Thesis Statements – TPSSS

A thesis statement will focus the writing and direct the reader to the meaning of the ideas being communicated. A well crafted thesis statement should do four things:

Specify your topic

Indicate your purpose (to inform or to persuade)

Make a claim (or assertion) that you can defend

Engage your reader

In some cultures, the main idea is often implied, or merely alluded to, but readers in the United States, especially in academic and business writing, expect the writer to state the main idea clearly and directly, usually at the beginning of the writing project–most often in the introductory paragraph. You will most often start with a tentative or working thesis based on a central controlling idea, and refine your ideas and writing focus as you work. After your thinking and writing evolves through the drafting and revising stages, you may need to further revise or wordsmith your thesis statement.

A Supported Thesis Statement includes all elements needed to keep the writer and the reader “on track” for the duration of the writing. A supported thesis statement should always include the topic, the purpose, and the subtopics to be developed. T opic: P urpose/Point: S ubtopic/Support #1: S ubtopic/Support #2: S ubtopic/Support #3:

All of this should be in one sentence carefully crafted to be complete, yet avoid wordiness.

The subtopics/supports are often introduced by such words as BECAUSE, AS, DUE TO, BY, IN, IN THAT, or by a punctuation mark. the colon.

Sometimes the order of the thesis sentence is reversed; the supports precede the main idea for reasons of style or for the purpose of emphasis. Another form of the thesis sentence is that which announces a comparison or contrast of two or more subjects.

Examine the following samples for Expository Essays:

Holidays are an exhausting experience due to the drain on energy, relationships and finances.

Three major causes of individual poverty are lack of education, lack of opportunity and lack of motivation.

To collect rare and valuable comic books, one must first understand the history, anatomy, and the condition of the comic.

A good daycare center should provide familiarity, security, and interaction for one’s child.

Hunger and poverty plague vast populations in spite of technological and agricultural advances.

In retrospect, the Vietnam War could have ended with similar results as the Gulf War had there been a clear objective, a strong sense of direction, and a solid plan of execution.

Flying in an airplane is fast and noisy, whereas, flying in a balloon is slow and quiet making for a serene flight experience.

Being arrested for drunk driving has many unpleasant consequences such as being placed in jail, meeting probation requirements, and acquiring financial burden.

Examine the following samples for Literary Analysis Essays:

The symbolic use of colors, numbers and dйcor in “The Masque of the Red Death” infer that regardless of prosperity, prestige, or even precautions taken, death is still inevitable for all people.

Shirley Jackson’s symbolic use of the old Vermont manor, the cottage, and the garden reveal that personal despair and turmoil result from a longing for personal freedom in the face of social oppression. –“Flower Garden”

Harsh social expectations and dwindling opportunities can force a woman to make desperate choices or take seemingly insane action. –“A Rose for Miss Emily”

In “A Worn Path” the setting is an integral part of the plot structure due to the main character’s age and poverty, as well as the social limitations of the time period.

Physical, social and psychological obstacles encountered by Phoenix Jackson create the pattern of conflicts in the plot of “A Worn Path.”

Sophisticated cinematography, brilliant editing, and convoluted plot structure in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho imply that people are so disconnected that the most fearful monsters live unrecognized within and amongst us.

A major theme of the film i am sam is developed through the plot structure, character development, cinematography, and symbolism suggesting that to develop full potential, a person needs the balance of both intellect and love which may require family bonds beyond bloodlines.

Through his skillful use of rhyme schemes, a controlled meter, understatement, and a removed, unemotional tone, Robert Frost offers a vision for the end of the world far different from the usual Christian belief.

John Donne’s use of meter, metaphor and voice imply that in the face of the soul’s immortality, death has power only over itself, and ironically is the only thing susceptible to true death.

Once you have mastered the five paragraph essay and are moving onto more sophisticated expository and rhetorical styles, you may find that the supported thesis statement can limit your message to a "list" of three underdeveloped body paragraphs. If this TPSSS structure of the thesis statement does limit your message, then craft your thesis statement to keep the topic and purpose and claim but drop the three subtopics/supports (especially if you find you have multiple subtopics or categories or divisions to develop in supporting your claim.)

Examine the following samples:

As serious and time sensitive as the issue of climate change is, alternative energy is not a solution if it will be just as harmful to wildlife as conventional energy.

Among the conflicts within the environmental movement is that between those who want to reduce global warming by replacing fossil fuels with alternatives, like wind energy, and those who fear that new energy generating plants will harm local wildlife.

Although companies often have legitimate concerns that lead them to monitor employees‘ Internet usage–from expensive security breaches to reduced productivity–the benefits of electronic surveillance are outweighed by it costs to employee’s privacy and autonomy.

By granting college students liberal lending arrangements, credit card companies often hook them on a cycle of spending that can ultimately lead to financial ruin.

Because the polygraph has not been proven reliable, even under controlled conditions, its use by employers should be banned.

Although scientists can now detect genetic predisposition for specific diseases, policymakers should establish guidelines about whom to test and under what circumstances.

Test Your Thesis Statement

As you revise and refine your thesis statement, use the following questions to evaluate it:

Does my thesis answer a question, propose a solution to a problem, or take a position in a debate?

Does my thesis require an essay’s worth of development or will I run out of points or details too quickly?

Can I support my thesis with the evidence available?

Is my thesis too obvious or of majority agreement? (If you cannot come up with interpretations that oppose your own, consider revising your thesis or even rethinking your essay topic to avoid a reader reaction of "well, duh!" .)

Can I explain why readers will want to read an essay with this thesis? (Can you prevent the reader from asking, "So what?" or even the dreaded , "and you’re telling me this because. ")

Keep in mind that your thesis should be the single most hard-working sentence in your writing. It is in effect a promise to your reader and a roadmap for both the writer and the reader in a definite direction.