Learning Objectives

• Researchers will know how to create a main claim, or thesis, that is debatable and provable.
• Researchers will understand how to narrow their thesis statement so that it's hard to refute.
• Researchers will understand how to use their thesis statement to forecast their arguments organization.

Thesis Statements as Debatable Claims

• Defines what a thesis statement is; must be debatable, not statement of fact
• Best for beginning level classes
• 2m 0s

Provable

• A good thesis statement must be provable
• Do not commit to a claim before research
• Best for beginning research instruction
• 1m 51s

Difficult to Refute

• A good thesis statement is difficult to prove wrong
• Explains how to narrow the scope of the topic
• Best for beginning to intermediate research instruction
• 1m 58s

Addresses Competing Claims

• Explains how to address alternative explanations of the thesis
• Best for beginning to intermediate research instruction
• 1m 50s

Educates Readers

• Thesis should tell reader what to expect from paper
• 0m 52s

The Mechanics of Writing a Good Thesis Statement

• How to construct clear, concise thesis; one or two sentences
• Importance of thesis as outline of paper for reader
• Okay to tweak thesis throughout process
• Beginning level
• 1m 44s

Relevance Test

• Thesis helps determine what is relevant information
• Best for beginning and intermediate research instruction
• 1m 0s

Checklist

• Gather and review a wide range of sources on your topic
• Look fir the key arguments in these sources
• Settle on a main claim that is provable with evidence you've found
• Make sure your main claim resists easy refutation by narrowing your scope and addressing competing claims
• Formulate your main claim in a one-to-two sentence thesis statement
• Revise your thesis statement to make sure it accurately reflects the organization of your argument

Terms

• Debatable Claims
• Refute
• Thesis Statement