![]() Is my thesis statement specific enough? Thesis statements that are too vague often do not have a strong argument.Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? If your thesis simply states facts that no one would, or even could, disagree with, it’s possible that you are simply providing a summary, rather than making an argument.For example, “Discuss the effect of X on Y” can be rephrased as “What is the effect of X on Y?” If the prompt isn’t phrased as a question, try to rephrase it. Do I answer the question? Re-reading the question prompt after constructing a working thesis can help you fix an argument that misses the focus of the question.When reviewing your first draft and its working thesis, ask yourself the following: Even if you do not have time to get advice elsewhere, you can do some thesis evaluation of your own. If there’s time, run it by your instructor or make an appointment at the Writing Center to get some feedback. For more ideas on how to get started, see our handout on brainstorming. Writers use all kinds of techniques to stimulate their thinking and to help them clarify relationships or comprehend the broader significance of a topic and arrive at a thesis statement. Both the argument and your thesis are likely to need adjustment along the way. Once you do this thinking, you will probably have a “working thesis” that presents a basic or main idea and an argument that you think you can support with evidence. Before you develop an argument on any topic, you have to collect and organize evidence, look for possible relationships between known facts (such as surprising contrasts or similarities), and think about the significance of these relationships. Formulating a thesis is not the first thing you do after reading an essay assignment. (Check out our handout on understanding assignments for more information.) How do I create a thesis?Ī thesis is the result of a lengthy thinking process. When an assignment asks you to analyze, to interpret, to compare and contrast, to demonstrate cause and effect, or to take a stand on an issue, it is likely that you are being asked to develop a thesis and to support it persuasively. When in doubt, ask your instructor if the assignment requires a thesis statement. The assignment may not explicitly state that you need a thesis statement because your instructor may assume you will include one. ![]() If your assignment asks you to take a position or develop a claim about a subject, you may need to convey that position or claim in a thesis statement near the beginning of your draft. The rest of the paper, the body of the essay, gathers and organizes evidence that will persuade the reader of the logic of your interpretation.
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