What is a Thesis Statement?
Thesis Statements are
a road map for the paper; in other words, they tell the reader what to expect
from the rest of the paper. It is an important part of writing an effective research paper or beginning any research project. A good thesis statement can:
- Directly answer the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself. The subject, or topic, of an essay might be World War II or Moby Dick; a thesis must then offer a way to understand the war or novel.
- Make a claim that others must dispute.
- Are
usually a single sentence somewhere towards the end of your first paragraph
that presents your argument to the reader. The rest of the paper, the body of
the essay, gathers and organizes evidence that will persuade the reader of the
logic of your interpretation.
Examples of STRONG Thesis Statements:
- A
Good Thesis Statement: Because Banana Herb Tea supplement promotes rapid
weight loss that results in the loss of muscle and lean body mass, it poses a
potential danger to customers.
- A
Strong Thesis Statement: Hunger persists in Guatemala because jobs are scarce
and farming in the infertile soil is rarely profitable.
- A
Strong Thesis Statement: Through
its contrasting river and shore scenes, Twain‟s Huckleberry Finn suggests
that to find the true expression of American ideals, one must leave „civilized‟
society and go back to nature.
Examples of WEAK Thesis Statements:
- A Weak Thesis Statement: There are some positive and negative aspects to the Banana Herb tea supplement.
- A Weak Thesis Statement: World hunger has many causes and effects.
- A Weak Thesis Statement: Mark Twain‟s Huckleberry Finn is a great American novel.