Your Thesis Statement: 

The Only Sentence Worth   More Than A Thousand Words 

Setting the Tone- Your Introduction Paragraph 

Think of your introduction paragraph as a funnel:

First, grab you readers attention with a general statement about your topic . 

End your introduction with a strong statement/ claim that tells your reader what you intend 

to prove to the m    about your topic. 

Then, give your reader a brief explanation (2 -  5      sentences) of what you will be explaining 

about your topic. • Today’s Focus  -  Your THESIS 

First, let’s look at what a Thesis Statement 

 is   N O T !

" A boat is not a hull, sails, masts and rigging.

That is what a boat NEEDS. What a boat is......is FREEDOM!!”

Captain Jack Sparrow

Si m   ilarly, 

• A T H ESIS is   N OT your T O P I C.

T O P I C

Your topic tells your reader what you are talking about.

For E x ample: – “I will compare marijua n a usage over the last 5

years.”

This is not a thesis, it is only “A Topic”. 

Your Thesis Statement is NOT Your Topic!  

Your thesis tells your reader your position on your topic.

For Example: – “Marijuana usage has decreased over the past

five years due to the successful ‘War on Drugs’”.This is a Successful Thesis Statement 

Surprisingly, your thesis should be an arguable OPINION - NOT A FACT! 

– WHY? • Because that is what makes your paper interesting to

your reader! 

• Your thesis should always be a statement that demands PROOF! – If not, what will you do for the ne x t 2 - 1 0 pages???

Your Thesis Statement is NOT A Fact About Your Topic! 

You spend the rest of your paper CONVINCING your reader of why YO U R OPINION is TRUE ! 

Your thesis prepares your reader for the facts that will

prove your opinion about your topic to be true - it can

not be a fact itself. 

Your Thesis Should Take A

STAND! 

I DO N  ’ T WA N  T YO U  R FACTS!!(YET)

Your Thesis Statement is NOT A Fact About Your Topic! 

“Eagles have very keen eye sight in order to see their prey from high altitudes.”  

NOT a fact!!!!

No facts!Don’t state a fact!

So what?

“Because of the eagle's keen vision and ability to soar high above all other birds,

it is the ideal symbol for America.”

Now, that is a strong thesis! 

What a Thesis Statement is … 

It is the sentence that answers your readers biggest question: 

What on Earth Is Your Point?  

By telling your reader your point in the first paragraph, you set the tone

and make sure they are not frustrated and confused for the rest

of your essay.

 Now That You Know What A Thesis Statement 

Is,Let’s Look At What    Makes A Strong Thesis 

Statement… 

Which of the following is TRUE about your THESIS STATEMENT? 

1.  It Tells your Reader Your Topic       2.  It Tells the Reader a Fact About Your Topic 3.  It Tells the Reader your Point 

 

Requirements For a Strong Thesis: 

• It should not be TOO  BROAD! • It should not be TOO  NARROW! • It should not be TOO VAGUE! 

A Strong Thesis Should Not Be Too Broad! You may find yourself drowning in information,

unable to prove your point! 

Let’s Look At An Example “The death penalty should be banned

in the United States.” • That would definitely leave you drowning: • TOO BROAD! 

“The death penalty in Virginia has been ineffective in

deterring crime and should be replaced with more

efforts to reform criminals and not murder them.”

• Much Better!• That definitely is an opinion narrow enough to be 

proven in a college essay!  

A Strong Thesis Should Not Be Too Narrow Either! 

You may find Yourself trying to stretch the small amount of

information that you find to fit your essay! If your thesis is too specific for you...

Example:

“In Pirates of the Caribbean, Dead Man’s Chest, the sword designed by Will for the

Commodore represents the passing down of a legacy.”

• Though this  may be interesting, it would take some tugging to stretch it into an entire essay! 

“In Pirates of the Caribbean, Dead Man’s Chest, the sword designed by Will for the

Commodore foreshadows the conflicts the movie will reveal about their relationship with each other and with the Governor's

daughter.”• That looks like a thesis statement you

wouldn’t have to stretch for! 

A Strong Thesis Should Not Be Vague! 

You may find your reader

Dazed and Confusedif your claim is not specific or clear enough.

“Getting rid of welfare in the United States is a horrible idea.” 

• The word HORRIB L E is hard to define! It    m akes this thesis Too V A G U E! 

“If the United States were to get rid of welfare, it would aggravate an already severe

homeless problem, cause a rise in crime, and remove the only safety net that our country

has in place.”  • To Fi x It:Define the term   “ horrible idea”  for your 

reader. 

• It is easier to write a thesis statement that explains what you have found in your research, than to find research that explains what you have written in your thesis! 

• You want the opinion that your thesis states to be provable by facts that you have gathered.  If you gather the facts first, you K N OW that it can be proven! 

• What would my reader want to know about my topic? 

• What is the most important thought that I have about my topic? 

• What will be the point of my paper?