Thesis due by email on Friday, midnight.
jdichiara@bergen.edu
1. A strong thesis
statement takes a stand and is specific.
There are some negative
and positive aspects to drinking Diet Coke.
This is a weak thesis statement...it is too vague.
Because Diet Coke
contains Aspartame, a chemical often causing numerous health
defects, it poses a potential danger to consumers.
This is a strong thesis because it takes
a stand; and, it's specific.
2.
A strong thesis statement justifies discussion. It has a point of view.
(It is not an observation, a point of general discussion, or a simple
fact.
I have an extended
family.
This is a weak thesis because it merely
states an observation; there is no point.
While most American
families would view marriage between family members as a threat to the
nuclear family structure, many Iranian families, like my own, believe
these marriages reinforce kinship ties in an extended family.
This is a strong thesis because it shows
how your experience contradicts a widely-accepted view. A good strategy
for creating a strong thesis is to show that the topic is controversial.
Readers will be interested in reading the rest of the essay to see how
you support your point.
3. A strong thesis
statement expresses one main idea. This idea is
one others might challenge.
If your thesis statement expresses many
ideas, you might confuse your readers about what your paper is about.
Companies need to
exploit the marketing potential of the Internet, and Web pages can provide
both advertising and customer support.
Is the paper about marketing on the Internet
or Web pages?
Because the Internet
is filled with tremendous marketing potential, companies should exploit
this potential by using Web pages that offer both advertising and customer
support.
This is a strong thesis...it shows
that the two ideas are related. Hint: a great many clear and engaging
thesis statements contain words like because, since,
so, although, unless, and however.
4. A strong thesis
statement is specific.
A thesis statement shows exactly
what your paper will be about; this help keep your paper to
a manageable topic.
World hunger has many
causes and effects.
This is a weak thesis statement. First, world hunger cannot be covered thoroughly
in 5-7 pages without your head imploding. Second, many causes and effects is vague. Instead, identify specific causes and effects.
I believe hunger persists
in Africa because jobs are scarce and farming in the infertile soil
is rarely profitable.
This is a strong thesis statement because
it narrows the subject to a more specific and manageable topic. It also identifies the specific causes for the existence of hunger.
