Thesis Statement: Getting IT Right

6 Questions | By Pcep2011 | Last updated: May 10, 2019 | Total Attempts: 344

What is a Thesis Statement? A thesis is a controlling idea about a topic that the writer is attempting to prove Why do I have to write a thesis statement? To test your ideas by narrowing them into a sentence or two to better organize and develop your argument to provide your reader with a “guide” to your argument Using the following scenarios, select the strong statement and explain why this statement fits the criteria.

Questions and Answers

1.

A strong thesis statement does not simply state a fact, but sets the stage for analysis of a topic. a.The Civil War took place between 1861-1865. b. The Civil War, which took place between 1861-1865, was the most devastating war in United States history.
2.

A strong thesis statement is unified, and expresses one main idea. a. Although some people believe that George Washington was the best president, Abraham Lincoln was much better. b. Abraham Lincoln was the best president because he fought to keep the country together and fought for the elimination of slavery.
3.

A strong thesis statement is specific. a. The Crusades were fought because of religion. b. The Crusades were fought due to religious fanaticism and a struggle for power in the Holy Land.
4.
A strong thesis statement takes a stand on the prompt.
1. There are some negative and positive aspects to industrialization.
2. Because industrialization damaged the environment and exploited workers, its effects were more negative than positive.
5.

Directions: Suppose you have been answering a research question about adult illiteracy in the United States. You have developed a fourteen-page draft about how widespread the problem is, six or seven pages analyzing the causes of the problem, and six or seven pages evaluating possible solutions and proposing one you feel would be effective. Which of the following sentences might make the best thesis statement for your paper? (Remember, of course, that there are zillions of ways of stating your thesis, or main idea, and that no version is "perfect.") A. "Adult illiteracy poses the greatest threat to America today." B. "Adult illiteracy has many causes, but it can be eliminated." C. "How can the problem of adult illiteracy in America be effectively addressed?" D. "Subsuming a myriad of causal factors, adult illiteracy manifests itself throughout contemporary American society." E. "We can eliminate adult illiteracy in America now!"
- A.
  
  A
- B.
  
  B
- C.
  
  C
- D.
  
  D
- E.
  
  E
6.

CHOOSE THE BEST RESEARCH THESIS Choose the best working thesis for the proposed research paper. A. There are many causes of anorexia nervosa. B. Anorexia nervosa has both emotional and social causes which work hand-in-hand. C. Anorexia nervosa occurs most often in young women aged 13 - 22.
- A.
  
  A
- B.
  
  B
- C.
  
  C