Writing a Thesis Statement What is a thesis

Writing a Thesis Statement

What is a thesis? �Your thesis is essentially the answer you give to the issue or problem posed in your essay question � It is what all the facts and arguments in your essay are meant to support �In its final form, it is the "bottom line" product, the central focus of your essay.

Elements of a good thesis �Complete sentence �Expresses a point of view �Debatable (not just a statement of fact) �Answers the question �A guide for the rest of the paper �Specific and focused �“Do you think Hammurabi’s code was a just system? Why or why not? ”

The rest of the paper… �Support thesis �Relevant, accurate facts �Logically valid

Stages of thesis writing �Preliminary Thesis or Hypothesis Although you don’t know much about the topic, a hunch will guide your research �Evolution of the Preliminary Thesis Your thesis changes as you learn more about the topic through research �Rough Draft Thesis To ground your draft you must have a solid start to your thesis �Final Draft Thesis Refining the rough draft thesis for precise wording and meaning

Thesis samples Hammurabi’s Code

Thesis examples �It was a justified system due to the fact it kept social order, and order with simple rules. �Is it arguable? �Does it answer the question? �Is it specific? �Do we know what the rest of the paper might be about?

Thesis examples �I think that Hammurabi’s code was cruel, unjustified and a terrible way of enforcing the law. �Is it arguable? �Does it answer the question? �Is it specific? �Do we know what the rest of the paper might be about?

Thesis examples �I believe that Hammurabi’s code of strict laws, with harsh and swift punishments, was a great fair system that helped Hammurabi lead a very organized society. �Is it arguable? �Does it answer the question? �Is it specific? �Do we know what the rest of the paper might be about?

Thesis examples �The Hammurabi code is unjust due to its severe consequences of a death penalty and its unequal treatment to certain groups of people. �Is it arguable? �Does it answer the question? �Is it specific? �Do we know what the rest of the paper might be about?

Thesis examples �Hammurabi’s code was a just system because it allowed harsh punishments to keep order and be obeyed which caused less crimes and kept the societies quiet. �Is it arguable? �Does it answer the question? �Is it specific? �Do we know what the rest of the paper might be about?

Thesis examples �I don’t think Hammurabi’s code is just because its way too strict. For example, the death consequences, not enough freedom/equality and lastly severe laws. �Is it arguable? �Does it answer the question? �Is it specific? �Do we know what the rest of the paper might be about?

Thesis examples �Hammurabi’s code is too severe because it had a lot of death, the children die instead of the adults and it’s unfair to women. �Is it arguable? �Does it answer the question? �Is it specific? �Do we know what the rest of the paper might be about?

Thesis examples �Hammurabi’s code is fair because all bad things deserve punishment even if it’s violent, but its hard consequences make people obey the code more. �Is it arguable? �Does it answer the question? �Is it specific? �Do we know what the rest of the paper might be about?

Thesis examples �While some aspects of Hammurabi’s code are fair, such as the harsher crimes that justify harsher punishments, other aspects are too unfair that compromise should be made for the severity of the penalties. �Is it arguable? �Does it answer the question? �Is it specific? �Do we know what the rest of the paper might be about?

Thesis examples �Hammurabi’s code was both fair and unfair. Some of his laws had punishments based on your status and some laws were fair towards the criminal based on the crime. �Is it arguable? �Does it answer the question? �Is it specific? �Do we know what the rest of the paper might be about?

Thesis examples �Hammurabi’s code is just because the punishments were fair and scared others. The law also teaches respect. �Is it arguable? �Does it answer the question? �Is it specific? �Do we know what the rest of the paper might be about?

Thesis examples �Hammurabi’s code was unjust because it was unfair to most people, the punishments were unreasonable and women didn’t get equal or the same rights as the men did. �Is it arguable? �Does it answer the question? �Is it specific? �Do we know what the rest of the paper might be about?

Thesis examples �Hammurabi’s code is a just system because it scared citizens out of committing any crimes, it got rid of criminals because they didn’t want to die, and it kept their nation safe. �Is it arguable? �Does it answer the question? �Is it specific? �Do we know what the rest of the paper might be about?

Thesis examples �Hammurabi’s code is both unjust and just due to the fact that they’re harsh, but only because he wanted to keep the society from falling and for people to face equal punishments. �Is it arguable? �Does it answer the question? �Is it specific? �Do we know what the rest of the paper might be about?

Thesis examples �Hammurabi’s code is just because it is strict, promotes needed safety, and gives equal rights to everyone. �Is it arguable? �Does it answer the question? �Is it specific? �Do we know what the rest of the paper might be about?

Thesis examples �Hammurabi’s codes were unjust because the punishments were too harsh for ignorant people’s wrong doings, also gave the government a lot of power, and they had no chance to debate for justice. �Is it arguable? �Does it answer the question? �Is it specific? �Do we know what the rest of the paper might be about?