THESIS WRITING

WHAT IS A THESIS? = A research thesis is a formal document which is usually a requirement to complete a degree =The thesis aims to: -report each stage of the research process -provide a comprehensive description of what is known in and around the field of inquiry -describe in detail each informed decision taken

THESIS WRITING
to investigate the research question -present a discussion of any concerns or problems that arose -outline where or how further approaches in the area can be advanced ATTRIBUTES OF A GOOD THESIS STATEMENT 1.Take on a subject upon which reasonable people could disagree

THESIS STATEMENT
2. Deal with a subject that can be adequately treated given the nature of the assignment 3. Express one main idea 4. Assert your conclusions about a subject EXERCISE :Generate a thesis statement for a social policy paper. Situation: You have observed that Obesity among

THESIS STATEMENT
among female adolescents is getting higher posed by changes in the dietary habits. You are interested in the amount of sugar these adolescents consume. You start with a thesis statement like this: Sugar consumption This fragment isnt a thesis statement. It simply Indicates a general subject. It does not say what

THESIS STATEMENT
what you want to say about sugar consumption? So. NARROW THE TOPIC =Your readings about the topic have lead you to the conclusion that female adolescents are consuming far more sugar than is healthy =You change your statement to look like this: Reducing sugar consumption by female adolescents =This segment not only announces your subject but it focuses on one segment of the population, the female adolescents =Furthermore, it raises a subject that reasonable people can disagree, because while most people might agree that female adolescents

THESIS STATEMENT
consume more sugar not everyone would agree on what should be done or who would do it =Note that this is not a thesis statement because your reader doesnt know your conclusions on the topic TAKE A POSITION ON THE TOPIC =After reflecting on the topic, you decide that what you really want to say about this topic is

THESIS STATEMENT
that something should be done to reduce sugar consumption by the female adolescents =You revise your thesis statement to look like this: More attention should be paid to the food and beverage choices available to female adolescents =This statement asserts your position, but the terms more attention and food and beverage choices are vague

THESIS STATEMENT
USE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE =You decide to explain what you mean by food and beverage choices so you revise the statement like this: Experts estimate that half of the female adolescents consume four times the recommended daily allowance of sugar This statement is specific but it merely reports a statistic not an assertion

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MAKE AN ASSERTION BASED ON CLEARLY STATED SUPPORT Because half of the female adolescents consume four times the daily recommended daily allowance of sugar, schools should be required to replace the beverages in soda machines with healthy alternatives =Note how this statement answers the question:

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What should be done to reduce sugar consumption by female adolescents and who should do it?

THESIS STATEMENT
*A thesis statement: =tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion =is a roadmap for the paper, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper =directly answers the question asked of you; a thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself

THESIS STATEMENT
=for example, the subject, or topic of an essay might be WORLD WAR II or MOBY DICK; a thesis must then offer a way to understand the war or the novel =makes a claim that others might dispute =is usually a single sentence in your first paragraph that presents your argument to the reader

CREATING A FRAMEWORK
*Framework-thesis statement and topic sentences =thesis statement-at the end of your introduction =topic sentences-at the beginning of each paragraph or block of thought

THESIS STATEMENT (PURPOSES)

*FOR THE WRITER: =Serves as a planning tool =Helps the writer determine the papers real focus and clarify the relationship between idea =Becomes a hook on which the writer can hang the sub-theses or the topic sentences that present evidence in support of the argument =Anticipates questions about the topic and provides the unifying thread between pieces of information

THESIS STATEMENT (PURPOSES )

*FOR THE READER: =Serves as a map to follow through the paper =Prepares the reader to read =Keeps the reader focused on the argument =Helps the reader spot the main ideas =Engages the reader in the argument =Offers enough detail for your reader to grasp your argument

THESIS STATEMENT ( PURPOSES )

*THUS, a thesis statement: =Makes an argumentative assertion about a topic; it states the conclusions that you have reached about your topic =Makes a promise to the reader about the scope, purpose, and direction of your paper = Is focused and specific enough to be provenwithin the boundaries of your paper

THESIS STATEMENT ( PURPOSES )

=Is generally located near the end of the introduction = Identifies the relationship between the pieces of evidence that you are using to support your argument