Transcript THE THESIS

THE THESIS
“It’s the most important sentence of your entire
essay!”
THESIS
 It’s a statement, not a
question; it’s one
grammatically correct
sentence, simple or complex.
(Note: this will change in
college.)
 It can be proven; it’s not a
simple fact. It must be
proven in the course of your
writing. Think
“HYPOthesis”: the body of
your essay is the “experiment”
to “prove” your thesis.
 It’s the organizing sentence
for your entire essay. The
essay is all about it and
nothing else.
 It should include basic
information about your topic:
name the major character or
idea.
 It typically appears at the end
of the introduction
paragraph. (Note: this will
change in college.)
THESIS
 It is specific and focused. Avoid
being vague/too general; avoid
taking on too much to cover in
your essay. Instead of “everything
about jazz music,” focus on
“American jazz music in the 1930s”
with your argument about it.
 Think of the thesis as your map to
guide you through your essay. You
should come back to it again and
again to make sure that is “where”
you are going on your “trip.”
 It will clearly assert your own ideas
and conclusions based on the
evidence. NOTE: During the
course of your writing, you may
change your opinion. If so, go back
and change your thesis to match it!
 It anticipates and refutes any
counter-arguments about your
topic. It acknowledges that other
opinions than yours exist.
 It avoids vague language (like “it
seems”).
 It avoids first person (“I believe,” “In
my opinion”).
THESIS
 It can be in draft form just like the
rest of your writing. When you are
finished, you should proofread your
work, and then check to see if your
thesis still matches the body of your
paper. If it does not, change it so it
does. THESIS = ESSAY
CONTENT.