Dr. Jennie A. Harrop

Thesis Statements

Definition to Remember:

• Thesis = Topic + Claim

Rules to Remember:

1. A thesis statement is the main idea or subject of your paper, while a topic sentence is the main idea of a single paragraph. Sometimes the thesis may develop in your mind early in the writing process, and sometimes it will become more clear or shift as you work through the writing process.
2. The thesis statement should be a single, concise sentence. An effective thesis statement has two parts: (1) the topic and (2) your claim about the topic.
3. Your thesis is a contract that you establish with your readers. The voice, tone, assurances, and promises of your thesis must continue throughout the essay.
4. An effective thesis statement should be as specific as possible and be limited enough to make it manageable. Keep your thesis statement specific enough to be adequately discussed within the length of your paper. If a thesis statement is too general or vague, it can be difficult to decide what to write about.
5. Be wary of absolute words like all, none, everyone, no one, always, never in your thesis statement. If a reader can think of an exception to your absolute statement, he or she may set your entire argument aside. Be careful, too, to avoid claims that are too over-arching and, therefore, suspect.
6. Your thesis should serve as an umbrella for the essay that follows. Every topic sentence for each of the body paragraphs must fit neatly beneath the umbrella, just as every item of evidence also must fit. If anything does not fit under the umbrella of your thesis, revise accordingly to either broaden or narrow your umbrella until the simple math works.
7. To compose an effective thesis statement, follow these three steps:
   • Restate your topic as a question. If, for example, your topic is about the health and care of domestic cats, you might restate your topic as follows: Should domestic cats be permitted to roam freely in residential neighborhoods? Do you see how this restatement begins to give both your research and your writing better purpose?
   • Answer your question with a single-sentence claim. An effective thesis statement (1) announces a topic and (2) states a claim. What assertion will you make about your topic and why? To answer our domestic cat question, we might assert the following: Domestic cats should only be permitted to roam freely in residential neighborhoods if they meet specific county-designated standards.
   • Focus your thesis. Remember that the more specific you are, the easier it will be to effectively discuss and prove your thesis: Domestic cats should only be permitted to roam freely in residential neighborhoods if they have a chip inserted that identifies their home, homeowner, and vaccination record.  “Write succinctly. There is a better chance people will read and appreciate your thoughts.” Dr. Aimee Stone Cooper, Pastor

Common Errors:

• Assuming that the implied focus of an introduction is enough. Every essay must have a clear, concise thesis statement; never assume that your readers understand your intentions.
• Including a thesis that does not make a claim. With the advent of the internet, gone are the days when informational papers were a necessary exercise. Because most information is available at the touch of an app, your focus must be on the claim you intend to make about the topic you have chosen.
• Presenting a thesis that is too broad or too narrow. While the line between the two can be tenuous and difficult to locate, it is worth the effort. When a thesis is too broad, it is difficult to argue adequately without leaving notable holes in your rationale; when a thesis is too narrow, it can be challenging to find much at all to say to one another.
• Neglecting to revise the thesis umbrella as the project unfolds. The more flexible you are, the more successful your end result will be.

Introductions

Definition to Remember:

• Catchy First Line + Inspiration + Thesis = Introduction

Rules to Remember:

1. First impressions are critical. If you want your readers to continue reading, you must capture their attention, present yourself as reasonably authoritative, and offer a clear sense of purpose – all in your introductory paragraph.
2. A catchy first line is essential. If humor is appropriate to your purpose and audience, use it. If a question might help draw your readers in, open with one. Remember that your first line and your thesis statement are typically not the same; most essays open with a catchy first line, with the thesis statement falling somewhere near the end of the first paragraph. Your first line does not need to carry the weight of a thesis statement, so have fun with it. Keep it short, and keep your readers wondering so they will choose to read on.
   Consider the following first lines. Would you keep reading? Why or why not?
   • It was a morning that would never end.
   • Ralph fell sideways.
   • When the sun set over the national forest on May 17, 1980, no one realized the enormity of what the next day would bring.
   • Saturdays were chicken-soup-making days, which meant Beulah was required to select the best chicken from the coop, snap its neck with a firm twist, and pluck feather after feather from the warm skin.
   • Politicians rarely listen well.
   • I was done.
   • Thirty-two emails later, the deal was signed.
   • When Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone to the world in June 2007, everything changed.
   • They spent the first two years of their marriage in a Japanese internment camp in northern Washington state.
   • The root system of the Douglas fir is surprisingly shallow for a tree that often grows to more than 70 feet tall.
3. Without inspiration, you will have a difficult time convincing your readers that they should be inspired to read further. If you want your readers to be engaged, you must be energetic about the ideas you want to communicate, and that energy should show through in your very first opening lines. What excites or interests you about this topic? Should you open with a particularly inviting story, or a surprising fact, or a compelling question? How will you inspire your readers to join you for this journey?
   Consider the following options to bring life and energy to your introduction:
   • a related story
   • a provocative question or series of questions
   • a hypothetical scenario
   • a surprising fact or series of facts
   • an engaging direct quotation
   • a striking statement
   • background information or context
   • an opposing argument
   • the who, what, where, when, and why of the paper’s focus
   • a combination of the types listed above
4. Your readers will expect to see your thesis as the closing line of your introductory paragraph, which can be an effective way to transition from your introductory ideas to the main points of your paper. But the thesis does not have to be the final line of the first paragraph. If you choose to place it elsewhere, be sure it is very clear to your readers which sentence is your thesis statement.
   “I believe that the ability to communicate complex ideas in a simple fashion is more important to engineering than technical ability. It helps you be sure you are solving the correct problem.” Andrew Gracey, Software Engineer

Common Errors:

• Writing a “since the dawn of mankind” introduction. Remember that your goal here is to intrigue and inspire, not diffuse. Always write something that you would be excited to read.
• Composing an obligatory introduction. If you are writing your introduction because you know it is required but your inspiration is minimal, consider how much less inspired your readers will be. Don’t include an introductory paragraph just because you must; let it sing.
• Including Wikipedia or another encyclopedia or dictionary definition in your introduction. If you are looking for the authoritative voice of an effective definition, consider looking at disciplinary-specific source, such as a medical journal or a sociology textbook. Encyclopedias and dictionaries are not considered credible sources at the university level and beyond.

Body Paragraphs

Definition to Remember:

• Topic Sentence + Evidence = Body Paragraph

Rules to Remember:

“I always imagine my emails being carefully read by a panel of experts critiquing me on my efforts years after I sent them. I put a lot of time into crafting well-articulated emails to ensure my point is coming across without being too rushed or too lengthy no matter who the audience. I never include anything I wouldn’t want written on my tombstone.” Dale Harris, IT Professional

1. Each body paragraph must adhere to the simple math of topic sentence + evidence = paragraph. Remember that your readers will expect a new topic with each new paragraph, or at least a very clear progression forward of ideas.
2. If it seems appropriate, include a summary sentence at the end of each body paragraph to remind your readers of your overall purpose for the essay.
3. While there is no rule about the expected length of a paragraph, your readers will expect general uniformity. If your opening paragraphs are short, maintain that pattern throughout your essay. If your opening paragraphs are long, all paragraphs in your essay should be similarly long.

Common Errors:

• Forgetting to adhere to the simple math of the paragraph. When we “just write,” we tend to either contradict or repeat ourselves. While “just writing” is the preferred approach for a first draft, use the revision process to apply the simple math that will aid your readers in reading quickly, efficiently, and energetically.
• Assuming that a topic sentence is not necessary with each new paragraph. When you assume, your readers will assume, and those assumptions almost never align.
• Losing track of your main purpose. Here is where the umbrella metaphor can be helpful. Once you have a clear thesis statement, imagine each new body paragraph resting beneath that open umbrella. Does the new topic fit? Does it move your argument forward? Is your thesis statement broad enough to include all that you hope to include, and yet narrow enough to be manageable in the length required?

Conclusions

Definition to Remember:

• Thesis + Wisdom + Catchy Last Line = Conclusion

Rules to Remember:

1. Much as your introduction gives readers a first impression of who you are and what you hope to accomplish, your conclusion is your chance to offer final wisdom. For many readers, your concluding words are what they will remember long after they have finished reading your piece. For that reason, your concluding paragraph is critical.
2. Always end your essay in a way that reinforces your thesis and your purpose. A conclusion must provide a sense of closure. Readers should recognize your final paragraph as an ending. If you feel compelled to type the words “The End,” you’re not there yet.
3. Remember to look ahead. Is there future research that you intend or would recommend? Is there something specific you hope your readers will do with the ideas you have shared? Is there a new direction to turn? How can you use your conclusion to keep your readers thinking, even after they have set your essay aside?
4. Remind your readers of your overall thesis. Do not merely repeat your thesis. If you have added sufficient evidence in your essay to support your claim, your thesis should sound different to your readers than it did in the introduction. As you remind your readers of your purpose, allow your thesis to express the fullness of all of the evidence you have brought to bear.
5. Offer wisdom that your readers can take with them. Much like the introduction, here are several possible approaches for ending an essay well:
   • a related story
   • a provocative question or series of questions
   • a hypothetical scenario
   • a surprising fact or series of facts
   • an engaging direct quotation
   • a striking statement
   • background information or context
   • an opposing argument
   • the who, what, where, when, and why of the paper’s focus
   • a combination of the types listed above
6. Finish with a catchy last line that is both conclusive-sounding and memorable. Much like a catchy first line, an effective last line should be concise, poetic, persuasive, and provocative.
   “Writing well may offer little respect, but writing poorly certainly loses it.” David Hartmann, Director of Client Success

Common Errors:

• Tacking on a placeholder conclusion. Writers are often fatigued by the time they are ready to write that final paragraph, and, unfortunately, it shows. As with any kind of writing, if you are finding the work tedious, imagine how uninterested your readers will be. Always save time to set your work aside and refresh before writing your conclusion; the added effort will always pay off.
• Repeating what has been said already. While many of us were taught in elementary school to use the conclusion as an opportunity to remind your readers of everything you just said, an effective post-elementary school conclusion should aspire for more than merely repetition.