Download Designing a Thesis Statement with Three Original Key Points The

Designing a Thesis Statement with Three Original Key Points
The thesis statement consists of a topic + argument + three key points. These points represent the
“chapters” or main sections of your paper. Each section of your paper will have its own “theme” but
relate back to the overall paper topic, just as each chapter in a book has its own “sub-thesis” that links
back to the book’s overall “main thesis.” The purpose of this activity is to help you find three key
points to incorporate in your thesis. In order to avoid writing an overly limited or overly broad thesis,
you want to find three key points that are related but appear in different categories. You can do this
by making a list and filling in the columns with whatever information comes to mind. Note: If you are
using this list to generate ideas for a persuasive essay, add a column for “Why.”
MY TOPIC IS: ____________________________
MY POSITION OR ARGUMENT IS: _____________________________
WHO
WHAT
WHERE
WHEN
HOW
Once you have completed your list, find three key points. Pick key points from different categories so
that your paper explores different angles and perspectives. Be sure, though, that the key points you pick
are related enough that your ideas still link together and so that your research is manageable.
1. KEY POINT 1:
2. KEY POINT 2:
3. KEY POINT 3:
Now you are ready to assemble your PROVISIONAL THESIS STATEMENT. Take the main topic and 3 key
points you listed, and combine them into a single sentence! If you’re unsure, you can try selecting
different key points and assembling different thesis statements until you create your STRONGEST thesis!
THESIS STATEMENT:
EXAMPLE
MY TOPIC IS: Alternative vs. Conventional Medicine
WHO
WHAT
WHERE
WHEN
HOW
Americans vs.
Europeans
Meditation, yoga,
acupuncture
Hospitals, homes
19th century
How to administer
treatment
Patients vs.
doctors
Diabetes, cancer
USA, Europe
Older vs new
treatments
How it is tested by
the FDA or other
children
Curative/
preventative
Doctor’s office
Times/procedures
to complete
treatment
How to know if
treatment is
working
Naturalists,
homeopaths
Environmentally
safe
Chinatown
Time range for
remedy
How to get more
information
Hospitals,
insurance
companies
Health insurance
Cancer centers
Christian Scientists
How to become a
doctor or
homeopath
Health/ herb
stores
Once you have completed your list, find three key points. Pick key points from different categories so
that your paper explores different angles and perspectives. Be sure, though, that the key points you pick
are related enough that your ideas still link together and so that your research is manageable.
Thesis A Keypoints
KEY POINT 1: Christian Scientists
KEY POINT 2: Curative vs. Preventative
KEY POINT 3: How to treat Diabetes
THESIS STATEMENT A:
A) Christian Scientists’ religious beliefs promote a preventative rather than curative approach to
illness, which makes their method for treating diseases like Diabetes more successful than
conventional approaches. [Argument = pro-preventative, Key Points = “who” (Christian
Scientists), “how” (how do preventative / curative methods work?), “what” (Diabetes)]
Thesis B key points
Key Point 1: Environmentalism
Key Point 2: research by the FDA
Key point 3: Treatment of Cancer
THESIS STATEMENT B:
B) Alternative medicine is more environmentally safe than traditional medicine; unfortunately, it
is less popular due to less research by the FDA, and inconclusive results for the treatment of
fatal diseases like cancer. [Argument = pro- alternative medicine, three key points = “how”
(how do both types affect the environment), “who” (FDA), “what” (results for cancer
treatment)]
Thesis C key points:
Key point 1: America vs. Europe
Key point 2: holistic remedies
Key point 3: insurance companies and hospital care (affordability)
THESIS STATEMENT C:
c) As doctor’s premiums and hospitals become more unaffordable, Americans are intelligently starting
to rely on holistic remedies including acupuncture and yoga, which Europeans have been using for
centuries. [Argument = pro-alternative medicine, three key points = “who” (Europeans vs. Americans),
“what” (acupuncture and yoga), and “where” (hospitals, doctor’s office visits)]