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Too many graduate students these days are entering the culture of higher learning without the skills they need. Even if you went to a top University most, probably all, of your papers were graded by an over-worked graduate student who needed to get through a mountain of grading overnight. Once you got into graduate school it was assumed that you’d acquired the paper writing skills you need, but many students haven’t. If you’re one of those students know that you’re not alone and here’s some information to help your next paper go a lot smoother.
The most crucial part of any academic paper is the thesis statement . If you went to a good elementary school or junior high you probably had a paper writing exercise that programmed you to write a “Two-Fold and Three-Pronged Thesis Statement”, if you didn’t here’s what you missed:
Aligning theoretical framework, gathering articles, synthesizing gaps, articulating a clear methodology and data plan, and writing about the theoretical and practical implications of your research are part of our comprehensive dissertation editing services.
Now that you’re in graduate school things are a bit more complicated. Obviously, your 20 page paper will need more than three body paragraphs and your thesis statement needs a bit more finesse. Here are some tips for a graduate level thesis statement:
If you’re having trouble with writing at the graduate level don’t worry, just a little bit of help can go a long way.
by Purdue Global Academic Success Center and Writing Center · Published August 19, 2015 · Updated August 10, 2015
Molly Wright Starkweather, MA, Kaplan University Writing Center Tutor
When teaching thesis statements, the standard advice from teaching guides varies depending on the expertise of the student and the content area and level of study of the course. In the Kaplan Guide to Successful Writing , a thesis statement is considered effective if it sticks to one idea, focuses on a reasonably sized aspect of that idea, takes a clear position on the subject, and uses solid support. These are quality goals for students, but how does a student get in the right frame of mind to begin writing a thesis statement after having conducted all the research? A first term student will likely consider the main points to be included and build a thesis statement from there, which works fairly well in shorter assignments, but it can become an unwieldy proposition when it comes to more complex compositions.
Graduate students might not be expected to write the same sort of thesis statement as first year composition students, but they can benefit from considering a focused central argument in a sentence or two for the sake of those reading their papers. One of the reasons it is important to distinguish the type of central argument graduate students will make in their writing is because it might be easy to confuse a thesis statement with a graduate thesis, which is a specific type of original research report described in our Graduate Thesis resource .
A formula I have developed for thesis statements takes into consideration the notion that a thesis statement is often designed to address a situation in a field of study, typically solving a specific problem by offering a specific solution. The first ingredient in an effective thesis statement, then, is to mention the problem briefly. A template for mentioning the problem might look like one of the phrases below.
Considering the challenge of _________
When addressing the situation of __________
Professionals who face the scenario of __________
Here is how one thesis might begin.
Considering the challenge of keeping infants safe on airplane flights
Next, it is always good communication to have a solution in mind when mentioning a problem. Make sure to mention the specific solution for the specific problem being addressed, and consider one of the phrases below as a template for introducing the solution.
… an effective approach might be _________
… one good solution is _________
… the best response is to _________
Now, the effective thesis started earlier might go on to look like this. Considering the challenge of keeping infants safe on airplane flights, the most effective solution is to have the infant ride in a rear-facing car seat secured to the infant’s own airplane seat.
Finally, effective thesis statements can offer the reader a sense of what to expect in the body paragraphs of the paper. One way to incorporate the main points from the body paragraphs is to consider why the solution being offered in the thesis statement is effective or perhaps even the best solution. Adding “because” after naming the solution in the thesis can pave the way for establishing the main points right there within the same sentence. Here is an example of how all three ingredients—mentioning the challenge at hand, the solution, and the main points supporting the solution—can make for an effective thesis statement.
Considering the challenge of protecting infants on flights, the most effective solution is for the infant to be rear-facing in a car seat, because this solution addresses an infant’s physical development, the latest safety guidelines from experts on child travel safety, and the need for parents to protect themselves in a crash.
This is only one model for an effective thesis statement, so I encourage those reading this blog entry to consider other models for thesis statements as well. No matter what, make sure to phrase the central argument or main point or thesis statement based on the assignment instructions and any other supporting material (like a rubric) provided by the professor.
Tags: academic writing Thesis statements
June 9, 2023
by Errol Craig Sull · Published June 9, 2023
August 29, 2013
by Purdue Global Academic Success Center and Writing Center · Published August 29, 2013 · Last modified August 26, 2013
April 2, 2013
by Purdue Global Academic Success Center and Writing Center · Published April 2, 2013
Molly, once again a great piece of work informative, short, sweet, and to the point! Love it. KB
Thank you! It is great when we as professionals find a simple approach that accomplishes our goals.
Molly – I love this approach. I’ve actually done a graphic organizer to help students develop what I call a three prong thesis. I also share with them that when I write an article, I start with one as well. I may not always end with one because professional writing needs more than that, but after so many years of forming the thesis in my mind this way, it is the way my brain works.
Thanks, Teresa! I agree that the three-prong approach might be a good springboard for the varying needs of professional writing. I think we have a potential resource on our hands, eh?
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A thesis that addresses three points that you will use for your main argument. A good way to structure the thesis is to first write an introductary phrase (outlining the argument), followed by a list of the three things you are using as points.
A three-prong thesis in an essay is a statement that outlines the main argument or points that will be discussed in the essay. It typically consists of three key ideas that support the main thesis statement and provide structure to the essay. Each prong serves as a separate focus of discussion within the essay.
Yes, a thesis statement is a fundamental component of an essay. It provides a clear and concise explanation of the main point or argument that the essay will address. Without a thesis statement, the essay lacks a focused direction or purpose.
I'm happy to help! Please provide the essay or the specific topic you would like assistance with so I can identify the thesis statement for you.
Thesis statement is also known as the main idea, central argument, or claim of an essay.
A thesis statement is typically found near the end of the introduction in an essay. It clearly presents the main idea or argument that will be discussed in the essay.
The thesis is typically found at the end of the introduction paragraph in an essay. It presents the main argument or point of the essay and provides a roadmap for what will be discussed in the body paragraphs.
The three-story thesis.
You have no doubt been drilled on the need for a thesis statement and its proper location at the end of the introduction. And you also know that all of the key points of the paper should clearly support the central driving thesis. Indeed, the whole model of the five-paragraph theme hinges on a clearly stated and consistent thesis. However, some students are surprised—and dismayed—when some of their early college papers are criticized for not having a good thesis. Their professor might even claim that the paper doesn’t have a thesis when, in the author’s view it clearly does. So, what makes a good thesis in college?
Version A: Linen served as a form of currency in the ancient Mediterranean world, connecting rival empires through circuits of trade. Version B: Linen served as a form of currency in the ancient Mediterranean world, connecting rival empires through circuits of trade. The economic role of linen raises important questions about how shifting environmental conditions can influence economic relationships and, by extension, political conflicts.
Putting your claims in their broader context makes them more interesting to your reader and more impressive to your professors who, after all, assign topics that they think have enduring significance. Finding that significance for yourself makes the most of both your paper and your learning.
How do you produce a good, strong thesis? And how do you know when you’ve gotten there? Many instructors and writers find useful a metaphor based on this passage by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. [2] :
There are one-story intellects, two-story intellects, and three-story intellects with skylights. All fact collectors who have no aim beyond their facts are one-story men. Two-story men compare, reason, generalize using the labor of fact collectors as their own. Three-story men idealize, imagine, predict—their best illumination comes from above the skylight.
The biggest benefit of the three-story metaphor is that it describes a process for building a thesis. To build the first story, you first have to get familiar with the complex, relevant facts surrounding the problem or question. You have to be able to describe the situation thoroughly and accurately. Then, with that first story built, you can layer on the second story by formulating the insightful, arguable point that animates the analysis. That’s often the most effortful part: brainstorming, elaborating and comparing alternative ideas, finalizing your point. With that specified, you can frame up the third story by articulating why the point you make matters beyond its particular topic or case.
For example, imagine you have been assigned a paper about the impact of online learning in higher education. You would first construct an account of the origins and multiple forms of online learning and assess research findings about its use and effectiveness. If you’ve done that well, you’ll probably come up with a well considered opinion that wouldn’t be obvious to readers who haven’t looked at the issue in depth. Maybe you’ll want to argue that online learning is a threat to the academic community. Or perhaps you’ll want to make the case that online learning opens up pathways to college degrees that traditional campus-based learning does not. In the course of developing your central, argumentative point, you’ll come to recognize its larger context; in this example, you may claim that online learning can serve to better integrate higher education with the rest of society, as online learners bring their educational and career experiences together.
To outline this example:
Here’s another example of a three-story thesis: [4]
Here’s one more example:
A thesis statement that stops at the first story isn’t usually considered a thesis. A two-story thesis is usually considered competent, though some two-story theses are more intriguing and ambitious than others. A thoughtfully crafted and well informed three-story thesis puts the author on a smooth path toward an excellent paper.
The three-story thesis is a beautiful thing. For one, it gives a paper authentic momentum. The first paragraph doesn’t just start with some broad, vague statement; every sentence is crucial for setting up the thesis. The body paragraphs build on one another, moving through each step of the logical chain. Each paragraph leads inevitably to the next, making the transitions from paragraph to paragraph feel wholly natural. The conclusion, instead of being a mirror-image paraphrase of the introduction, builds out the third story by explaining the broader implications of the argument. It offers new insight without departing from the flow of the analysis.
A paper with this kind of momentum often reads like it was knocked out in one inspired sitting. But in reality, just like accomplished athletes and artists, masterful writers make the difficult thing look easy. As writer Anne Lamott notes, reading a well written piece feels like its author sat down and typed it out, “bounding along like huskies across the snow.” However, she continues,
This is just the fantasy of the uninitiated. I know some very great writers, writers you love who write beautifully and have made a great deal of money, and not one of them sits down routinely feeling wildly enthusiastic and confident. Not one of them writes elegant first drafts. All right, one of them does, but we do not like her very much. [1]
Experienced writers don’t figure out what they want to say and then write it. They write in order to figure out what they want to say.
Experienced writers develop theses in dialog with the body of the essay. An initial characterization of the problem leads to a tentative thesis, and then drafting the body of the paper reveals thorny contradictions or critical areas of ambiguity, prompting the writer to revisit or expand the body of evidence and then refine the thesis based on that fresh look. The revised thesis may require that body paragraphs be reordered and reshaped to fit the emerging three-story thesis. Throughout the process, the thesis serves as an anchor point while the author wades through the morass of facts and ideas. The dialogue between thesis and body continues until the author is satisfied or the due date arrives, whatever comes first.
Another benefit of the three-story thesis framework is that it demystifies what a “strong” argument is in academic culture. In an era of political polarization, many students may think that a strong argument is based on a simple, bold, combative statement that is promoted it in the most forceful way possible. “Gun control is a travesty!” “Shakespeare is the best writer who ever lived!” When students are encouraged to consider contrasting perspectives in their papers, they fear that doing so will make their own thesis seem mushy and weak. However, in academics a “strong” argument is comprehensive and nuanced, not simple and polemical. The purpose of the argument is to explain to readers why the author—through the course of his or her in-depth study—has arrived at a somewhat surprising point. On that basis, it has to consider plausible counter-arguments and contradictory information. Academic argumentation exemplifies the popular adage about all writing: show, don’t tell. In crafting and carrying out the three-story thesis, you are showing your reader the work you have done.
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Sample Thesis: People cannot achieve the American Dream due to the continual racial discrimination, corrupt justice system, and ineffective education policies across many states. Step 1 - Topic: "The American Dream.". Comment: It is a socially relevant topic. Step 2 - Assertion: "People cannot achieve.".
Definition of a 3 Point Thesis Statement. A 3-point thesis statement is a succinct and focused sentence that outlines the main arguments or points you intend to address in your paper. It serves as a roadmap for your readers, indicating the core topics or themes you'll explore while presenting your stance or perspective on a particular issue. ...
Step 1. First, identify your topic and narrow it down as much as possible. Clothing, for example, is too broad of a topic for a thesis statement. You could narrow it down to uniforms, but that is still too vague to truly know what type of uniforms the essay will explore. School uniforms is an example of a narrowly defined topic for a thesis ...
A thesis statement is a sentence in a paper or essay (in the opening paragraph) that introduces the main topic to the reader. As one of the first things your reader sees, your thesis statement is one of the most important sentences in your entire paper—but also one of the hardest to write! In this article, we explain how to write a thesis ...
A thesis statement is an idea that you state and prove to your readers. Write a three prong thesis to describe your argument and back it up with three points. Use proper essay structure for your thesis.
Step 1: Start with a question. You should come up with an initial thesis, sometimes called a working thesis, early in the writing process. As soon as you've decided on your essay topic, you need to work out what you want to say about it—a clear thesis will give your essay direction and structure.
• Try and avoid using a three-pronged thesis statement. Experienced, creative writers aim to make a general claim and avoid the standard "five paragraph essay." Expository (Explanatory) Thesis Statements . An expository paper explains something to the reader. An expository thesis statement details: 1. What you are going to explain 2.
A thesis statement . . . Makes an argumentative assertion about a topic; it states the conclusions that you have reached about your topic. Makes a promise to the reader about the scope, purpose, and direction of your paper. Is focused and specific enough to be "proven" within the boundaries of your paper. Is generally located near the end ...
Topic + active verb + 3 prongs / main points / the approach that you use to prove your topic = strong thesis 1 3 2 A Three Pronged Thesis Example for Science: Because it emits no greenhouse gasses, causes no atmospheric pollution, and harms no water or aquatic life, Nuclear power + provides + the cleanest source of energy to meet the demands of ...
thesis statement is analogous to a "movie trailer" that gives readers an engaging glimpse into the main conclusion, compelling them to read further. As research progresses and the broader
Step 4: Revise and refine your thesis statement before you start writing. Read through your thesis statement several times before you begin to compose your full essay. You need to make sure the statement is ironclad, since it is the foundation of the entire paper. Edit it or have a peer review it for you to make sure everything makes sense and ...
This thesis statement is not debatable. First, the word pollution implies that something is bad or negative in some way. Furthermore, all studies agree that pollution is a problem; they simply disagree on the impact it will have or the scope of the problem. No one could reasonably argue that pollution is unambiguously good.
A thesis statement is usually one sentence that tells the main point of your piece of writing-research paper, essay, etc.. The thesis statement is then "proven" throughout the paper with supporting evidence.. When learning to write thesis statements, you may be taught to write a three-pronged thesis statement.This is a sentence that includes three reasons to support the thesis.
The thesis should tell the reader exactly what your paper is about to say. It is two-fold because you should mention the counter argument and your argument. It is three-pronged because you should mention the topics of each of your three body paragraphs. An example would be "While some may think (counter argument) I feel (argument) which can ...
examine why thesis statements are crucial to a paper. For a Reader Thesis statements act as a roadmap that drive readers from one paragraph to another. Having a thesis statement gives the reader a "notice" on points that will be discussed in the paper. Moreover, having a thesis statement gives the reader a reason to continue reading. Without a
1 / 2. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like What is a Thesis Statement?, What are the three main kinds of thesis statements?, What is a working thesis statement? and more.
Here is an example of how all three ingredients—mentioning the challenge at hand, the solution, and the main points supporting the solution—can make for an effective thesis statement. Considering the challenge of protecting infants on flights, the most effective solution is for the infant to be rear-facing in a car seat, because this ...
Include an opposing viewpoint to your main idea, if applicable. A good thesis statement acknowledges that there is always another side to the argument. So, include an opposing viewpoint (a counterargument) to your opinion. Basically, write down what a person who disagrees with your position might say about your topic.
Three-story men idealize, imagine, predict—their best illumination comes from above the skylight. One-story theses state inarguable facts. Two-story theses bring in an arguable (interpretive or analytical) point. Three-story theses nest that point within its larger, compelling implications.[3] The biggest benefit of the three-story metaphor ...
A thesis that addresses three points that you will use for your main argument. A good way to structure the thesis is to first write an introductary phrase (outlining the argument), followed by a ...
Three pronged thesis definition in writing. Five-paragraph essay writing is classic for compositions. This helpful type of written argument includes five sentences: one opening paragraph, three body sentences with support and development, and something concluding paragraph. Due to this structure, it's also referred to as a hamburger essay.
A two-story thesis is usually considered competent, though some two-story theses are more intriguing and ambitious than others. A thoughtfully crafted and well informed three-story thesis puts the author on a smooth path toward an excellent paper. The three-story thesis is a beautiful thing. For one, it gives a paper authentic momentum.