Thesis Building

Basic Ideas

100

The first thing you should do before making a thesis

What is "do your research?"

200

The basic purpose of a thesis statement

What is "to take a position on your research topic?"

OR 

What is "answer your research question?"

300

Something to avoid when making your thesis statement

What is "being emotion"; "making a statement based on personal beliefs"; OR
"using unreliable evidence."

400

The difference between a summary and a thesis

What is a summary tells you about the topic and a thesis analyzes the topic?

Examples of Theses

100

Based on a topic choice of vegetarian diets, which thesis would be the strongest?

• This essay is about the reasons why you should consider a healthier, vegetarian diet.
• It is not right for so many people to eat so much meat.
• A well-balanced, vegetarian diet provides significant health benefits.
• Vegetarians live longer lives.

What is "A well-balanced, vegetarian diet provides significant health benefits."

200

Based on a topic of childhood obesity, which thesis statement would be the strongest? er wages to reflect the importance of this task.

• There are many solutions to the problem of childhood obesity. 
• I know a lot of parents who are really struggling with the issue of childhood obesity. 
• With the number of children with obesity on the rise in the U.S., parents need to be better educated about the causes of childhood obesity.
• The percentage of children in the United States who are obese increased from seven percent in 1980 to nearly 20 percent in 2008 (CDC, 2012). 

What is "With the number of children with obesity on the rise in the U.S., parents need to be better educated about the causes of childhood obesity."

300

Based on a topic of minimum wage in the United States, which thesis would be the strongest? 

• This paper will explore many issues related to minimum wage in the United States, such as the way an increased minimum wage will impact individuals, businesses, and the overall economy. 
• Polls show that most Americans would like to see the minimum wage in the United States raised. 
• Raising the minimum wage in the United States will benefit individuals, businesses, and the overall economy.
• After much research, I have concluded that the minimum wage in the United States must be raised. 

What is "Raising the minimum wage in the United States will benefit individuals, businesses, and the overall economy."

400

Based on a topic of education reform in the United States, which thesis would be the strongest?

 

• I think that the education system in the United States is broken.
• The education system in the United States is plagued by a variety of issues, particularly unequal standards and political divides.
• Education in the United States has lower standards than Europe because Europe is just better. 
• This article explores some of the issues and limitations of education in the United States.

 What is "The education system in the United States is plagued by a variety of issues, particularly unequal standards and political divides"? 

Thesis or summary

100

This paper will explore many issues related to minimum wage in the United States, such as the way an increased minimum wage will impact individuals, businesses, and the overall economy.

What is a summary?

200

With the number of children with obesity on the rise in the U.S., parents need to be better educated about the causes of childhood obesity.

What is a thesis?

300

This essay is about the health benefits of vegetarianism.

What is a summary?

400

Teachers have the important job of educating our children and should be paid higher wages to reflect the importance of this task.

What is a thesis?

Thesis or Opinion

100

I think a lot of parents who are really struggling with the issue of childhood obesity.

What is an opinion?

200

This essay is about the reasons why you should consider a healthier, vegetarian diet.

What is an opinion?

300

Teachers are hard workers.

What is an opinon?

400

A well-balanced, vegetarian diet provides significant health benefits, and Americans could benefit from becoming vegetarians.

What is a thesis?