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STEPS TO BETTER WRITING 37: FORMULATING A THESIS
Like the topic sentence in the paragraph, a thesis statement in an essay is a general statement of what is going to be discussed, A good thesis sentence has the following characteristics:
1. It's a complete sentence (not "why boys are smarter than girls", but "boys are smarter than girls").
2. It's general enough to include all the specific details in the essay.
3. It indicates the writer's opinion - his point of view or attitude toward the subject. In other words, a good thesis is arguable or controversial. Hence, "flowers are pretty" is not as good a thesis as "flowers are more useful to science than most people realize."
For each pair given below, circle the letter preceding the statement that is the better thesis. Keep in mind the requirements listed above.
| 1 | A | There are fads in clothing. |
| | B. | Clothing fads are often ridiculous. |
| 2 | A | Parent and child communication. |
| | B | Parents and children cannot communicate. |
| 3 | A | The tricks used by advertisers to lure the public. |
| | B | Advertisers use many tricks to get the public to buy their products. |
| 4 | A | Despite the grumbling of most students, homework is an important part of the learning process. |
| | B | Homework should be eliminated. |
| 5 | A | The pro's and con's of capital punishment are continually debated. |
| | B | Capital punishment should be abolished. |
| 6 | A | Winter sports are invigorating, interesting, and fun. |
| | B | Why people should participate in winter sports. |
| 7 | A | A workable definition of "Independence" is needed. |
| | B | What do we mean by "independence"? |
| 8 | A | The architect contributes much to modem America. |
| | B | The contribution of the architect to modem America. |
| 9 | A | An examination of the problems of today's teenagers. |
| | B | The problems of today's teenagers are underestimated by most adults. |
| 10 | A | The United States Post Office should be sold to a private corporation. |
| | B | Increasing the efficiency of the United States Post Office by selling it to a private corporation. |
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