Guide for novice writers in moving from a general category or topic to a question to a working thesis.

1. Making a Claim
FromTopic toThesis Statement

2. What is a Thesis Statement?
Main
Claim
Primary
Argument
Central
Point
Moral of
the Story
Logical
Conclusion
Controlling
Idea

3. Rhetorical Situation
Author
Audience Argument

4. Starting Point: Topic + Question
ToposAlmost any topic can be
scholarly.
What matters is the kind
of question you ask.
Your line of inquiry will
then help to indicate the
kind of paper you write.

5. Lines of Inquiry: Stasis
What It Is What It Does
Claim of Fact Define/Describe
Claim ofValue Quality
Claim of Policy Action
Proposal
Analysis
Argument

6. From Point A to B
Mind Map
Map out what you know, first.
Zombie
Apocalypse
You don’t know what you know
and what you don’t until
you get it down on paper.

7. Connect the Dots
Whatever is missing, that
is where questions arise.
Look for trends or
overlap between ideas.
What you find
interesting becomes
your working thesis.

8. Clear, Concise, Specific
▪ Avoid vague words
– interesting, negative, exciting, unusual, and difficult.
▪ Say something original
– Do a little preliminary research
▪ Don’t break the fourth wall
– “The point of my paper is…”
▪ Have a clear goal in mind
– One point, rather than two or three

9. Strong Claims
▪ Are arguable
– There is at least one opposing viewpoint
▪ Can be researched
– Have provability, not opinion
▪ Contribute something new
– The ongoing conversation
▪ Have been revised
– No good writing, only rewriting

10. Key Words: Remember Toulmin?
Should
Must
Needs to
Therefore
Thus
Ergo
So
Then
Because [GROUND], therefore [CLAIM], since [WARRANT].
Since
Because
Although
While
Transition Claim Subordinating
Conjunctions

11. Tips, Tricks, & Examples
Handout

12. Questions?