"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Course Information<\/b><\/p>\n

Course level: <\/b>Beginners<\/p>\n

Time to Complete:<\/b> 15 minutes<\/p>\n

Perfect for:<\/b> First-year students<\/p>\n

*Caution for WRTG 101<\/b> students: While this Quick Start 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\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Welcome to this Quickstart Guide on the Basics of Writing Thesis Statements!<\/b><\/p>\n

In this Quickstart guide, we will discuss the following sections:<\/p>\n

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  • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe purpose and placement of a thesis statement<\/b><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBasic structure of a thesis statement<\/b><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tA few different styles of thesis statements<\/b><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
  • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat kind of thesis statement style does my writing assignment need?<\/b><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\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 begin!<\/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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    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><\/p>

    A thesis is a 1-2 sentence statement in which you introduce your topic, and indicate how you are going to address the topic.\u00a0 It shows your readers what the paper is about and what specific direction you will take in your discussion of the topic (UNC Chapel Hill, 2023).\u00a0 Your thesis should be clear and specific.<\/p>

    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>\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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    Where do I put my thesis statement?<\/b><\/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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    \nSection 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.\u00a0 Identifying a question is the first thing you should do in your writing process.\u00a0 The question itself should\u00a0not<\/span>\u00a0be written in your paper, but should be directly answered by your thesis statement.<\/p>\n

    Different styles of assignments (such as compare and contrast papers, personal responses, book reviews, etc.) may require different styles of thesis statements.\u00a0 However, all thesis statements should include the following two building blocks: the main idea, and sub-arguments (sometimes called “positions” of your claim.\u00a0 As stated above, these building blocks should be designed to directly answer your research question.<\/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

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

    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 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 developing countries.”  Your reader now knows that your paper will specifically be addressing the effect (in this case, the benefit) of the global coffee industry on developing countries.<\/p>\n

    Sub-arguments:<\/u>  After making clear your main idea, you must insert a few words explaining how you will support your main idea.  For example, the thesis statement about coffee needs to be more specific about 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 and supporting arguments–looks like this:<\/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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    “The global coffee industry benefits developing countries through creating consistent positions of employment for local farmers and providing reliable source of national income.”<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    This statement successfully answers your question, and shows your reader what the specific topic of the paper is–the benefit of the global coffee industry on developing nations–and how it will be discussed in the remainder of the paper (through the supporting arguments of consistent employment and reliable national income).\u00a0 In the body paragraphs of your paper you will provide specific evidence that fits within the subarguments and support your main idea.<\/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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    Watch this video for supplemental information on the components of a solid thesis statement.\u00a0 Pay attention for these key words:<\/b> main topic, position, evidence, concise, disputable, coherent, argumentative approach, expository approach, and analytical approach.<\/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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    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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