ENG 906 Assignment 1: Discussion—Thesis Statement

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Humanities

Assignment 1: Discussion—Thesis Statement

For the course project, you will write a five-paragraph essay on your chosen topic presenting an informed, cohesive position. Your first task is to write a thesis statement.

The thesis statement is the guiding light of your essay. It states the position the essay will take on a particular, specific topic. It implies the main points you will talk about throughout your essay without going into detail. When a teacher or fellow student reads only your thesis statement, he or she will know the subject and what you will say about the subject.

For example, if you were writing a paper on education reform, your thesis statement might say, “Education reform is moving too slowly in America right now because there is not enough funding for our educational system.” This thesis statement gives your position and shows a direction for your argument. It leads the reader to believe you might talk about how much teachers are paid, how money is used in education, and how it might be used more effectively.

In contrast, a thesis statement on education reform that says, “Education reform needs to happen more often” is not a good thesis statement. The reader does not know what kind of reform the writer is talking about or how it might happen. The paper has a position, but no direction.

In your initial discussion posting, post your thesis statement. Your thesis statement should:

    • State your position on your topic.
    • Describe the “why” of your argument.

Write your thesis statement in one sentence. Keep in mind that you need to construct your sentence to reflect adequate detail without being a run-on or comma splice. Use proper punctuation.