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How to Know If Your Thesis Sentence Is Actually a Thesis Sentence, a la Shmoop.

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Would you be able to pick a thesis statement out of a line-up?

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If, say… it had accosted you in the park and stolen your purse?

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Hopefully it will never come to that. Regardless, you should be able to spot a thesis sentence

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when you see one… and you’d better be able to recognize a pretender, too.

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Your thesis statement is one that sums up your entire argument. If your teacher is feeling

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particularly lazy, he should be able to read just your thesis and figure out what you’re

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trying to say. Your thesis needs to do four things.

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First, it needs to take a stand. Here’s a sample thesis without a leg to

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stand on: “A juice maker provides a person with a lot of awesome health benefits.”

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That sentence is not a thesis sentence. That sentence falls right over, spilling juice

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all over the place, and staining your favorite shirt.

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Second, your thesis needs to justify discussion. Honestly, is anyone going to want to talk

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about your awesome juice maker? Unless this is an infomercial, then no.

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Third, your thesis needs to express one main idea.

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Not two. Not half an idea. One.

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Finally, your thesis needs to be specific. Hone that thing into a point so sharp you

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could poke somebody’s eye out.

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Let’s go back to that horrible thesis statement about a juicer. It’s so dull, it wouldn’t

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pop a balloon.

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What about this one instead:

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“Juicing provides nutrients that a person doesn’t normally get from their daily meals.”

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It meets all four requirements:

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Takes a stand.

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Justifies discussion.

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Expresses one idea.

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Is super specific.

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Now there’s a thesis sentence with a leg to stand on.

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Especially if it’s been juicing.

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