1. A thesis is the main argument of your essay.
It's what you want to debate. A thesis is key to a good essay. It keeps you
focused, and helps you plan your essay's structure.
2. A thesis is not a subject. A thesis is an attack.
Someone, somewhere must disagree with you, and your job is to prove them wrong.
An essay without a thesis, for example the history of cats, from Persia to
Siam, would be all description––all subject, and no argument. The result is
boring trivia with no context, no reason why it should matter. A thesis is what
makes your subject important.
3. When forming a thesis, focus on what you know, and
what you need to learn before you can speak about it. Make a list of what
you need to research.
4. Steer your thesis toward the truth. Debate
something you can prove. Limit your words to what you know is true. Don't make
bold claims (odvážne tvrdenie)
with no evidence. Use the words "may" and "might" and
"perhaps" when you don't really know. You need to show people that
you're reasonable, or they'll dismiss you.
5. Look for logical fallacies in your thesis. Short, simple
statements might need to become more specific:
Compare:
A Bad Thesis: The answers to crime are longer
sentences and more prisons.
Revised: Since the death penalty has proven both
ineffective and, to many, repugnant, the only remaining answer to serious
crimes is longer sentences and more prisons.
6. The less popular your stance, the more exciting your
thesis. Imagine, "Cats are a man's best friend." Many people will
disagree with this, so they'll want to hear your arguments.
7. Think of ways to personalize a subject, so you can
use what you know to illustrate arguments.
8. At the same time, learn how to generalize your
personal feelings and experiences, remembering how we all share common
experiences.
9. Choosing a thesis actually helps you, because it narrows
and partitions your subject into something manageable. And, it removes all the
subtopics that aren't relevant.
10. At the same time, don't make your thesis so narrow
that no one cares. If it's only relevant to a handful of people, again,
think of your audience, and what they care about, and modify your thesis.
Compare:
A Narrow Thesis: The tourist trade only brings
financial gain to a few lucky landlords.
Revised: Although the tourist trade contributes to
the state's economy, and provides recreation for many people, the benefits of
tourism are not evenly distributed, and there are many downsides that must be
addressed.
How to Choose a Title
1. Your title is your first impression, and the first step
in persuasion. It's an opportunity to explain your thesis and show your
attitude to the reader.
2. Your title helps you focus and stay on track as you
compose arguments.
3. Don't get stuck on a title, you can always change it
later.
4. Don't make it sound like a newspaper headline.
5. Don't make it a full sentence.
6. Titles don't take periods, but they can use question
marks and exclamation points.
7. Your title and opening sentence must be independent
of each other - If your title is "Polluted Rivers," don't begin with
"This is a serious problem." Start with, "Polluted rivers are a
serious problem."
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