Introduction
This week’s lesson was based on how to write a thesis statement. In each paper written, the writer is expected to present their own opinions and views regarding a particular subject. The thesis statement reflects the main idea or central argument that is expressed in these views ("The Thesis Statement", 2020). Hence, a thesis can be defined as a sentence which expresses or captures the writer's position on the main idea. Therefore, the thesis statement is usually developed after research has been conducted and not before. This is because before the research is done, the main argument and idea have not yet been developed, which results in a poor or weak thesis statement. Therefore, a proper and comprehensive thesis statement is usually a combination of facts and opinions.
A thesis statement is mainly constructed to inform the audience or the reader of the arguments that they will expect to see in the rest of the paper. The reader is then able to focus on the rest of the essay and understand what the writer will attempt to explore the content that follows. The second purpose of the thesis is the establishment of the scope of the paper. This shows the area that is covered within the article and the specificity of the variables and components that are included ("EBSCO Connect", 2020). For example, when a paper is scattered and vague, then the thesis statement will be weak and not well-founded. On the other hand, when the paper is well-focused, the thesis statement is clear and acts as an accurate representation of the content included in the paper. This means that when the content of the paper has been constricted to a useful aspect, then the ideas can be appropriately limited to one explanatory and the descriptive statement.
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Elements of a thesis statement
Several elements of a thesis statement can be identified across the content provided in the week. For every paper written, the writer has to place their focus on one idea. The idea originates from a topic that has been chosen or assigned. Hence, it is not sufficient to have a general discussion of a topic or provide a yes or no answer. Instead, a specific opinion has to be structured and then articulated into one idea. This is the central idea upon which the thesis statement can then be created. This is with the consideration that the thesis itself is not a topic but instead, an interpretive expression of the particular subject. Hence, the main question to be addressed when forming a thesis statement is what the writer wants to say about the subject that they have. This will result in the formation of a thesis which is precise, forceful and confident.
A thesis statement is only one sentence long and exists at the end of the introductory paragraph. It is characterized by specificity and focuses one to three-point on one idea-points that will then be demonstrated within the body. It acts as a forecast of the content of the essay while suggesting how the information will be organized ("YouTube", 2020). Therefore, a thesis statement is not the summary of an issue, but instead a dissection of these issues.
Features of a Strong Thesis Statement
A strong thesis statement is a thesis statement which accurately demonstrates the opinions and views of the writer and their main argument. Hence, to form a strong thesis statement, several features have to be included. The first feature consists of the specificity of the statement. A thesis statement has to focus on a particular aspect of the vast subject area ("The Thesis Statement", 2020).
As already stated, creating a thesis statement starts when the writer makes the choice of a broad subject and then narrows down its components until identifying a specific aspect of the subject. For example, agriculture is a vast subject area. However, a well-written and robust thesis statement would focus on a particular area of agriculture, such as the application of pesticides and its impact on crop yields.
The second essential feature is precision. A strong thesis statement has to be highly precise for the formation of a coherent argument and to sustain focus on the topic. If the specific topic is pesticides and their impact on crop yields, then the thesis must make an exact claim about it, such as that increased application of pesticides increases the level of crop yields. Moreover, the writer has to explore further what is going to be discussed in regards to crop yields and the stakeholders that are affected.
The third feature is that the thesis statement should hold the capability to be argued. It should present an argument that has relevance and specific ("YouTube", 2020). Factual statements are viewed as possessing the capability to be argued. Hence, a proper thesis statement should possess a perspective which can receive support by available evidence. Consequently, a thesis statement should also possess the capability to be demonstrated. For any claims made within a thesis, the writer has to be at a position to presents reasons and examples for their opinions.
Personal observations can be utilized for this type of demonstration or outside literature resources can be integrated to show that the assertion has validity. Hence, a strong thesis statement should contain opinions that are supported and can be demonstrated through the use of examples and details.
The fifth feature is forcefulness. This is essential to indicate or demonstrate to the reader that a valid argument is being made. This means using an assertive tone and utilizing a stance that may meet opposition. The last feature is confidence. While being forceful, the claims made in the thesis should also be forceful. This means avoiding phrases that may make the thesis statement appear weak, such as 'I believe'. This is due to the implication made by these phrases that the thesis statement does not have enough support in regards to examples and other valid sources. Taking an authoritative stand indicates confidence while instilling belief in the reader that the argument is compelling and well-supported.
Conclusion
This week's readings have been incredibly informational regarding what a thesis statement is and how a strong thesis statement can be made. This emphasizes the importance of a thesis statement within a paper and how one can clearly express their opinions and views. Therefore, a thesis statement can be established as an expression of a combination of views and opinions, used by a writer to introduce their arguments to the reader at the start of a paper.
References
The Thesis Statement. (2020). Retrieved 20 January 2020, from http://guidetogrammar.org/grammar/composition/thesis.htm
EBSCO Connect. (2020). Retrieved 20 January 2020, from https://connect.ebsco.com/s/article/How-to-Write-a-Thesis-Statement?language=en_US
YouTube. (2020). Retrieved 17 January 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MUkgDIQdcM
YouTube. (2020). Retrieved 17 January 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfUkhdh8Z08&feature=related
