Thesis Statement

Definition of thesis statement
A thesis statement is a statement that occurs at the end of the introduction, after the background information on the topic. The thesis statement is connected to the background information through a transition, which could be a complete sentence or a simple transition. word, like therefore, because, but etc.

The thesis statement is called the "heart of the essay." The idea of ​​an essay without a thesis statement is similar to a body without its heart. It is also called the "center point" or the "core" of an essay. It is made up of evidence that the writer uses to elaborate her theme. Each of these pieces of evidence is then elaborated and discussed in the body paragraphs.

If there are three body paragraphs, the thesis statement must have three evidences, and if it has more than three body paragraphs, they can be additional evidences. three pieces of evidence support the issue, while the fourth piece of evidence is against it. The same goes for persuasive essays. This applies to five-paragraph essays, but in the case of a longer essay, the thesis statement could make use of more than one sentence.

There is slight controversy over the location of a thesis statement. placed in the first paragraph at the end, while others believe that, in longer essays, it is not possible to give background information in a single paragraph. Since the background information takes two or three paragraphs, the thesis statement is kept a little larger, with two or three sentences, and is placed at the end of the second or third paragraph; however, in a five-paragraph essay, the thesis statement is always placed at the end of the introduction, after the background information. must have evidence
must be interesting
must be limited
must be manageable
must be searchable.
Difference between a thesis statement and a topic
Sometimes students confuse a thesis statement with a topic, confusing the thesis statement with the very topic of the essay they are going to read; However, it should be noted that a thesis statement is not a topic, but a brief explanation of the topic in a way that sets the direction of the essay, predicts the path the essay will take, and tells readers how it will go. to organize the essay and what each part contains.

The topic, however, It is a general idea of ​​the essay. It is a specific topic, which has been organized by the thesis statement. The thesis statement, in turn, builds evidence to support the topic.

Examples of good and bad thesis statements
Bad thesis statement - "Social media is proving to be a good marketing tool."
Good thesis statement - “Social media is proving to be, not only a better marketing tool, but also a source of publicity for small and medium-sized businesses looking to expand their consumer base.”
Examples of thesis statements in the Literature
Example # 1: Dream On (by Mark Krikorian in National Review Online)
"The fundamental principle behind this amnesty proposal is that it is in the midst of those who have grown up here and are, psychologically and emotionally, Americans."

This is the first sentence of the second paragraph. The second sentence elaborates this thesis. It is included in the second paragraph because the first paragraph introduces the controversial DREAM law. Since the draftsman will argue against the bill, he has set out his reasoning why he will be against it. This is a very compact thesis with several implicit counter arguments.

Example 2: Editorial (from The Washington Post)
“There is no doubt that the attacks have profoundly affected the politics, politics, economy, society and even the collective psychology of our country. In addition, Americans not only have the 9/11 experience. September, but also looks at the consequences in recent years. “

This is the best thesis with clear evidence. It is not as complicated as other theses normally .

Example # 3: I have a dream (by Martin Luther King)
“In a sense, we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which all Americans would be heirs. This note was a promise that all men, yes, both blacks and whites, would be guaranteed the 'inalienable rights' of' life, liberty and liberty. pursuit of happiness. "It is obvious today that the United States has defaulted on this promissory note, as it relates to its citizens of color. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, the United States has given Black people a bad check, a check that has come back marked "insufficient funds." ”

This is one of the best examples of long thesis statements. It highlights what Martin Luther King is going to talk about. It comes after three paragraphs of background information.

Thesis statement function
A good thesis statement This is the heart of an essay. It offers a general idea of ​​the thoughts that a writer expresses in his essay. Determine the form of the essay, predict its content and foreshadow its events. Tell the whole story in one sentence, as long as the essay is short. Without a thesis statement, an essay is just a written piece, not an essay. organized and well connected essay
Types of Essay Descriptive Essay