2. CREATING A STRONG
ANALYTICAL THESIS
STATEMENT
DEFINING YOUR PURPOSE . . .
FOCUSING YOUR WRITING AND YOUR READER
With appreciation to Brent Simoneaux, “Lesson 5: Thesis Statements”,
http://www.slideshare.net/bsimoneaux/lesson-5-thesis-statements
3.
4. Argument:
An argument: a reasoned and logical
communication of ideas to some
audience.
An argument: works to produce
some NEW understanding of some
issue to its audience
8. Kinds of Argument
Claims of fact or definition: Global
warming threatens the planet with ruin and
destruction . . . .
Claims of cause and effect
Claims about value
Claims about solutions of policies
10. Kinds of Argument
Claims of fact or definition
Claims of cause and effect: Overfishing
has ruined Maine’s Grand Banks fishing
zone. . . .
Claims about value
Claims about solutions of policies
12. Kinds of Argument
Claims of fact or definition
Claims of cause and effect
Claims about value: Computer dating is
the best/worst thing that ever happened
to singles in America. . . .
Claims about solutions of policies
14. Kinds of Argument
Claims of fact or definition
Claims of cause and effect
Claims about value
Claims about solutions of policies: The
cure for our country’s debt crisis is
massive new tax hikes on income
earners . . .
17. Launching Your Argument
With a Thesis Statement
Appears at the beginning of your paper
Consists of a single (but kinda long) sentence
18. Launching Your Argument
With a Thesis Statement
Appears at the beginning of your paper
Consists of a single (but kinda long) sentence
Announces the conclusion of your argument.
19. Launching Your Argument
With a Thesis Statement
Appears at the beginning of your paper
Consists of a single (but kinda long) sentence
Announces the conclusion of your argument.
States the reasons for your conclusion
20. Launching Your Argument
With a Thesis Statement
Appears at the beginning of your paper
Consists of a single (but kinda long) sentence
Announces the conclusion of your argument.
States the reasons for your conclusion
Defines your purpose
21. Launching Your Argument
With a Thesis Statement
Appears at the beginning of your paper
Consists of a single (but kinda long) sentence
Announces the conclusion of your argument.
States the reasons for your conclusion
Defines your purpose
Focuses you (on your writing) and your audience (on
their reading)
22.
23. Building Your Thesis Statement
Ou r Federal T ax Code
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .
24. Building Your Thesis Statement
Ou r Federal T ax Code
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .
It’s not a complete sentence
25. Building Your Thesis Statement
Ou r Federal T ax Code
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .
It’s not a complete sentence
It does not state a conclusion about anything
26. Building Your Thesis Statement
Ou r Federal T ax Code
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .
It’s not a complete sentence
It does not state a conclusion about anything
It makes no arguable claims about the topic
27. Building Your Thesis Statement
Ou r Federal T ax Code
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .
It’s not a complete sentence
It does not state a conclusion about anything
It makes no arguable claims about the topic
It argues no evidence, gives no reasons for
either a claim or a conclusion
28.
29. Building Your Thesis Statement
e about ou r Federal
I’m g oing to writ
T ax Code
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .
30. Building Your Thesis Statement
e about ou r Federal
I’m g oing to writ
T ax Code
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .
It’s not a complete sentence and the focus is on
‘I’ the writer, not the topic
31. Building Your Thesis Statement
e about ou r Federal
I’m g oing to writ
T ax Code
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .
It’s not a complete sentence and the focus is on
‘I’ the writer, not the topic
States no conclusion about anything
32. Building Your Thesis Statement
e about ou r Federal
I’m g oing to writ
T ax Code
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .
It’s not a complete sentence and the focus is on
‘I’ the writer, not the topic
States no conclusion about anything
It makes no arguable claims about the topic
33. Building Your Thesis Statement
e about ou r Federal
I’m g oing to writ
T ax Code
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .
It’s not a complete sentence and the focus is on
‘I’ the writer, not the topic
States no conclusion about anything
It makes no arguable claims about the topic
It argues no evidence, gives no reasons for
either a claim or a conclusion
34.
35. Building Your Thesis Statement
x hours on m y 1040 this
I spent si
year.
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .
36. Building Your Thesis Statement
x hours on m y 1040 this
I spent si
year.
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .
The focus is still on ‘I’ the writer, not the topic
37. Building Your Thesis Statement
x hours on m y 1040 this
I spent si
year.
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .
The focus is still on ‘I’ the writer, not the topic
States a fact-no argument possible or likely
38. Building Your Thesis Statement
x hours on m y 1040 this
I spent si
year.
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .
The focus is still on ‘I’ the writer, not the topic
States a fact-no argument possible or likely
It makes no arguable claims about the topic
39. Building Your Thesis Statement
x hours on m y 1040 this
I spent si
year.
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .
The focus is still on ‘I’ the writer, not the topic
States a fact-no argument possible or likely
It makes no arguable claims about the topic
It argues no evidence, gives no reasons for
either a claim or a conclusion
40.
41. Building Your Thesis Statement
the Federal Ta x Code.
I hate
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .
42. Building Your Thesis Statement
the Federal Ta x Code.
I hate
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .
The focus is still on ‘I’ the writer, not the topic
43. Building Your Thesis Statement
the Federal Ta x Code.
I hate
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .
The focus is still on ‘I’ the writer, not the topic
States an opinion-no argument possible or likely
44. Building Your Thesis Statement
the Federal Ta x Code.
I hate
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .
The focus is still on ‘I’ the writer, not the topic
States an opinion-no argument possible or likely
It makes no arguable claims about the topic
45. Building Your Thesis Statement
the Federal Ta x Code.
I hate
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .
The focus is still on ‘I’ the writer, not the topic
States an opinion-no argument possible or likely
It makes no arguable claims about the topic
It argues no evidence, gives no reasons for either
a claim or a conclusion
46.
47. Building Your Thesis Statement
deral Tax C ode is too
The Fe
dep ressing and frightening.
This is NOT a good thesis statement because . . .
48. Building Your Thesis Statement
deral Tax C ode is too
The Fe
dep ressing and frightening.
This is NOT a good thesis statement because . . .
It’s too broad and vague hard to focus on.
49. Building Your Thesis Statement
deral Tax C ode is too
The Fe
dep ressing and frightening.
This is NOT a good thesis statement because . . .
It’s too broad and vague hard to focus on.
Fuzzy claims are hard to argue for or against
50. Building Your Thesis Statement
deral Tax C ode is too
The Fe
dep ressing and frightening.
This is NOT a good thesis statement because . . .
It’s too broad and vague hard to focus on.
Fuzzy claims are hard to argue for or against
Possibly too personal, bordering on opinion
51.
52. Building Your Thesis Statement
edera l Tax Cod e is helpful.
The F
This is NOT a good thesis statement yet because . . .
53. Building Your Thesis Statement
edera l Tax Cod e is helpful.
The F
This is NOT a good thesis statement yet because . . .
Although the statement makes an arguable claim. . . .
54. Building Your Thesis Statement
edera l Tax Cod e is helpful.
The F
This is NOT a good thesis statement yet because . . .
Although the statement makes an arguable claim. . . .
The predicate (“is helpful”) needs to be developed
and detailed.
55. Building Your Thesis Statement
edera l Tax Cod e is helpful.
The F
This is NOT a good thesis statement yet because . . .
Although the statement makes an arguable claim. . . .
The predicate (“is helpful”) needs to be developed
and detailed.
Helpful how? In what ways?
56. Building Your Thesis Statement
edera l Tax Cod e is helpful.
The F
This is NOT a good thesis statement yet because . . .
Although the statement makes an arguable claim. . . .
The predicate (“is helpful”) needs to be developed
and detailed.
Helpful how? In what ways?
Helpful for whom? When? Always?
57.
58. Building Your Thesis Statement
e it is too
reform becaus
The Federal Tax Code needs
ial privileges and
d with unfair spec
co mplicated, it is fille capital flight from
vites evasion and
ex emptions and it in
the US.
This is a thesis statement because . . .
59. Building Your Thesis Statement
e it is too
reform becaus
The Federal Tax Code needs
ial privileges and
d with unfair spec
co mplicated, it is fille capital flight from
vites evasion and
ex emptions and it in
the US.
This is a thesis statement because . . .
It forms a complete sentence with clear, sharp
language
60. Building Your Thesis Statement
e it is too
reform becaus
The Federal Tax Code needs
ial privileges and
d with unfair spec
co mplicated, it is fille capital flight from
vites evasion and
ex emptions and it in
the US.
This is a thesis statement because . . .
It forms a complete sentence with clear, sharp
language
It states a firm conclusion about the topic
61. Building Your Thesis Statement
e it is too
reform becaus
The Federal Tax Code needs
ial privileges and
d with unfair spec
co mplicated, it is fille capital flight from
vites evasion and
ex emptions and it in
the US.
This is a thesis statement because . . .
It forms a complete sentence with clear, sharp
language
It states a firm conclusion about the topic
It makes arguable claims about the topic
62. Building Your Thesis Statement
e it is too
reform becaus
The Federal Tax Code needs
ial privileges and
d with unfair spec
co mplicated, it is fille capital flight from
vites evasion and
ex emptions and it in
the US.
This is a thesis statement because . . .
It forms a complete sentence with clear, sharp
language
It states a firm conclusion about the topic
It makes arguable claims about the topic
It argues evidence and gives reasons for the
conclusion
63.
64. A Good Thesis Statement produces
a DOUBLE BENEFIT
For the Writer: You have the parts of your essay RIGHT
THERE IN FRONT OF YOU!!!!!
You know what you want to prove and how you’re
going to prove it!
You know the kind of EVIDENCE you will search
for!
65. A Good Thesis Statement produces
a DOUBLE BENEFIT
For the Writer: You have the parts of your essay RIGHT
THERE IN FRONT OF YOU!!!!!
You know what you want to prove and how you’re
going to prove it!
You know the kind of EVIDENCE you will search
for!
For the Readers: The readers see a ‘map‘ of your essay right
there at the beginning.
They know what you want to prove and how you’re
going to prove it!
They know the kind of EVIDENCE you will offer.