- A strong thesis takes a clear stance, generally in three parts: topic, position, and reasons/significance. - It should be specific and argue just one main idea. The stance needs to be clear and defendable. - Facts and evidence should be used to support the opinion stated in the thesis. It resides between being a mere fact or opinion alone. - Practice refining weak thesis statements into strong ones by making them more specific, relevant, arguable, and confident in the position taken. Seek reasons and evidence to prove the thesis.

1. Weak Thesis
Strong Thesis
Prof. Maury Brown
Germanna Community
College

2. A thesis (aka Claim) is the
single summary of your
argument
• Announces your stance
• Announces how you will argue it

3. I claim this! I
stake this
position!
Claim OPINION
FACT
(Argument)
(Thesis)
A Claim cannot be a fact; it cannot be mere opinion. It resides between the two.
It USES the facts to SUPPORT an opinion.
A Claim cannot be a question  it must state something. It is where the author
puts forth his/her argument , boldly, with confidence this is MINE. And then
you prove it.

4. Magic Thesis Sentence
A strong thesis generally has three parts:
A. Topic
B. Stance
C. Reasons/Significance/Solution
For example:
All pets except those used for breeding (A)
should be spayed or neutered by 6 months of
age (B) in order to control the pet population
(C).

5. Toward a more perfect thesis
 Broad Topic: Sugar consumption.
 Specific Topic: Reducing sugar
consumption in elementary school
children.
 Stance: More attention should be paid to
the food and beverage choices available
to elementary school children.
 Fact/Support: Experts estimate that half of
elementary school children consume nine
times the recommended daily allowance
of sugar.

6. Put them all together to make
a three-part thesis or claim
 Since half of all American elementary
school children consume nine times the
recommended daily allowance of
sugar, schools should be required to serve
or sell only healthy alternatives in their
cafeterias or drink machines in order to
reduce sugar consumption by students.
 (e.g. water, unflavored milk, 100% juice
options with no added sweeteners)

7. Weak Thesis -> Strong Thesis
 Take a stand!
 Weak: “There are some negative and
positive aspects to the Banana Herb Tea
Supplement.”
 Strong: Banana Herb Tea Supplement
promotes rapid weight loss that results in the
loss of muscle and lean body mass, posing
a potential danger to consumers.

8. Weak Thesis  Strong Thesis
 Justify discussion!
 Weak: “My family is an extended family.”
 Strong: “While most Americans would view
marriage among relatives to be a threat to
the nuclear family structure, many Iranian
families, like my own, believe that these
arranged marriages help reinforce kinship
ties in an extended family.”

9. Weak Thesis  Strong Thesis
 Expresses only one main idea!
 Weak: Companies need to exploit the
marketing potential of the Internet, and
Web pages can provide both advertising
and customer support.
 Strong: The Internet is filled with tremendous
marketing potential which companies
should exploit through Web pages that
offer both advertising and customer
support.

10. Weak Thesis  Strong Thesis
 Is specific!
 Weak: World hunger has many causes and
effects.
 Strong: Hunger persists in Glandelinia
because jobs are scare and farming in the
infertile soil is rarely profitable.

11. You can switch the order of
the three parts:
 All pets except those used for breeding (A) should
be spayed or neutered by 6 months of age (B) in
order to control the pet population (C). OR
 To control the pet population (C), all pets
except those used for breeding (A) should be
spayed or neutered by 6 months of age(B).
OR
 Spaying or neutering(B) of all pets 6 months of
age or younger that are not used for breeding
(A) should be mandatory(B) in order to
control the pet population (C).

12. Practice!
 Move from topic to question to thesis
statement.
 Improve the thesis by making more
specific, relevant, arguable, and strong.
 Seek reasons for your opinions.
 Seek evidence to support your reasons
and prove your thesis.