• to better organize and develop your argument • to provide your reader with a “guide” to your
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argument
In general, your thesis statement will accomplish these goals if you think of the thesis as the answer to the question your paper explores.
Here is an example of a weak thesis statement:
World hunger has many causes andeffects.
Why is it weak?
a.) world hunger can't be discussed well in only a few pages
b.) it has many causes and effects, whereas you need to identify specific causes and effects
So, when we are more specific, we might come up with something like this:
Hunger is a big problem in Appalachia because there is high unemployment and farming in the infertile soil is rarely profitable.
Why is it strong?
a.) narrows the subject to a more specific and manageable topic
b.) identifies some specific causes for the existence of hunger
A strong thesis statement shows your reader exactly what your paper will be about.
Now, let’s practice identifying strong and weak thesis statements:
a.) There are many positive and negative aspects to the Banana Herb Tea Supplement.
b.) Because the Internet is filled with tremendous marketing potential, companies should exploit this potential by using web pages that offer both advertising and customer support.
c.) My family is an extended family.
d.) More attention should be paid to the environment kids grow up in.
e.) While most American families would view marring family members as a threat to traditional family structure, many Iranian families, like my own, believe that these marriages help strengthen ties in an extended family.
Your turn!! In order to simplify things a little bit, we are going to start our thesis statements with while or although:
Why Should Your Essay Contain a Thesis Statement?
• to better organize and develop your argument
• to provide your reader with a “guide” to your
In general, your thesis statement will accomplish these
goals if you think of the thesis as the answer to the question your paper explores.
Here is an example of a weak thesis statement:
World hunger has many causes and effects.
Why is it weak?
a.) world hunger can't be discussed well in only a few pages
b.) it has many causes and effects, whereas you need to identify
specific causes and effects
So, when we are more specific, we might come up with something like this:
Hunger is a big problem in Appalachia because there is high unemployment and farming in the infertile soil is rarely profitable.
Why is it strong?
a.) narrows the subject to a more specific and manageable topic
b.) identifies some specific causes for the existence of hunger
A strong thesis statement shows your reader exactly what your paper will be about.
Now, let’s practice identifying strong and weak thesis statements:
a.) There are many positive and negative aspects to the Banana Herb Tea Supplement.
b.) Because the Internet is filled with tremendous marketing potential, companies should exploit this potential by using web pages that offer both advertising and customer support.
c.) My family is an extended family.
d.) More attention should be paid to the environment kids grow up in.
e.) While most American families would view marring family members as a threat to traditional family structure, many Iranian families, like my own, believe that these marriages help strengthen ties in an extended family.
Your turn!! In order to simplify things a little bit, we are going to start our thesis statements with while or although:
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