What is a thesis statement? A thesis statement declares what the writer believes and what they intend to prove. A good thesis statement makes the difference between a thoughtful research project and a simple retelling of facts. A good tentative

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What is a thesis statement?A thesis statement
declares what the writer believes and what they
intend to prove. A good thesis statement makes
the difference between a thoughtful research
project and a simple retelling of facts.A good
tentative thesis helps both the writer and the
reader focus on the information. Writers can
not know how to take a stand on an issue until
the evidence is examined.
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Writers begin their research with a working,
preliminary or tentative thesis which is
continually refined until the writer is certain
of where the evidence leads.The thesis
statement is typically located at the end of your
opening paragraph. (The opening paragraph
purpose is to set the context for the thesis.)
Remember, readers looking for your thesis. Make
it clear, strong, and easy to find.
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Attributes of a good thesis

• It should be contestable, proposing an arguable
  point with which people could reasonably
  disagree.
• A strong thesis is provocative it takes a stand
  and justifies the discussion the writer presents.
  
• It tackles a subject that could be adequately
  covered in the format of the project assigned.
  It is specific and focused.
• A strong thesis proves a point without discussing
  everything about Instead of music, think
  "American jazz in the 1930s" and your argument
  about it.

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It clearly asserts the writers conclusion based
on evidence. Note Be flexible. The evidence
may lead to a conclusion the writer didn't think
theyd reach. It is perfectly okay to change the
thesis! In fact it is expected!It provides the
reader with a map to guide him/her through the
writers work and thinking.
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It anticipates and refutes the counter-arguments.
It avoids vague language (like "it seems"). It
avoids the first person. ("I believe," "In my
opinion") It should pass the So what? or Who
cares? test (Would your most honest friend ask
why he should care or respond with "but everyone
knows that"?) For instance, "people should avoid
driving under the influence of alcohol," would be
unlikely to evoke any opposition.
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Lets Write a Thesis Statement
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Suppose your English Teacher hands out the
following assignment in a class on the American
novel Write an analysis of some aspect of Mark
Twain's novel Huckleberry Finn. "This will be
easy," you think. "I loved Huckleberry Finn!"
You grab a pad of paper and write

• Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn is a great American
  novel.

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What a weak thesis statement!

• Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn is a great American
  novel.

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Why is this thesis weak? Think about what the
reader would expect from the essay that follows
you will most likely provide a general,
appreciative summary of Twain's novel.

• The question did not ask you to summarize it
  asked you to analyze. The Teacher is probably not
  interested in your opinion of the novel instead,
  she wants you to think about why it's such a
  great novelwhat do Huck's adventures tell us
  about life, about America, about coming of age,
  about race relations, etc.? First, the question
  asks students to pick an aspect of the novel that
  they think is important to its structure or
  meaningfor example, the role of storytelling,
  the contrasting scenes between the shore and the
  river, or the relationships between adults and
  children.
• Now write

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In Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain develops a
contrast between life on the river and life on
the shore.
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• Thats better, but not good yet.

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Here's a working thesis with potential The
writer has highlighted an important aspect of the
novel for investigation however, it's still not
clear what analysis will reveal. While the reader
may be intrigued, they are left thinking, "So
what? What's the point of this contrast? What
does it signify?" Perhaps the writer isnt sure
either. The writer might want to work on
comparing scenes from the book and see what can
be discovered. Free write, make lists, jot down
Huck's actions and reactions. Eventually the
writer will develop a clear idea , and then for
the reader, why this contrast matters. After
examining the evidence and considering ones own
insights, the writer writes
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Through its contrasting river and shore scenes,
Twain's Huckleberry Finn suggests that to find
the true expression of American democratic
ideals, one must leave "civilized" society and go
back to nature.
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This final thesis statement presents an
interpretation of a literary work based on an
analysis of its content. Of course, for the essay
itself to be successful, you must now present
evidence from the novel that will convince the
reader of your interpretation.