Www cws illinois edu thesis statement

Writing Strong Thesis Statements

by Cathleen Chambless

Basic Thesis Formula

(Insert Artist/Film Director’s name) uses _______, _______, and _______, (insert two-three different artistic/film techniques) in (insert name of “piece”) to (illustrate, convey, reveal, or another verb) (insert the main idea or purpose of the art piece or Black Mirror Episode).

You do not necessarily need to use three poetic devices, two is fine. The more in depth, the stronger the paper.

What is a Thesis Statement?

Academic essays have a topic and a central argument concerning said topic.

The topic and central argument are presented in the introduction.

At the end of the introduction, there is a statement(one to two sentences long) which captures the central argument concerning the topic.

This statement is an interpretation of the topic, not only the topic itself.

This statement is known as a thesis statement.

A thesis statement should…

Focus

Focus your ideas into one or two sentences.

Be

Be at the end of your first paragraph.

Present

Present the topic of your paper, and your position on the topic.

Set

Set the parameters of your paper by letting the reader know the focus points of your argument.

Act

Act as a blue-print for your paper: it states what you plan to argue, and how you plan to support your argument. This sets up the order in which you present support for your argument.

Strong Thesis Statements…

Avoid using vague words such as "interesting,” "negative," "exciting,” "unusual," and "difficult."

Avoid using abstract words such as "society," “values,” or “culture.”

Avoid ”announcing” the topic: “This paper will examine”

Strong Thesis Statements…

Weak Thesis

Black Mirrors comments on the possibilities of humanity’s use of technology.

Strong Thesis

In the Black Mirrors episode, “White Bear,” Brooker and Tibbets juxtapose point of view shots and pull back shots in order to equate the brutality of the protagonist’s murders with the creation of and participation with the “Justice” theme park.

Are as clear and specific as possible. They avoid general statements at all costs.

Strong Thesis Statements

Weak Thesis Statement:

Picasso’s “Guernica” shows that war is bad.

Strong Thesis Statement

Picasso’s uses the contrast between light and dark colors along with symbolism in order to protest Spain’s bombing of its own citizens during the Spanish Civil war.

Avoid making universal or pro/con judgements that simplify complex issues. Always specify and justify your reasoning.

Strong Thesis Statements…

Weak thesis

Frida Kahlo paints self portraits in order to show how she feels about herself.

Strong thesis

In the painting “Self-Portrait on the Border Line Between Mexico and the United States” Kahlo uses the self portrait mode, along with dynamism and symbolism in order to express her guilt for leaving Mexico to live in the United States; furthermore, Kahlo depicts the United States as a country sucking Mexico’s resources and culture dry.

Avoid merely reporting a fact. Go further with your ideas.

So What?

By following the aforementioned guidelines, your paper will naturally answer the “So What?” question. Your reader will see why your thesis statement is worthy of a paper.

Sources

“Developing a Thesis.” Harvard College Writing Center, Harvard University, 1999, writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu/pages/developing-thesis.

“Thesis Statements.” The Writing Center University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2018, writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/thesis-statements/.

“Writing Tips: Thesis Statement.” UI Center for Writing Studies, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2013, www.cws.illinois.edu/workshop/writers/tips/thesis/.

Examples of thesis statements written by Cathleen Chambless MFA