Easy steps for narrowing the thesis statement

2. •Choose a subject that interests you.
•Choose a subject for which a wide range of source
material is readily available.
•You need to be able to find sources on your topic
•Choose a subject of some significance. A subject
of lasting interest will be challenging and
gratifying to pursue. You will be spending a great
deal of time and effort on this so make sure it's of
value.
Things to consider when choosing a topic

3. After you have
chosen a
general topic,
you must
narrow it so
that it becomes
more specific
and easier to
research.
Things to consider when choosing a topic

5.  One way to break a broad subject into separate topics is to
use a clustering.
VIDEO GAMES
popularity
cultural
influence
production
gaming
systems
design technology

6. Another way to break a broad subject down into topics is
to use a Thinking Map™ .
From your map, choose the topic that is most interesting
to you.
SOCCER
leaguesequipment rules famous
players
Olympic
soccer
countries
where soccer
is played
Introduction

7. •Do some general reading on your topic so that
you become familiar with various aspects of it.
•Establish the purpose of your paper. What
will you be informing the reader about? Be
sure your topic can be handled within the
assigned length.
•Focus on a particular aspect of your topic that
will lend itself to the sources available.
Things to consider when NARROWING a
topic

8. GENERAL TOPIC:
1. Alcoholism
2.Scientists/Mathematicians
3. Elizabethan England
4. Tennis
NARROWED TOPIC:
1. Causes of Alcoholism
2. Albert Einstein's Impact on
the 20th Century
3. Health Concerns in
Shakespeare's England
4. The Rise in Popularity of
Women's Tennis

9. We will then narrow our topics even further
into sub-topics. Consider your sub-topics the
same thing as your reasons in the body
paragraphs of your persuasive essay. This will
not take place for a while.
After we Narrow our topics, then what?

10. •GENERAL TOPIC: Eating Disorders
•BROAD TOPIC: Anorexia Nervosa
•SPECIFIC TOPIC: Physical Effects of Anorexia Nervosa
•Sub-Topic 1: Depletion of Vitamins and Minerals in the body
•Sub-Topic 2: Negative side effects on internal organs
•Sub-Topic 3: Heart issues
Example: How to Narrow Topic to Sub-Topics

11. So the formula for a thesis statement is:
Subject + Claim + Three Points of Support
1) It describes your topic, what your
essay will be about.
2) It introduces a specific claim you
are making about your topic.
3) It describes three ways in which you
will support and develop your claim.

12. Subject
+
Claim
+
Three Points of Support

13. Can you find the three different components
in this thesis statement?

14. 1.subject or topic
2.claim
3.three points of support

15. The essay is about going back to college.
But there is a lot to say on this subject, so now you
have to narrow it down to one specific claim.

16. The topic is narrowed down to the complexity of going
back to college. Now the topic is easier to talk about.
You just need to list
three points to support this claim.

17. Three reasons going back to college is complex:
1) you need to research a school
2) you need to apply for admission
3) you need to enroll in classes

18. Your thesis statement comes in your introductory
paragraph; then you need devote at least one paragraph
for each supporting point.
One paragraph will be about researching a school.
The next paragraph will discuss applying for admission.
And the third paragraph will be about enrolling in classes.
These will be followed by the concluding paragraph,
summarizing how these points prove your claim.

19. Subject
+
Claim
+
Three Points of Support