Transcript Summary Chapter 2: Thesis Statement

Turabo University
School of Human and Social Sciences
Gurabo, Puerto Rico
Prof. Jackeline Martinez Rodriguez
Articulating your thesis right at the start will
help you:
Find out whether you have
a clear, workable idea,
Use the thesis statement
as a guide while writing.
The thesis sentence you develop in this
chapter will be your working thesis.
This means it is still
tentative.
Your thesis is different
from your topic.
1
• It states the topic and focus, which
answers your research question.
2
• It includes supporting points that are
logically connected to the focus.
3
• It gives enough information without
too much details.
4
• It uses formal language that is easy to
understand.
An effective thesis states the
topic and focus of the essay.
As you create your
thesis statement, you
will return to your
research question.
Remember that the
research question
defines the focus of
your paper.
This focus should be
clearly mentioned in
your thesis statement.
Example:
• Research question:
• Why do people become
homeless?
Thesis Statement:
The lack of affordable
housing, inadequate
public assistance, and
the breakdown of the
family are three causes
of homeless.
 For
each thesis statement on page 48, circle
the topic and underline the focus.
An effective thesis statement provides
an overview of supporting points that
are logically connected to the focus.
Example:
This overview of
A good thesis
the supporting
statement
points clarifies for
includes the
the reader the
categories from key ideas you will
the rough outline discuss and how
that you plan to
they will be
use.
organized in your
essay.
• Research question:
• What are the signs of
alcohol addiction?
• Rough Outline:
• 1- An urge to drink
• 2- Inability to stop
• 3- Physical
dependence
• 4- Need to drink
more
Thesis Statement:
Alcoholism is a
disease that has
four symptoms,
physical
dependence, a
need to drink
more to feel its
effects, a strong
urge to drink, and
an inability to
stop drinking.
 Look
at each research question and rough
outline and then decide whether each thesis
statement is a good answer to the research
question page 49-51.


Does it include an appropriate focus?
Does it include an overview of supporting points?
Circle OK or NOT OK and explain your reason.
An effective thesis statement uses
formal language that is easy to
understand.
Three
aspects of
language
in thesis
statement
for you to
consider:
Structure
Pg. 52
Style
Pg. 53
Vocabulary
Pg. 53
Some thesis statements:
lack a focus
have no
supporting
points
confusing
supporting
points
contains
more
information
than is
necessary
use
inappropriate
language
Identify the parts of a thesis statement.



Circle the topic
Underline the focus once
Underline the supporting points twice
Page 57-58