thesis

=__Thesis (thee-sis)__=

[|Thesis]
==In expository writing, the thesis statement is the sentence or group of sentences that directly expresses the author's opinion, purpose, meaning, or position. Expository writing is usually judged by analyzing how accurately, effectively, and thoroughly a writer has proven the thesis.==

Examples:
__Strong Thesis__: 1. //While both sides fought the Civil War over the issue of slavery, the North fought for moral reasons while the South fought to preserve its own institutions.//
 * "Included in this working thesis is a reason for the war and some idea of how the two sides disagreed over this reason."

2. //In __Huckleberry Finn__, Mark Twain develops a contrast between life on the river and life on the shore.//
 * "Here's a working thesis with potential: you have highlighted an important aspect of the novel for investigation; however, it's still not clear what your analysis will reveal. Your reader is intrigued, but is still thinking."

__Weak Thesis__: 1. //The North and South fought the Civil War for many reasons, some of which were the same and some different.//
 * "This weak thesis restates the question without providing any additional information."

2. //Mark Twain's __Huckleberry Finn__ is a great American novel.//
 * "Think about what the reader would expect from the essay that follows: you will most likely provide a general, appreciative summary of Twain's novel. The question did not ask you to summarize, it asked you to analyze."

1. A strong thesis takes some sort of stand. 2. A strong thesis justifies discussion. 3. A strong thesis expresses one main idea. 4. A strong thesis statement is specific.
 * How to Tell a Strong Thesis Sentence from a Weak One.**



__**Bibliography for Thesis Statements**__ //* Anson, Chris M. and Robert A. Schwegler. The Longman Handbook for Writers. 2nd ed. New York: Longman, 2000.// //* Hairston, Maxine and John J. Ruszkiewicz. The Scott, Foresman Handbook for Writers. 4th ed. New York: HarperCollins, 1996.// //* Lunsford, Andrea and Robert Connors. The St. Martin's Handbook. 3rd ed. New York: St. Martin's, 1995.// //* Rosen, Leonard J. and Laurence Behrens. The Allyn &amp; Bacon Handbook. 3rd ed. Boston: Allyn &amp; Bacon, 1997.
 * // "Writing Tutorial Services." 27 Apr. 2004. Indiana University. 25 Sept. 2007 .

KVargas Period 4