Writing a Thesis DEFINITION: A thesis is a one-sentence (or occasionally a two-sentence) statement of your central idea.

Your thesis will appear at the end of the first paragraph. *Although the thesis appears early in your paper, do not attempt to write your final thesis until fairly late in your reading and writing process. Early in the process it is good to have a working thesis, one that can be changed. Your paper will be a reasoned answer to the central question you pose, as in the following example: RESEARCH QUESTION To what extent was Confederate Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest responsible for the massacre of Union troops at Fort Pillow? POSSIBLE THESIS Although we will never know whether Nathan Bedford Forrest directly ordered the massacre of Union troops at Fort Pillow, evidence suggests that he was responsible for it. An effective thesis cannot be answered with a simple "yes" or "no." A thesis is not a topic; nor is it a fact; nor is it an opinion. "Reasons for the fall of communism" is a topic. "Communism collapsed in Eastern Europe" is a fact known by educated people. "The fall of communism is the best thing that ever happened in Europe" is an opinion. (Superlatives like "the best" almost always lead to trouble. It's impossible to weigh every "thing" that ever happened in Europe. And what about the fall of Hitler? Couldn't that be "the best thing"?) Once you have a working thesis, write it down. There is nothing as frustrating as hitting on a great idea for a thesis, then forgetting it when you lose concentration. And by writing down your thesis you will be forced to think of it clearly, logically, and concisely. You probably will not be able to write out a final-draft version of your thesis the first time you try, but you'll get yourself on the right track by writing down what you have.

Using Thesis Statements

When you are asked to write an essay that creates an argument, your reader will probably
expect a clear statement of your position. Typically, this summary statement comes in the first paragraph of the essay, though there is no rigid rule about position. Here are some

characteristics of good thesis statements, with samples of good and poor ones. Note that the better examples substitute specific argumentative points for sweeping general statements; they indicate a theoretical basis and promise substantial support. 1. It makes a definite and limited assertion that needs to be explained and supported by further discussion: trite, irrelevant Shakespeare was the world's greatest playwright. intriguing The success of the last scene in Midsummer Night's Dream comes from subtle linguistic and theatrical references to Elizabeth's position as queen. 2. It shows the emphasis and indicates the methodology of your argument: emotional, vague worth attention This essay will show that the North American Free Trade agreement was a disaster for the Canadian furniture industry. Neither neo-protectionism nor post-industrial theory explains the steep reversal of fortune for the Canadian furniture industry in the period 19881994. Data on productivity, profits, and employment, however, can be closely correlated with provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement that took effect in the same period.

3. It shows awareness of difficulties and disagreements: sweeping, vague suitably complex Having an official policy on euthanasia just causes problems, as the Dutch example shows. Dutch laws on euthanasia have been rightly praised for their attention to the principles of selfdetermination. Recent cases, however, show that they have not been able to deal adequately with issues involving technological intervention of unconscious patients. Hamarckian strategies can solve at least the question of assignation of rights.

Written by Dr. Margaret Procter, Coordinator, Writing Support, University of Toronto. Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.