Chapter 3-Thesis Statements

A thesis statement is one sentence that tells your reader the gist (general idea) of your essay and MUST be present in each essay you write. Your thesis will not only contain your topic but also your controlling idea. The controlling idea lets the reader know your point of view (without necessarily saying it’s your point of view).

Example: Cell phones should be forbidden in the college classroom because they create distractions, allow for cheating, and encourage bullying.

Just by reading this one sentence, the reader can clearly ascertain the topic (cell phone usage in the classroom) and point of view (I don’t like them!). Notice–I did not specifically say that I disapprove of cell phones, but the reader can tell because of my negative point of view.

Keep in mind, the thesis statement is always included in the introduction and is usually at the end of this section, although it doesn’t have to be. 

Reminders for thesis statements:

• Should be a complete sentence
• Aren’t usually questions
• Can be directly stated (explicit) or implied (implicit)
• Can have an essay map that directly lists the points you will write about in your body paragraphs
• Considered poor form to mention the essay (i.e. In the paper, I am going to discuss….)

Student Activity 1: Identify the topic and POV (point of view) of each thesis statement.

1. Although most people believe the opposite, bats are harmless and highly beneficial.
2. Cigarette smoking is bad for people’s health because it increases blood pressures, can cause cancer, and often leads to emphysema.
3. University Education is more beneficial than technical training.
4. Technology has decreased our level of connectedness because because it allows us to disconnect from our physical environment and does not encourage social skills for connecting with those around us.

Chapter Questions:

1. Where is a thesis statement found?
2. T/F: A thesis statement is usually multiple sentences.
3. T/F: A thesis statement has to have an essay map.
4. What is the purpose of a thesis statement?

Visit University of Arizona’s website for a thesis statement tutorial. Make sure to watch the video at the end.