Probably, the writer won

1
A thesis tells the writers point
not just the topic.
I am going to be writing about baseball.
The reader has no idea what point the writer
will try to make about baseball.
Here is an example of a writer that has only
stated the topic.
Probably, the writer wont make any point, but
will just drift around saying anything that is
connected to baseball.
If the writer had a point, he or she would say
what it is.
2
A thesis states the writers point
not just the topic.
Baseball belongs strictly in America.
After reading this bold statement, its hard not
to know the point the writer is going to make.
The reader may not agree, but the writing is not
so weak that the reader doesnt even know.
The writer has a point, so he or she said what it
is.
3
Follow these two guidelines
1. Make a claim with which reasonable people
might disagree.
2. Make this claim very specific.
4
1. Make a claim with which reasonable people
might disagree.
Reasonable people will not disagree with facts.
Therefore, a mere statement of fact cannot be a
thesis.
Instead, create a claim about those facts.
My Greek family loves to eat. Winter should be
fun on the Island. Mars is the most Earthlike
planet.
The love of food creates an important family bond
in traditional Greek Culture.
With many winter attractions, the Island should
concentrate on attracting year-round visitors.
Because Mars is the most Earthlike planet,
building a colony there should be one of our
highest goals.
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2. Make this claim very specific.
A thesis that tries to rope in many aspects of
the topic is too vague.
Instead, write a thesis that is specific to the
topic being examined.
Many tactics are used to sell products on
television. Many new drugs and procedures are
now used to treat cancers. George is a great
basketball player, an excellent fisherman, and a
writer of poetry.
Peer pressure is the most powerful tactic used to
sell products on television.
Laser surgery is the most promising new procedure
for throat cancer.
The driving force in Georges life is the love of
nature that his grandfather taught him.
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2. Make this claim very specific.
A thesis that merely states the goodness or
badness of the topic is too vague.
Instead, write a thesis that is specific to the
topic being examined.
Track is good for me. Snowmobiles are an
excellent idea for our Island. Home births are
a bad idea. Hemingway is a really good writer.
Track develops the whole person better than other
athletic activities available to high school
students. Although a home birth appeals to many
people, the risks involved make in an inferior
choice to a hospital birth. Hemingways stories
helped create a new prose style by using
extensive dialogue, shorter sentences, and
strong, simple words.
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There is an easy way to identify a weak thesis
If the topic can be switched, its weak!
Track is good for me.
Snowmobiles are
Island winter is
A home birth would be
Romeo and Juliet in Shakespeares play show the
importance of true love.
Darcy and Elizabeth
Pride and Prejudice
Westley and Buttercup
The Princess Bride
8
Here is a rule that another teacher put on his
website to keep his students from writing vague
thesis statements.
9
Make a claim with which reasonable people might
disagree.
1. Merely announcing the topic is not enough. A
thesis statement must have something to say about
the topic.
2. Since reasonable people wont disagree with
facts, a thesis statement should not be a fact.
Instead, make a claim about your facts.
Make this claim very specific.
1. Dont try to rope in different things about
the topic.
2. It is not specific enough to merely claim that
the topic is good or bad.
3. A claim made by a thesis statement that can be
switched with another topic is very weak!