How To Write a Thesis

What is a Thesis?:

At the most basic level, a thesis is your answer to the prompt. A good thesis should focus your essay and tell your reader what your essay is about. In a history class, you should always write an explict thesis, never assume or imply your thesis. For this class, I expect your thesis to be in your introductory paragraph, preferably the first sentence. As you become more comfortable writing historical essays you can build up to your thesis and write it as the last sentence in your introduction.

The thesis is more than just stating the subject of your essay. A thesis takes a stand rather than announcing a subject. The thesis must include your main points or "angle" on the topic.

Tips for Writing a Thesis

• Never introduce your thesis with, "I believe, in my opinion, or my thesis is ...".
• Do not just restate the question as a thesis. The following is a very poor thesis in response to a question on comparing and contrasting why the North and South fought the Civil War:

  The North and South fought the Civil War for many reasons, some of which were the same and some different.

• A good thesis takes a stand.
• A thesis statement is narrow, rather than broad.
• A thesis is specific instead of being vague.

Links:

• How to Write a Thesis?: http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/wts/thesis.html
• The Thesis Statement: http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/composition/thesis.htm
• LEO: Literacy Education Online: http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/thesistatement.html
• How to Write a Thesis Statement? : http://www.bridgew.edu/WritingStudio/WC/thesis_statement.htm
• Learn to Write a Thesis: http://www.writeathesis.com/
• Study Write! How to Write a Thesis: http://www.brocku.ca/studentdevcentre/learning/studywrite/thesis.html
• Cliff Notes – Writing a Thesis: http://www.cliffsnotes.com/student/thesis.html
• Constructing Thesis Statements: http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/thesis.html