Introductions to Essays/Thesis Statements

Thesis Statements

H. Fleming

English IV

What is a thesis statement?

• The “hardest working” sentence in essays.
• Identifies the focus of your essay.

Function or Purpose: prepares your audience to think about what you plan to fully discuss or prove OVERALL.

Where is the thesis statement located?

Your thesis statement should almost always be the last sentence of your introductory (first) paragraph.

Characteristics of a good thesis

A good thesis:

• is a complete sentence
• is a statement rather than an announcement
• specific
• takes a position
• is written in third person

A Complete sentence

NO

Fragment

• Monte Cristo who was really Edmond Dantes seeking revenge against those who had betrayed him.

Question

• Was Edmond Dantes right to seek revenge?

YES

Complete Sentence Edmond Dantes, as Monte Cristo, was justified in taking revenge against those individuals who wronged him.

Edmond Dantes, as Monte Cristo, was not justified in seeking revenge against those individuals who wronged him.

A statement rather than an announcement

NO

YES

In my essay, I will discuss the impact of revenge on Monte Cristo’s personality.

The subject of my paper is duality in The Count of Monte Cristo.

In The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, all of the characteristics that made Edmond Dantes the man that he was were slowly destroyed by his desire for revenge.

Specific Statements

Not Too Broad

Not Too Narrow

The Count of Monte Cristo is a book about revenge.

In The Count of Monte Cristo, Edmond Dantes lost his love because of Danglars’ letter.

Takes a position

X There are many reasons why Edmond Dantes takes revenge.

• Edmond Dantes, as Monte Cristo, was justified in taking revenge against those individuals who wronged him.

Forming your thesis statement: Two Formulas

Formula 1:

A specific topic

+ a particular feeling, feature, or stand

__________________

= an effective thesis statement

Formula 2:

3 parts:

A specific topic

Attitude or opinion

How or why factor

__________________

= an effective thesis statement

Examples:

Formula 1: Writing to inform

Formula 2: Writing an argument

Assignment: Essay about opportunities in education

Specific topic: High school internships

Thesis Statement: Internship programs (specific topic) give students real-world experiences (particular feature).

Assignment: Essay about opportunities in education

Specific topic: High school internships

Thesis Statement: Internship programs (specific topic) benefit most students (attitude or opinion) because of students’ ability to learn through hands-on training (how or why factor).

Practice: