3.6: Writing Thesis Statements
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Writing Thesis Statements
Read the thesis statements below and identify those that are too general or too specific. Rewrite each thesis to make it more effective for a five-paragraph essay. Consider using subtopics such as advantages, disadvantages, characteristics, ways, reasons, or kinds.
Examples:
Computers are very useful. (Too general)
College students need computers to complete assignments that must be typed. (Too specific)
Computers can be used in several ways to enhance a college student’s education. (Improved)
1. A college education is a good investment.
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2. There are thousands of students studying at this college this semester.
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3. Healthcare is a popular field for students to pursue.
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4. Tuition costs are difficult for college students to pay.
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5. Moving to a new country is stressful.
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Direct Thesis Statements:
Some thesis statements tell the reader directly which subtopics the essay will discuss. This is called a direct thesis statement. For example, if you write about three reasons you chose to come to this college, you might state the quality of programs, affordability, and variety of class scheduling in your thesis. These points need to have the same grammatical form so they have parallel structure. In this example, there are three noun phrases:
I decided to attend this college because of the quality of its programs, the affordability, and the variety of class scheduling.
Identify the parallel structures in the following sentences.
1. Gardening is known to support both good physical and mental health.
2. Computer user support specialists help customers with computer problems, setup computers and related hardware, and train new users on software.
3. When choosing a major, it is important to consider your interest in the field, the potential salaries of jobs, and the outlook for employment.
4. A well-written application essay, transcripts of all courses taken, and letters of recommendation are three typical requirements of a scholarship application.
5. In addition to teaching academic skills, elementary school teachers help students develop their social and organizational skills.
Identify and correct the faulty parallelism.
1. Community colleges are popular because they are more affordable than most four-year colleges, they typically have smaller class size, and certificate programs.
2. Some great ways to get physical activity are to take the stairs instead of the elevator, biking to work, and doing yard work.
3. The field of nursing offers job security, a variety of specializations, and it pays well.
4. Cybersecurity employers are looking for job applicants who are properly trained in the field, enthusiastic about working with the team, and can communicate well.
5. Young children can benefit from learning a musical instrument or they can take an art class.
6. Both urban centers and rural areas face challenges from climate change.
Complete the following sentences with your own idea. Pay attention to the parallel structure.
1. Students love when their course has both interesting content and ______________
2. If you want to succeed in class, you should attend every session, do all the homework, and _________________________________________.
3. The loss of a job can lead to financial difficulties, ___________________________.
Write complete sentences using parallel structure to answer the following questions.
1. What are your three favorite activities?
2. What three qualities will you look for in your perfect career?
3. What are three things that teenagers typically worry about?
4. How can a student improve her grades if she is having difficulties?
5. What are different kinds of popular vacation destinations?
Attributions:
Content on this page was adapted from ESL Academic Writing(opens in new window), which was shared under a CC BY (opens in new window)license by Prince George's Community College.