Thesis Statements

Thesis Statements

Narrow your thesis statement

• If your thesis is too broad, the reader will assume you are going to cover the whole topic.

• Ex: There have been a lot of technological changes.

Narrow your thesis statement

• There have been a lot of technological changes.

• The technological changes of the last hundred years have been amazing.

• The technological changes of the last hundred years have made a big impact on how people communicate.

• Over the last 20 years, changes in technology have made a big impact on how people communicate.

• Over the last 20 years, changes in technology have made a profound difference in the way American students communicate.

Multiple Choice

Why do we need to narrow down our thesis statements?

• The reader will be overwhelmed if it is too broad.

• The reader will assume the writer is covering that entire topic.

Final narrow thesis statement

• The broad subject matter (technological changes) is still written into the statement, but it shows what you will not be covering in your paper, too.

• A narrow thesis tends to be long.

• Avoid words that imply all-inclusive language or absolutes. Ex: always, never, every time, all, none, etc.

• Your statement doesn't ask something; it declares something.

• In persuasive and argumentative writing, the topic is debatable.

Multiple Select

A narrowed thesis statement includes which of the following? (Select all that apply.)

• It is long

• Declares something

• Asks a question

• Avoids words like always, never, etc.

Write your thesis statement for your paper.