Humanities 1: Writer’s Workshop 3, How to Write a Thesis
Every great idea begins with a thesis in some abstract sense. A thesis is merely the kernel of an idea, opinion, argument, analysis, or similar. However, it is not just an opinion but rather an opinion that can be well reasoned and demonstrated in a substantial, qualitative, and quanitative way through the presentation of evidence or logic deduction that can and will be analyzed by the writer to demonstrate clearly how the evidence related and justified the thesis given.
What is a thesis?
- It is a multi-sentence statement that explicitly outlines the purpose of your paper
- It is generally, at least, a COMPLEX, COMPOUND sentence.
What should a thesis do?
- It should point to the course of argument the reader can expect your essay to take.
What should a thesis contain?
- The thesis sentence must contain an arguable point.
- A thesis must NOT simply make an observation; rather, it must assert a point that is arguable
What does your thesis determine?
- The thesis determines what you are required to write and also what you cannot say
- Every paragraph in your paper MUST SUPPORT your thesis. Accordingly, if one of your paragraphs seems irrelevant to your thesis you either must delete the paragraph or rewrite your thesis.
Two general thesis formulas to follow could be
Basic Thesis = topic + specific assertion
Better Thesis = Basic Thesis + justifying point (x + y + z)
Consider this example prompt with example theses:
In MLK’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” he addresses direct criticisms to his motives and character from clergymen in Birmingham, Alabama. What is the central argument/thesis/point to his letter; specifically, what is his primary proposition in the text? In what ways does MLK make his reader perhaps uncomfortable in justifying this proposition; in what ways does he challenge the status quo and present his argument to the above thesis?
POOR Theses:
In MLK’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” he addresses clergymen from Alabama and tells them about his fight against discriminatory laws.
In the “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” MLK’s talks about social injustices and tells people they need to stand up and fight for what they believe.
ADEQUATE Theses:
In the “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” MLK’s central argument concerns social justice and how one should fight for it.
The central argument in MLK’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” is that we need to peacefully protest if we hope to gain social justice and remove unjust laws.
GOOD Theses:
In the “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” MLK’s central argument concerns just and unjust laws. In outlining his concerns of unjust laws he observes in Alabama, he attempts to make his reader uncomfortable through various poignant examples.
The central argument in MLK’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” is that social justice is only earned through a morally sound and justified disobedience, carried out without violence. To justify his case, MLK’s uses various personal and historical examples that clearly illustrate the problems and concerns of the African American community.
EXCELENT Theses:
In the “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” MLK’s central argument concerns the discrepancy between what he calls “just” and “unjust” laws and how one might determine whether a law be just or unjust. To do this, MLK must define what a “just law” is. To this end, he defines a “just law” as a law “squaring with the law of God,” particularly that of the Judeo-Christian tradition, and an “unjust law” as a law not doing the former. To expound his point, he uses a variety of strategies to illicit his reader’s intellect and sympathy while also not bringing up points that might hurt his case. First, we see that he uses personal, humanizing examples that take advantage of his reader’s emotions by illustrating injustices committed against children. Second, he uses historical exemplars, likely familiar to his reader, to illustrate paragons of virtue and “just” action. Last, he cleverly avoids directly citing the Christian Bible as a source for “the law of God,” avoiding a traditional source for such “laws,” likely for the sake of challenging not only the complacent stance of the American church in fighting Jim Crow Laws but also avoiding a traditional instrument of minority oppression in the Western World.
Let’s break the excellent thesis apart according to our above formula:
Better Thesis = (Topic + Specific Assertion) + justifying point (x + y + z)
“Topic”:
In the “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” MLK’s central argument concerns the discrepancy between what he calls “just” and “unjust” laws and how one might determine whether a law be just or unjust. To do this, MLK must define what a “just law” is.
Basic summary information to contextualize chosen topic:
To this end, he defines a “just law” as a law “squaring with the law of God,” particularly that of the Judeo-Christian tradition, and an “unjust law” as a law not doing the former.
“Specific assertion”:
To expound his point, he uses a variety of strategies to illicit his reader’s intellect and sympathy while also not bringing up points that might hurt his case.
“Justifying Points” to be elaborated in the body of the essay:
First, we see that he uses personal, humanizing examples that take advantage of his reader’s emotions by illustrating injustices committed against children.
Second, he uses historical exemplars, likely familiar to his reader, to illustrate paragons of virtue and “just” action.
Last, he cleverly avoids directly citing the Christian Bible as a source for “the law of God,” avoiding a traditional source for such “laws,” likely for the sake of challenging not only the complacent stance of the American church in fighting Jim Crow Laws but also avoiding a traditional instrument of minority oppression in the Western World.
Let’s Write Some Theses!
Here are a few opportunities to test your thesis writing capabilities while also learning some great stuff about a culture you probably know nothing about! First, you will need to watch the documentary from YouTube to your right (remember, you can always go to the settings on the video and double the playback speed, if you want to get through the documentary 2x faster!)
Task 1: create a thesis for the below essay prompt:
Given our recently acquired knowledge of the destruction and rediscovery of the Mayan language, how important is language to one’s search for “the good life?” Drawing on examples from the story of the Mayan language as well as from any of your other course materials (articles, books, videos, recordings, etc.), craft a thesis to justify your ultimate conclusion, outlining not only that conclusion, but also the points you will make in justifying this conclusion (you will need at least three).
Questions to consider (NOT necessarily answer) when crafting your thesis: In what ways does your language(s) (other’s language) instill non-linguistic values? In what ways does language influence your (our) perception of reality? Are there particular words you can think of which have a history of coloring our (someone else’s) culture, society, or philosophy?
Watch the documentary “Cracking the Maya Code”
Important ideas to remember when crafting a thesis:
1
Think of the thesis statement as a contract between you and your reader. If you introduce ideas in your text that the reader did not expect from your thesis statement, you have violated that contract.
2
It provides a basic outline for your reader to follow. A good thesis not only tells the reader what your argument is, but how your argument will be presented (i.e. the STRUCTURE of your paper)
3
A thesis takes a side on a topic rather than simply announcing that the paper is about a topic (this is NOT a report or summary). Don’t tell readers about something; tell them what about something, answering questions like ‘how’ and ‘why’.
Watch this video on the Japanese art of Kintsugi:
Now being somewhat familiar with the recent history of the Mayan language and the aesthetic values encapsulated in the Japanese art of Kintsugi, write a thesis for an essay wherein you compare and contrast these temporally, spatially, and conceptually disparate things.
Task 2: create a thesis for the below essay prompt:
Is there a relationship to be seen between the Mayan language and Kintsugi? Between the process the language underwent over the past 500 years and the process a pot undergoes in Kintsugi? How or how not? Craft a thesis outlining not only your ultimate conclusion, but also the points you will make in justifying this conclusion (you will need at least three). Please provide specific examples from the video to evidence each point of justification.