Thesis Statement

Create your thesis sentence

Ask yourself these questions when you are going
to write your thesis statement.

1. What will your essay be about? - Topic

2. What is the main idea of your essay? -
Stand/Opinion
3. What ideas or concept do you want to
introduce to your reader? – 3 main ideas
 Your thesis statement SHOULD
1. focus and direct the essay
2. include the topic and your attitude or
opinion about it
3. include a statement (not a question)
4. appear at the end of the introduction
(usually, but may be anywhere within the
introduction)
Your thesis statement SHOULDN’T

1. announce itself:
"I'm going to talk about …"
1. be personalized:
"I think …" or " I believe…"
1. be in the form of a question:
"Is English hard to learn?"
 Thesis statement = Topic + Controlling Idea
TOPIC CONTROLLING IDEA

Illegal immigration in Malaysia adversely affects the economy of the

IMMIGRATION country as it increases crime rate, reduces job opportunities for locals
and encourages locals to move to other countries.

Binge-drinking by teens has a significant economic impact on the

ALCOHOLISM healthcare system in developed countries due to increased accidents,
violence and crime.

Researchers' latest findings about aliens could be just speculations

SCIENCE because it is based on lousy research, bogus findings and inaccurate
date.

The government wastes resources censoring violence on the Internet

FREE SPEECH
because it limits freedom of speech, creativity and innovation.

Illegally moving parts of the pyramids in Giza during the war is

ARCHAEOLOGY
absolutely a crime as it destroys history, culture and heritage.
 In my country, street crimes are commonplace. Almost everyone has a story to tell
about having a purse or a wallet stolen. In the U.S., where street crimes appear in the
news headlines every day, people may think they have a serious problem with street
crimes; however, they usually only occur in the big cities, where there are homeless
street-people.
THESIS: _____________________________

In Italy, while we do have murders, it is usually due to disagreements. If someone gets

murdered, it is usually because of a conflict, in which someone gets mad and seeks
revenge. In the U.S., we often hear about someone getting killed randomly. The victim
doesn't even know the murderer. He or she was just in the wrong place at the wrong
time.

In both countries, there are revenge murders. Recently, a woman in California

murdered a man whom she suspected of sexually abusing her child. In my country, we
often hear of jealous husbands or wives killing their spouse's lover. These are 'crimes
of passion' that occur in both the U.S. and my country.

While the assassination of President Kennedy is a well-known crime in the U.S., in

fact, political crimes rarely happen in the U.S. In my country, assassinations are
planned by the Mafia or by terrorist groups. Terrorist attacks occur a lot more in my
country than in the U.S. Frequently, in both countries, these attacks are executed by
aliens who want political influence.
CONCLUSION: ________________________________________
 What is the topic?
A. crime
B. crime in the streets
C. street crime - Italy
D. street crime - a comparison of Italy and
U.S.A.
A. No, the subject is too large.
B. No, the subject is still too large.
C. No, Italy is only one of the countries mentioned.
D. Yes, this is a comparison.
 What is the controlling idea?
A. There is just as much crime in Italy as in the U.S.
B. There is more senseless crime in the U. S.
C. There is more street crime in Italy than in the
U.S.
D. Aliens and street people cause a lot of the street
crime in both countries
A: No, the essay indicates there is more in Italy.
B: No, this is a detail.
C: Yes, this is the controlling idea.
D: No, this is a detail, an opinion, but not the focus.
 Which is a good thesis sentence for this
paragraph?
A. Street crimes occur more commonly in Italy than in the
U.S due to disagreements, revenge killings and political
reasons.
B. People are more fearful about street crime in the U.S.
C. Street crime is a cultural problem, and it needs to be
addressed swiftly.
D. Street crimes are commonplace everywhere.

A. Yes, this could be the thesis for this paragraph.

B. No, this is a detail not suitable for the thesis.
C. No, this might be an insight to include in the conclusion.
D. No, this is too general.
 Can a thesis statement….
1. be a fragment?
2. introduce more than one topic?
3. be stated as a question?
4. be a statement of fact?
5. express an attitude about a topic?

1. No, it must be a sentence.

2. No, it needs to be focused, or you will need to write a book to
cover the topic.
3. No, a thesis statement is a statement.
4. No, it needs to include a controlling idea that one can agree
or disagree with.
5. Yes. Unless you are writing for an encyclopedia, you need to
express your attitude or opinion on a topic.
Can a thesis statement….
6. begin with "I'm going to talk about …“?
7. begin with "I believe …“?
8. include a detail or example?

6. No, do not waste words announcing your

thesis: "I’m going to tell…".
7. No, the reader can already assume that you
are writing what you believe.
8. No, a thesis is a general statement and should
not include supporting details.
Which of the following could be a thesis sentence?
1. Street crime occurs in both Italy and the U.S.
2. Street crime occurs in Italy more frequently than in the U.S.
due to cultural differences, income and education levels.
3. Street crime occurs in Italy more frequently than in the U.S.
due to revenge killings, mistaken identities and accessibility
to weapons.
4. I'm going to tell you why Italy has more street crime than
the U.S. does.
5. Why is there more street crime in Italy than in the U.S.?

1. No, the topic is too large and is a statement of fact. It needs

a controlling idea.
2. Yes, this has a topic and a controlling idea, but it could use
more focusing.
3. Yes, this has a topic and a controlling idea.
4. No. It announces itself and it needs focusing
5. A thesis is a statement, not a question.
6. Statistically, Italy has exactly twice as much street
crime as the U.S.
7. How about the increase in street crime?
8. Italy, which has a higher level of street crime than the
U.S.
9. Italy has a high rate of street crime, but the U.S. has
more street people.

6. No. This is a statement of fact. It does not express an

attitude or opinion. You cannot agree or disagree with it.
7. No, it is a question and a fragment. There is no verb.
8. No, this is a fragment. It is missing its main verb.
9. No, this sentence has a double topic.
 Topics to create thesis statement
1. Things college students should do to
maintain a healthy lifestyle.
2. People who fall in love must be lawfully
married within five years of being in a
relationship. (Agree or disagree?)
3. High school graduates should take a year off
before entering college. (Agree or disagree?)
4. Participating in team sports helps to develop
good values.
5. People have become overly dependent on
technology. (Agree or disagree?)