Thesis statements

 

A necessary element of an "argument" essay is, obviously, an argument. We might also call an argument a "thesis statement." We could even refer to it as your "main point." 

In a nutshell, thesis statements are statements about a text that are not obvious. They are things that you have to argue. You produce evidence to support your ideas as you try to convince your reader that your perspective is valid.

Whatever we call it, how do you come up with one?

Here are two strategies that I suggested in class. You can use these together or separately.

Bear in mind that as you write and revise, your argument will probably change somewhat. This is because you're figuring out what you think, refining your ideas, through the process of writing. This is part of what makes writing a dynamic process, and ideally enjoyable.

Strategy 1

1. After reading the text carefully, make a list of all the "concepts" or "keywords" you think it contains. 

Ask yourself, "What is this text about?" Your answers in a word or short phrase are the concepts and keywords. Examples from essays we have read recently might be "love," "anger," "self-discovery," "identity," and so on.

2. Combine these keywords in a sentence that describes the text you read.

3. Consider the sentence you wrote. Is it an argument? That is, does it make a statement that is not obvious and requires evidence of some kind to prove? Is it interesting to you? If not, keep working and refining your idea until you get a sentence you think is interesting and that qualifies as an argument.

4. Consider your argument. What do you need to prove in order to show your reader that your idea is valid?

5. Gather evidence from the text in the form of quotes that you think prove each element of your argument. 

6. Organize the quotes in an order and start writing your essay, moving from quote to quote, as if you were walking across a river on a path of stones, stopping to analyze each one.

Strategy 2

1. After reading the text carefully, Come up with a list of questions about the text. Your question should focus specifically on the text rather than on a general issue related to the text.

2. Choose the question that you find most interesting to investigate.

3. Develop an answer to that question. It should make a statement that is not obvious and requires evidence of some kind to prove. It should also be interesting to you. This will be your argument. You will refine it as you write.

4. Consider your argument. What do you need to prove in order to show your reader that your idea is valid?

5. Gather evidence from the text in the form of quotes that you think prove each element of your argument. 

6. Organize the quotes in an order and start writing your essay, moving from quote to quote, as if you were walking across a river on a path of stones, stopping to analyze each one.