The document provides guidance on writing effective thesis statements. It defines a thesis statement as a complete sentence containing one main idea that controls the entire essay. A good thesis statement expresses an opinion or attitude, rather than just stating a fact, and often lists subpoints to show how the essay will be organized. An effective thesis statement avoids simply stating the topic and leaves the reader wanting to learn more by addressing the "so what" aspect.

1. Prof. Bouchard
ENGL 1301

2. Introductions to Thesis Statements
After you have brainstormed
and you have some main
ideas of what you would like to
write in your essay, you can
begin thinking about writing a
thesis statement.

3. Definition
A thesis statement is a complete sentence
that contains one main idea. This idea controls
the content of the entire essay. A thesis
statement that contains subpoints also helps a
reader know how the essay will be organized.
Look at the introductory paragraph below. See
if you can identify the thesis statement and
subpoints.

4. Key Facts About Thesis Statements
 Is usually at the end of your introduction paragraph.
 States an opinion or attitude on a topic. It doesn’t
just state the topic, itself.
 States the main idea of the essay in a complete
sentence, not in a question.
 Often lists subpoints.

5. States an Opinion or Attitude
 Example: I learned to play many musical
instruments when I was young
 This would not be considered a good thesis
statement because it is only expressing a fact.
It doesn’t give the writer’s opinion or attitude
on playing musical instruments. This thesis
statement doesn’t give the writer very much to
explain or prove in his/her essay.

6.  Another example: Learning to play many
musical instruments when I was young helped
me to become a more intelligent and well-
rounded person
 This thesis statement is much better because
it expresses how the writer feels about the
experience of learning to play musical
instruments. This thesis statement requires
the writer to explain how and why playing a
musical instrument made him/her a better
person.

7. The “So What”
 The lifestyle of a teenager in the Middle Ages was very different
from the lifestyle of most modern American teenagers.
 So what? A better version of this statement might be:
 Because of the relative freedom enjoyed by young people today,
the lifestyle of modern American teenagers is very different from
the lifestyle of teens in the Middle Ages. (this at least says why
the difference exists)
 A young person in the Middle Ages had very different
expectations about marriage, family, and personal freedom than
do young adults today. (this version of the statement emphasizes
the Medieval, not modern, teenager, but it still does not present
an argument to be defended)

8. Continue:
 This revision of the statement above does present a point "worth
making," a point one could contest or support with data:
 A young person in the Middle Ages had fewer options for
marriage, family, and personal privacy and freedom than do
young adults today.
 An even more detailed version of this thesis could "map" the
paper for a reader:
 Young people in the Middle Ages, who were considered young
but responsible adults by the age of sixteen, had fewer social
choices when compared to modern American teenagers. Unless
they followed a religious calling, medieval teenagers had to
contend with an arranged marriage and bearing children while
living without what we would consider personal privacy or
freedom.