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Choosing a topic can be extremely difficult—even more difficult than deciding which Ben & Jerry's flavor to try next. No, scratch that. Nothing w...
Without a thesis statement, you don't have a paper. Watch this video, and get the inside scoop on how to write a killer thesis statement.
We recommend carrying a copy of your outline with you wherever you go. You never know when someone will ask you to organize your thoughts.
How to Know If Your Thesis Sentence Is Actually a Thesis Sentence 2352 Views
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Description:
We'll teach you how to get your thesis statement to stand on its own two feet instead of wobbling around like a newborn Rudolph. No stumbles allowed, but glowing noses are certainly encouraged.
Transcript
- 00:04
How to Know If Your Thesis Sentence Is Actually a Thesis Sentence, a la Shmoop.
- 00:09
Would you be able to pick a thesis statement out of a line-up?
- 00:13
If, say… it had accosted you in the park and stolen your purse?
- 00:18
Hopefully it will never come to that. Regardless, you should be able to spot a thesis sentence
- 00:22
when you see one… and you’d better be able to recognize a pretender, too.
Full Transcript
- 00:28
Your thesis statement is one that sums up your entire argument. If your teacher is feeling
- 00:32
particularly lazy, he should be able to read just your thesis and figure out what you’re
- 00:37
trying to say. Your thesis needs to do four things.
- 00:46
First, it needs to take a stand. Here’s a sample thesis without a leg to
- 00:53
stand on: “A juice maker provides a person with a lot of awesome health benefits.”
- 01:00
That sentence is not a thesis sentence. That sentence falls right over, spilling juice
- 01:04
all over the place, and staining your favorite shirt.
- 01:08
Second, your thesis needs to justify discussion. Honestly, is anyone going to want to talk
- 01:14
about your awesome juice maker? Unless this is an infomercial, then no.
- 01:25
Third, your thesis needs to express one main idea.
- 01:30
Not two. Not half an idea. One.
- 01:34
Finally, your thesis needs to be specific. Hone that thing into a point so sharp you
- 01:39
could poke somebody’s eye out.
- 01:42
Let’s go back to that horrible thesis statement about a juicer. It’s so dull, it wouldn’t
- 01:48
pop a balloon.
- 01:51
What about this one instead:
- 01:53
“Juicing provides nutrients that a person doesn’t normally get from their daily meals.”
- 01:58
It meets all four requirements:
- 02:02
Takes a stand.
- 02:04
Justifies discussion.
- 02:05
Expresses one idea.
- 02:07
Is super specific.
- 02:09
Now there’s a thesis sentence with a leg to stand on.
- 02:13
Especially if it’s been juicing.
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