The Thesis Statement Presents the main idea Usually

The Thesis Statement • Presents the main idea • Usually one sentence • Tells the reader what to expect • Is a formal summary of your essay topic • Usually worded to have an argumentative edge

Developing a Thesis Statement • Examine your information • Search for the main idea • Find the key points that back it up • Use the main idea & supporting key points to develop your thesis statement

Common Errors • Too narrow: Hundreds of northside commuters drive their cars south to the city every morning. • Better: Hundreds of northside commuters must drive their cars south to the city every morning because public transportation is not available from the suburbs.

• Too broad: This paper will explain the reason wars are fought. • Better: The United States entered the conflict in Vietnam to deny the spread of communism by first upholding French control, then by attempting to build and maintain South Vietnam’s independence, and finally striving to deny victory to North Vietnam.

Thesis = topic + specific assertion about the topic

Are you stuck? • • Convert the topic to a question: Topic: The impact of insecticides on wildlife Question: How do insecticides affect wildlife? Main Idea: Insecticides negatively affect wildlife

Supporting points 1. Insecticides introduce poison into the food chain. 2. Insecticides reduce insect populations that animals eat. 3. Insecticides kill plants animals use to build nests.

Thesis: v Insecticides negatively impact wildlife by introducing poison into the food chain, reducing insect populations that animals eat, and killing plants used for nesting.

Myths about Thesis Statements • • Every paper requires one Must come at the end of the first paragraph Must be once sentence in length. You can’t start writing until you have a perfect thesis statement • Must give three points of support

Combine the following: • What were the great developments of the late 19 th Century? Elements: rise of industry, growth of cities, explosion of population

• What are the problems associated with drug abuse? Elements: increased crime to support habit, unhealthy babies born to addicted mothers.

Alternate thesis • Drug abuse is a plague on society that must be addressed in a manner more progressive than incarceration. • Does it work?

Alternate thesis • Drug abuse harms not only the abuser but innocent victims as well. • (then develop each point of support)

• How does a web page benefit companies? Elements: advertising, customer contact and support, potential to capture marketing information