In Part Three, we talk about the thesis statement, which is the most important sentence in the essay. The overview is adapted from a University of North Carolina Writing Lab handout. Examples of thesis statements, written by Ecuador PCV Nikki Rowley for the sample TOEFL independent essay questions shown in Part One mind maps, are provided as well.
Thesis Statements
INTRODUCTION
Writing in college often takes the form of persuasion—convincing others that you have an interesting, logical point of view on the subject you are studying. You are asked to convince your reader of your point of view. This form of persuasion, often called academic argument, follows a predictable pattern in writing. After a brief introduction of your topic, you state your point of view on the topic directly and often in one sentence. This sentence is the thesis statement, and it serves as a summary of the argument you’ll make in the rest of your paper.
WHAT IS A THESIS STATEMENT?
A thesis statement:
- tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion.
- is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper.
- directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself. The subject, or topic, of an essay might be World War II or Moby Dick; a thesis must then offer a way to understand the war or the novel.
- makes a claim that others might dispute.
- is usually a single sentence somewhere in your first paragraph that presents your argument to the reader. The rest of the paper, the body of the essay, gathers and organizes evidence that will persuade the reader of the logic of your interpretation.
If your assignment asks you to take a position or develop a claim about a subject, you may need to convey that position or claim in a thesis statement near the beginning of your draft. The assignment may not explicitly state that you need a thesis statement because your instructor may assume you will include one. When in doubt, ask your instructor if the assignment requires a thesis statement. When an assignment asks you to analyze, to interpret, to compare and contrast, to demonstrate cause and effect, or to take a stand on an issue, it is likely that you are being asked to develop a thesis and to support it persuasively.
HOW DO I GET A THESIS?
A thesis is the result of a lengthy thinking process. Formulating a thesis is not the first thing you do after reading an essay assignment. Before you develop an argument on any topic, you have to collect and organize evidence, look for possible relationships between known facts (such as surprising contrasts or similarities), and think about the significance of these relationships. Once you do this thinking, you will probably have a “working thesis,” a basic or main idea, an argument that you think you can support with evidence but that may need adjustment along the way.
Source: University of North Carolina Writing Lab http://writingcenter.unc.edu/
Thesis Statements for TOEFL Independent Essay Questions
The thesis statement is the most important sentence in your essay. It tells the reader what your essay is going to be about and helps give your essay structure. As English speakers, we like structure, and we like things simple and to the point.
Examples:
School uniforms should be mandatory. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
I agree that school uniforms should be mandatory because you have fewer decisions to make in the morning; you don’t have to spend as much money on clothes; and wearing uniforms prevents bullying of students with lesser quality clothing.
What change would make your hometown more appealing to people your age?
The addition of a community center would make my hometown more appealing to youth. It would be appealing because it would be a place where youth could go without parents; it would offer many activities; and it would be a safe place to hang out.
Some young children spend a great amount of their time practicing sports. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this.
In my opinion, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. Children should spend less time practicing sports.
In my opinion, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Children should spend a great amount of their time practicing sports.
Some people prefer living in a traditional house and others in a modern apartment building. Which do you prefer?
I would rather live in a traditional house than in a modern apartment building because a traditional house offers more privacy, is better for my family, and provides more space to do things.
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