Defining a Thesis

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Defining a Thesis or Orienting Yourself Toward an Essay Topic

One of the hardest parts of the writing process can be the first part--figuring out what it is you have to say (your "thesis"). Every essay focuses on developing a thesis (other names for a thesis include main idea, position, point, claim), so having a good "thesis statement" can be one of the most important parts of your essay. Every writing prompt also confronts you with a task that you must understand as you begin.

The first thing to do when approaching an essay topic is to identify the difference between the SUBJECT--QUESTION--and the ANSWER.

The SUBJECT is what something is about. It is general and broad like a category and covers a lot of things. You are familiar with using subjects when you go to the library and try to look something up using a subject search. A subject itself is not controversial--it just is. These are some examples of SUBJECTS:

Education
Smoking
TV Violence

The QUESTION: At the heart of every essay is a question--we'll call it the ESSAY QUESTION. Finding the exact question that your essay plans to address is enormously important because your thesis is your answer to that essay question. An ESSAY QUESTION is an issue, topic or problem related to the SUBJECT. In argument/persuasion essays, the essay question is an ISSUE which is typically controversial and has a number of different sides or possible solutions. A good ESSAY QUESTION is debatable because not everyone would state the same answer to the question. Here are some examples of ESSAY QUESTIONS:

Subject	Essay Question
Smoking	Should smoking be banned from all public places?
TV Violence	Should the government limit the amount of violence shown on TV?
Hamlet	What is the source of Hamlet's madness?
Culture and Identity	What is the relationship between culture and identity?
Facebook	How does Facebook influence teenagers' performance in school?

The ANSWER is your point of view or opinion about the essay question. What do you think about the question? What side of the debate do you favor? Your answer to the essay question is your position--your "thesis." Arriving at your own answer to the essay question may take some time and some work involving careful study and research on the subject and the essay question, but it may come quickly. This answer or thesis is the point which you are going to support or persuade others is true in the body of your essay. Here are some examples of position statements:

Subject	Essay Question	Answer/Thesis
Smoking	Should smoking be banned from all public places?	In my opinion, smoking should be banned from all public places.
TV Violence	Should the government limit the amount of violence shown on TV?	It is not the governments place or role to regulate TV violence.
Hamlet	What is the source of Hamlet's madness?	As Polonius suggests, Hamlet's madness comes from "neglected love."
Culture and Identity	What is the relationship between culture and identity?	One interesting relationship between culture and identity is the way culture shapes identity.
Yahoo Messenger	How do you set up Yahoo Messenger on your computer?	Setting up Yahoo Messenger is an easy three step process.
Education	Is providing parents with tuition vouchers a good idea?	I support giving parents tuition vouchers.

The trickiest and most crucial part of approaching an essay topic is clearly understanding the essay question or issue. Below are some examples of misinterpreted issues from argument /persuasion topics:

Example 1

Correct Issue:

On topic position:

Should the government limit the amount of violence shown on TV?

I support government regulation of TV violence.

Misinterpreted:

Off topic position:

Should the amount of TV violence be limited.
(the real issue is whether the government should limit or not)

TV violence must be limited.

Example 2

Correct Issue:

On topic position:

Should a city ordinance be passed banning smoking in all restaurants?

San Antonio needs to pass a city ordinance banning smoking in all restaurants.

Misinterpreted:

Off topic position:

Should smoking be banned in all public places?
(the real issue is about a city ordinance focused just on restaurants)

I do not think a law should be passed to prevent people from smoking in public places.

If you misinterpret the issue or question of the essay, you will end up not addressing the real topic of the essay. If you fail to make your essay question clear in the readers' mind, then your reader may not know what you are writing about.

Clearly defining your essay question (what's at stake) will help you clarify exactly what you are writing about (your thesis/position). I suggest that you make it a habit to inspect the writing topic closely the minute you get it. Look carefully to identify the subject and the essay question, and it will make it easier to claim your position. Orienting yourself around a clear position will help you maintain "unity" in you essay (i.e. sticking to your point). After you have identified a clear position, you are ready to brainstorm on the prompt or writing question.

Introductions:
A good way, then, for you to write your introduction is to move from SUBJECT to QUESTION to ANSWER. Starting with the general subject, you funnel down to one issue or question related to that subject, and then narrow even further to the specific point you wish to make on the topic or question. (See also Orienting Yourself Toward an Essay Topic and Leads.)This sequence to your introduction accomplishes the movement from general to specific which is so crucial to the logic of the essay. Although there certainly are different ways to write an introduction, I urge you to write an introduction that moves from subject to question/issue to answer/position for these reasons:

It is clear
General to specific is a pattern repeated throughout the essay, since it is the movement of making a point and supporting it, so it is important to establish this pattern early.
The reader will be looking for your thesis (position) to come at the end of your introduction. By placing the thesis at the end of the introduction, you place it in an easily recognizable place.

You don't necessarily need to start with the subject, but it is important that you at least include the essence of the question or issue the essay focuses on. The reader may also need background information to understand the context for your essay question. Lastly, the best place for your thesis or position is at the end of the introduction (since it is most specific). Some people start their introductions with the thesis first, which can work fine, but I disagree with this approach because it doesn't follow the movement of general to specific.

In short, your main purpose in the introduction is to introduce to the reader what the essay is all about (the question or issue) and what in particular you have to say (the thesis or position). Your goal in the introduction is to make your point, so you don't need to worry about proving or supporting your position at this point. If you find yourself including arguments in the introduction for why you believe your point, you can cut them out and move them into the body of the essay.

Example Introductions

General Goals of an Introduction

Connect with your reader/grab their attention
Introduce the general subject of the paper
Provide any needed background information/clarify the context
Clarify the Issue or Question the paper will address
(often stating your "Essay Question" clearly in your Introduction can be a way to gain clarity and focus for your paper)
State your Thesis or Point clearly in the last sentence (one idea is to think of your thesis as your answer to the Essay Question)

For more on Introductions see the Writing Guide on Leads: Introductions and the Art of Capturing Your Reader's Attention

Below are examples of Introductions with commentary based upon these characteristic features of an Introduction (note, no commentary is made on grammatical issues). Most of these examples refer to a Process Analysis paper topic:

Example #1

How I Got To College.

I always wanted to go back to college. It was really hard to do that with one child, and a
full time job. Then I had another child and a family to care for. I was really scared, how
could a thirty one year old wife and mom go back to college after being out for 10 years.
How could I jump right back in with younger people some who just finished high school?
How would this affect my family and responsibilities? Would my husband understand and
support me. Would I be able to hang for the 10 years it will take to get my PhD? Will I
make it out and accomplish all that I wanted?

Excellent introduction of the Subject.

Excellent background and context for decision.

Notice none of these questions really gets at the "Essay Question"--what was the process?

Notice also--no Thesis!

Example #1 Revised (revised parts in bold)

How I Got To College.

Notice that the Essay Question is added.

Then the Thesis--the thesis is the answer to the Essay Question.

Example #2

The Steps to Attending College

How hard is it to make arrangements to pursue a college education? Before I
even graduated high school my mind was set on how to prepare myself for college. I
knew it would be difficult but I was willing to take the challenge. The process to get to
college required a lot of planning and much dedication.

Brief intro, but OK.

Starts with the Essay Question (sort of)

Some background

Thesis in the last sentence

This introduction works, but I would like to see an even clearer expression of the Essay Question right before the thesis.

Example #2 Revised

The Steps to Attending College

How hard is it to make arrangements to pursue a college education? Before I
even graduated high school my mind was set on how to prepare myself for college. I
knew it would be difficult but I was willing to take the challenge. What was the sequence of steps that led me to college like? The process to get to college required a lot of planning and much dedication.

Notice that this pattern of maintained:

Essay Question?/Issue

Thesis

Example #3

Preparing For College

When preparing for college alot comes to mind and can be very stressful. In-order to
better prepare yourself for a brighter semester and experience at school take time to
visit the campus. Think positive and come with a mature attitude.

Another brief (too brief) intro.

Subject is introduced

No clarification of the Essay Question

No Thesis

This is a problematic introduction that needs the focus of a clear Essay Question.

Example #3 Revised

Preparing For College

When preparing for college alot comes to mind and can be very stressful. It helps to think positive and come with a mature attitude, but sometimes the process of attending college doesn't go well. What was my experience like as I prepared to go to college? For me, the process of attending college was one of overcoming obstacles.

Still a short Intro, but OK.

Notice the clear Essay Question now!

Also, notice how the term "process" is right in the thesis (this is a Process Analysis paper after all)

Example # 4

Preparation for college was something that rarely crossed my mind
during my senior year. I knew that I wanted to go to college but that was
where it stopped. I spent most of the year socializing with friends, playing
soccer, and just enjoying my last year of high school. I never thought much
about where I wanted to go to college or even how I was going to get
there. It wasn’t until a friend of mine encouraged me to open my eyes to
my future, that’s when I started to prepare for college.

Nice introduction of the Subject--preparation for college

The Issue or Essay Question is not explicitly stated, but the sentence in bold works to clarify the issue.

No real thesis. It should have a clear statement that answers the Essay Question (such as it is)

Example # 4 Revised

Thesis added

(notice again the use of the key words of the essay question/issue are used)

Example #5 (from a Cause/Effect Paper)

What has caused the success in my life?

Every one is molded into an individual from the beginning of life. How we
grow up as adults and chose to live our lives is solely up to us as an individual. Now what
causes some of us to make certain decisions in life or who causes us to make these
decisions is different from one person to another? For some people it is experiences in
life, their kids, their spouses, family in general, their selves, their parents or
grandparents. What caused me to have so much motivation for myself and help me
become successful? The greatest influence on me and my successes in life has been from my grandparents.

Good job of clarifying the Subject in the beginning.

Clarifies the Issue in general

States the Issue in particular as the Essay Question

Thesis comes in the last line (works as the answer to the Essay Question)

Good introduction!

Example #6 (from an Argument/Persuasion Essay on the play Antigone

A Tragic Life

In the play Antigone by Sophocles, there are a few situations where the lines between right and wrong, moral and immoral, become blurry. I was faced with the question, who would I condemn in the play, and why? My immediate reaction was that Creon was wrong for withholding honor from a dead man, no matter what the circumstance. Even though Antigone broke the law in order to bury her brother, I believe that it was an act of love and loyalty. Creon’s actions were also an act of love, except his love was for power and pride. I believe that Creon was acting immorally for not giving Polyneices a proper burial and that the final outcome was a product of his arrogance and love of power.

Introduces the Subject of morality or immorality

States Essay Question

Reviews possible answers

Presents Thesis (the answer chosen) in the last sentence.

Thesis could be a sharper, shorter sentence.

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