The document discusses how to write an effective analytical thesis statement that defines the writer's purpose, focuses the writing and reader, and launches an argument. It explains that a strong thesis statement appears at the beginning, is a complete sentence, announces a conclusion, provides reasons for that conclusion, and defines the purpose. Examples of weak thesis statements are provided that lack these key elements.

1. CREATING A STRONG
ANALYTICAL THESIS
STATEMENT
DEFINING YOUR PURPOSE . . .
FOCUSING YOUR WRITING AND YOUR READER

2. CREATING A STRONG
ANALYTICAL THESIS
STATEMENT
DEFINING YOUR PURPOSE . . .
FOCUSING YOUR WRITING AND YOUR READER
With appreciation to Brent Simoneaux, “Lesson 5: Thesis Statements”,
http://www.slideshare.net/bsimoneaux/lesson-5-thesis-statements

4. Argument:
An argument: a reasoned and logical
communication of ideas to some
audience.
An argument: works to produce
some NEW understanding of some
issue to its audience

5. Kinds of Argument

6. Kinds of Argument
Claims of fact or definition
Claims of cause and effect
Claims about value
Claims about solutions of policies

7. Kinds of Argument

8. Kinds of Argument
Claims of fact or definition: Global
warming threatens the planet with ruin and
destruction . . . .
Claims of cause and effect
Claims about value
Claims about solutions of policies

9. Kinds of Argument

10. Kinds of Argument
Claims of fact or definition
Claims of cause and effect: Overfishing
has ruined Maine’s Grand Banks fishing
zone. . . .
Claims about value
Claims about solutions of policies

11. Kinds of Argument

12. Kinds of Argument
Claims of fact or definition
Claims of cause and effect
Claims about value: Computer dating is
the best/worst thing that ever happened
to singles in America. . . .
Claims about solutions of policies

13. Kinds of Argument

14. Kinds of Argument
Claims of fact or definition
Claims of cause and effect
Claims about value
Claims about solutions of policies: The
cure for our country’s debt crisis is
massive new tax hikes on income
earners . . .

15. Launching Your Argument
With a Thesis Statement

16. Launching Your Argument
With a Thesis Statement
Appears at the beginning of your paper

17. Launching Your Argument
With a Thesis Statement
Appears at the beginning of your paper
Consists of a single (but kinda long) sentence

18. Launching Your Argument
With a Thesis Statement
Appears at the beginning of your paper
Consists of a single (but kinda long) sentence
Announces the conclusion of your argument.

19. Launching Your Argument
With a Thesis Statement
Appears at the beginning of your paper
Consists of a single (but kinda long) sentence
Announces the conclusion of your argument.
States the reasons for your conclusion

20. Launching Your Argument
With a Thesis Statement
Appears at the beginning of your paper
Consists of a single (but kinda long) sentence
Announces the conclusion of your argument.
States the reasons for your conclusion
Defines your purpose

21. Launching Your Argument
With a Thesis Statement
Appears at the beginning of your paper
Consists of a single (but kinda long) sentence
Announces the conclusion of your argument.
States the reasons for your conclusion
Defines your purpose
Focuses you (on your writing) and your audience (on
their reading)

23. Building Your Thesis Statement
Ou r Federal T ax Code
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .

24. Building Your Thesis Statement
Ou r Federal T ax Code
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .
It’s not a complete sentence

25. Building Your Thesis Statement
Ou r Federal T ax Code
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .
It’s not a complete sentence
It does not state a conclusion about anything

26. Building Your Thesis Statement
Ou r Federal T ax Code
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .
It’s not a complete sentence
It does not state a conclusion about anything
It makes no arguable claims about the topic

27. Building Your Thesis Statement
Ou r Federal T ax Code
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .
It’s not a complete sentence
It does not state a conclusion about anything
It makes no arguable claims about the topic
It argues no evidence, gives no reasons for
either a claim or a conclusion

29. Building Your Thesis Statement
e about ou r Federal
I’m g oing to writ
T ax Code
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .

30. Building Your Thesis Statement
e about ou r Federal
I’m g oing to writ
T ax Code
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .
It’s not a complete sentence and the focus is on
‘I’ the writer, not the topic

31. Building Your Thesis Statement
e about ou r Federal
I’m g oing to writ
T ax Code
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .
It’s not a complete sentence and the focus is on
‘I’ the writer, not the topic
States no conclusion about anything

32. Building Your Thesis Statement
e about ou r Federal
I’m g oing to writ
T ax Code
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .
It’s not a complete sentence and the focus is on
‘I’ the writer, not the topic
States no conclusion about anything
It makes no arguable claims about the topic

33. Building Your Thesis Statement
e about ou r Federal
I’m g oing to writ
T ax Code
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .
It’s not a complete sentence and the focus is on
‘I’ the writer, not the topic
States no conclusion about anything
It makes no arguable claims about the topic
It argues no evidence, gives no reasons for
either a claim or a conclusion

35. Building Your Thesis Statement
x hours on m y 1040 this
I spent si
year.
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .

36. Building Your Thesis Statement
x hours on m y 1040 this
I spent si
year.
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .
The focus is still on ‘I’ the writer, not the topic

37. Building Your Thesis Statement
x hours on m y 1040 this
I spent si
year.
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .
The focus is still on ‘I’ the writer, not the topic
States a fact-no argument possible or likely

38. Building Your Thesis Statement
x hours on m y 1040 this
I spent si
year.
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .
The focus is still on ‘I’ the writer, not the topic
States a fact-no argument possible or likely
It makes no arguable claims about the topic

39. Building Your Thesis Statement
x hours on m y 1040 this
I spent si
year.
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .
The focus is still on ‘I’ the writer, not the topic
States a fact-no argument possible or likely
It makes no arguable claims about the topic
It argues no evidence, gives no reasons for
either a claim or a conclusion

41. Building Your Thesis Statement
the Federal Ta x Code.
I hate
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .

42. Building Your Thesis Statement
the Federal Ta x Code.
I hate
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .
The focus is still on ‘I’ the writer, not the topic

43. Building Your Thesis Statement
the Federal Ta x Code.
I hate
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .
The focus is still on ‘I’ the writer, not the topic
States an opinion-no argument possible or likely

44. Building Your Thesis Statement
the Federal Ta x Code.
I hate
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .
The focus is still on ‘I’ the writer, not the topic
States an opinion-no argument possible or likely
It makes no arguable claims about the topic

45. Building Your Thesis Statement
the Federal Ta x Code.
I hate
This is NOT a thesis statement because . . .
The focus is still on ‘I’ the writer, not the topic
States an opinion-no argument possible or likely
It makes no arguable claims about the topic
It argues no evidence, gives no reasons for either
a claim or a conclusion

47. Building Your Thesis Statement
deral Tax C ode is too
The Fe
dep ressing and frightening.
This is NOT a good thesis statement because . . .

48. Building Your Thesis Statement
deral Tax C ode is too
The Fe
dep ressing and frightening.
This is NOT a good thesis statement because . . .
It’s too broad and vague hard to focus on.

49. Building Your Thesis Statement
deral Tax C ode is too
The Fe
dep ressing and frightening.
This is NOT a good thesis statement because . . .
It’s too broad and vague hard to focus on.
Fuzzy claims are hard to argue for or against

50. Building Your Thesis Statement
deral Tax C ode is too
The Fe
dep ressing and frightening.
This is NOT a good thesis statement because . . .
It’s too broad and vague hard to focus on.
Fuzzy claims are hard to argue for or against
Possibly too personal, bordering on opinion

52. Building Your Thesis Statement
edera l Tax Cod e is helpful.
The F
This is NOT a good thesis statement yet because . . .

53. Building Your Thesis Statement
edera l Tax Cod e is helpful.
The F
This is NOT a good thesis statement yet because . . .
Although the statement makes an arguable claim. . . .

54. Building Your Thesis Statement
edera l Tax Cod e is helpful.
The F
This is NOT a good thesis statement yet because . . .
Although the statement makes an arguable claim. . . .
The predicate (“is helpful”) needs to be developed
and detailed.

55. Building Your Thesis Statement
edera l Tax Cod e is helpful.
The F
This is NOT a good thesis statement yet because . . .
Although the statement makes an arguable claim. . . .
The predicate (“is helpful”) needs to be developed
and detailed.
Helpful how? In what ways?

56. Building Your Thesis Statement
edera l Tax Cod e is helpful.
The F
This is NOT a good thesis statement yet because . . .
Although the statement makes an arguable claim. . . .
The predicate (“is helpful”) needs to be developed
and detailed.
Helpful how? In what ways?
Helpful for whom? When? Always?

58. Building Your Thesis Statement
e it is too
reform becaus
The Federal Tax Code needs
ial privileges and
d with unfair spec
co mplicated, it is fille capital flight from
vites evasion and
ex emptions and it in
the US.
This is a thesis statement because . . .

59. Building Your Thesis Statement
e it is too
reform becaus
The Federal Tax Code needs
ial privileges and
d with unfair spec
co mplicated, it is fille capital flight from
vites evasion and
ex emptions and it in
the US.
This is a thesis statement because . . .
It forms a complete sentence with clear, sharp
language

60. Building Your Thesis Statement
e it is too
reform becaus
The Federal Tax Code needs
ial privileges and
d with unfair spec
co mplicated, it is fille capital flight from
vites evasion and
ex emptions and it in
the US.
This is a thesis statement because . . .
It forms a complete sentence with clear, sharp
language
It states a firm conclusion about the topic

61. Building Your Thesis Statement
e it is too
reform becaus
The Federal Tax Code needs
ial privileges and
d with unfair spec
co mplicated, it is fille capital flight from
vites evasion and
ex emptions and it in
the US.
This is a thesis statement because . . .
It forms a complete sentence with clear, sharp
language
It states a firm conclusion about the topic
It makes arguable claims about the topic

62. Building Your Thesis Statement
e it is too
reform becaus
The Federal Tax Code needs
ial privileges and
d with unfair spec
co mplicated, it is fille capital flight from
vites evasion and
ex emptions and it in
the US.
This is a thesis statement because . . .
It forms a complete sentence with clear, sharp
language
It states a firm conclusion about the topic
It makes arguable claims about the topic
It argues evidence and gives reasons for the
conclusion

64. A Good Thesis Statement produces
a DOUBLE BENEFIT
For the Writer: You have the parts of your essay RIGHT
THERE IN FRONT OF YOU!!!!!
You know what you want to prove and how you’re
going to prove it!
You know the kind of EVIDENCE you will search
for!

65. A Good Thesis Statement produces
a DOUBLE BENEFIT
For the Writer: You have the parts of your essay RIGHT
THERE IN FRONT OF YOU!!!!!
You know what you want to prove and how you’re
going to prove it!
You know the kind of EVIDENCE you will search
for!
For the Readers: The readers see a ‘map‘ of your essay right
there at the beginning.
They know what you want to prove and how you’re
going to prove it!
They know the kind of EVIDENCE you will offer.