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What’s The Problem? – Writing A Thesis In French Posted by John Bauer on Aug 31, 2016 in Culture , Vocabulary
These past few weeks I’ve been hard at work on mon mémoire (my thesis). The last big project for un diplôme (a degree) is always hard, and writing un mémoire in another language makes the whole process even more of un casse-tête (a headache).
“ Place de la Sorbonne ” by Alan on Flickr. Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
I came to France to do mon master (my Master’s), and it has been an interesting exeprience learning how nobody’s perfect and what a CM and TD are . Now hard at work on mon mémoire , I’m struggling to find enough café (coffee) to keep me going.
Writing more than cinquante pages (fifty pages) en français has been tough. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve mixed up the words une mémoire (a memory) and un mémoire (a thesis). Not to mention all the other dual gender nouns .
To make things easier, le mémoire should follow le plan (the outline), but sometimes il est difficile de savoir par où commencer (it’s hard to know where to start).
“ Plan de dissertation ” by dicophilo on Flickr. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Figuring out une problématique is a big part of writing un mémoire . Once you have une idée (an idea) you have to fix not just le grammaire (the grammar), but le raisonnement et la logique (the reasoning and logic) as well.
C’est quoi une problématique ? What is une problématique?
Une problématique is a thesis statement to some people. In my experience, they are used in the same general educational contexts. Cependant (however), they do not mean exactly the same thing.
The word for a thesis statement is une thèse principale or un énoncé de la thèse .
It’s a subtle difference, but la problématique is more about defining the research problem or outlining the research problem rather than a summary of the main point or presenting un point de vue (a point of view) and making a claim.
It can be difficult to understand how to succeed in the French education system without understanding this difference. Surtout (especially) because in the classroom you’ll hear le professeur (the professor) talk about the importance of la problématique in the same way you would hear le professeur talk about the thesis statement in aux États-Unis (in the United States).
There is also a lot to learn about les travaux universitaires (academic writing). All the nuances of specific wordings can easily get lost in translation. The main ideas of writing clearly, citing your sources, creating a bibliography, and proper formatting are all the same, but the details can be different enough that figuring out how to write correctly is un casse-tête .
De plus (what’s more), if you went to school in the US, you are probably familiar with MLA or APA formatting and it’s hard to realize that those are American guidelines.
Ne vous inquiétez pas ! Don’t worry!
In France, all the information you need is in le guide de mise en page (the style guide) provided by le professeur .
Maintenant (now), the biggest problem I have is that with la canicule it’s too hot to drink du café !
Build vocabulary, practice pronunciation, and more with Transparent Language Online. Available anytime, anywhere, on any device.
About the Author: John Bauer
John Bauer is an enthusiast for all things language and travel. He currently lives in France where he's doing his Master's. John came to France four years ago knowing nothing about the language or the country, but through all the mistakes over the years, he's started figuring things out.
Welcome to the world of a French-loving, American couple
How to Write a Stellar Mémoire (French Master’s Thesis)
Pursuing graduate studies in France entails mastering all sorts of assignments, but perhaps none as daunting as the notorious mémoire , or master’s thesis. Writing and defending a master’s thesis is the cornerstone of many, though not all, French graduate degrees, making it a rite of passage for degree-seeking students in France. As part of my French master’s degree in Droit Public parcours Intégration Européenne et Gouvernance Globale , I was required to take on the infamous mémoire alongside my regular coursework during the final year of my studies.
Since I’m an international student at the Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne , I had to contend not only with the base-level difficulties of putting together a master’s thesis, but also with the reality of writing fully in my second language and following the unforgiving methodology and writing norms of French law school to a tee. Needless to say, my year-long research project entailed late nights spent reading, countless trips to the library, typing until my fingers were sore, and shedding a few more tears than I’d like to admit!
My master’s thesis experience wasn’t all bad, of course. I genuinely enjoyed learning everything I could about my topic, discussing my progress with my classmates, refining my French-language skills , and presenting a piece of work that reflected my academic rigor. To my delight, at the end of my defense, the jury awarded me an 18/20 for my mémoire , entitled Associer les inégalités sociales et le changement climatique : Une étude comparative des contextes et approches aux États-Unis et dans l’Union européenne . The jury highlighted the following assets of my work:
- Qualité de recherche (Research quality)
- Qualité rédactionnelle (Writing quality)
- Qualité de français (French-language quality)
- Problématique innovante (Innovative research question)
- Posture épistémologique intéressant (Interesting epistemological posture)
- Bon cadrage théorique (Good theoretical framework)
- Limitations justifiées (Justified limitations)
- Structure impeccable (Impeccable structure)
Managing to receive the highest honors on my mémoire as an American studying law in France was no easy feat. Throughout the lengthy process of crafting my master’s thesis and defense, I discovered what worked well for me and what held me back – that’s why, in this post, I’m sharing my expert tips to help you write an outstanding French master’s thesis.
Honor Your Interests
Completing a mémoire takes months of daily research, reading, and writing, so you can imagine how painful the whole operation can become if your topic doesn’t inspire you! For a certain amount of time, your master’s thesis content will likely be all you can think about as you attempt to find and consume every piece of relevant literature ever written about it. To avoid misery and increase your motivation, you need to reflect upon the subjects within your degree field that excite you, the themes you’d be delighted to learn more about, and the concepts you truly want to call yourself an expert in come the day of your defense.
- My research topic combined my enthusiasm for the themes of public policy and governance, social justice issues, environmental protection, the United States, and the European Union.
Favor Innovation
The goal of producing a master’s thesis is not to reiterate the conclusions that other researchers have already drawn, but to pull from existing knowledge in order to demonstrate something new. To elevate your mémoire and impress your jury, innovation is indispensable. Creating a research question that hasn’t already been exhaustively answered will also prevent you from simply regurgitating what you read and will allow you to write a master’s thesis that relies on the important work of those before you, but is, ultimately, entirely your own.
- In my case, the concept of linking social inequality and climate change is relatively new on the whole. Moreover, my comparison of the United States’ and the European Union’s approaches for dealing with this phenomenon is something that hadn’t been done before.
Survey Your Sources
Because a finished mémoire is the culmination of in-depth research and analysis, you’ll need to choose a topic that you can thoroughly explore. For example, if your desired subject is too cutting-edge, you may struggle to find sufficient existing material upon which to build your master’s thesis. If essential documents that you need to read are confidential, located far away, or otherwise inaccessible, you won’t be able to use them for your work. It is therefore essential to consider whether adequate sources are available before you set your heart on a specific theme.
- When finalizing my topic, I ensured that the sources I would need to study were either located online, at my university , or in libraries near me.
Create a Timeline
You know that you should start working on your master’s thesis at the beginning of the school year , and that you need to have it finished by the end, but what happens between those two events is much less clear! With the help of a trusted professor or independently, you should make a realistic schedule with self-imposed deadlines to help you conceptualize the amount of work that needs to be done by each date. Your timeline should include targets for things like finalizing your research question, gathering sources for your bibliography, writing the various sections of the manuscript, submitting your mémoire for review, and preparing for your defense.
- Using a holistic timeline helped me to know when I was on track, when I could take breaks, and when I needed to speed things along. It also enabled me to beat procrastination, as delaying tasks for too long would have thrown me completely off schedule.
Chat About Your Research
While a master’s thesis is definitely an individual project, you shouldn’t keep your thoughts and questions to yourself! Your professors, classmates, friends, and family are all valuable resources as you go through the mémoire process. Speaking with your professors (who have already successfully completed challenging research projects) and with your classmates (who are currently working on their own mémoires ) about things like methodological difficulties and research hardships can lead to helpful problem solving and sincere moral support. Moreover, explaining your research to friends and family (who are likely unfamiliar with your subject) will help you gauge how well you understand it yourself and how clearly you’re able to express your ideas.
- I personally checked in regularly with my classmates who always offered useful words of advice and encouragement. I also talked with my significant other, Jalen , frequently to get his feedback on my work.
Choose the Right Advisor
Selecting a directeur·rice de mémoire , or master’s thesis advisor, isn’t a decision to make lightly. To find the perfect fit, you need to be familiar with your potential advisors and know your own preferences very well. For example, asking a professor whose specialty has nothing to do with your research question is likely to be as uninteresting for them as it is unhelpful to you. Furthermore, if you’re a student who likes frequent and detailed feedback, choosing a professor with a tightly-packed schedule might not be the best idea. Take the time to weigh your options carefully before asking a professor to become your advisor.
- I made sure to pick an advisor who was familiar with the broad strokes of my topic and had a hands-off attitude so that I could work autonomously and at my own pace.
Write Meticulously
The quality of the content of your master’s thesis is crucial, but so is the quality of your writing. The most brilliant of ideas will still fall flat if your text is riddled with grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. Attempting to avoid all language blunders is especially vital when you’re writing in your second language – and even more so in a country like France where such mistakes are not looked upon kindly. If your manuscript is hard to understand, readers won’t be able to appreciate your analysis. Additionally, it’s tough for readers to take a piece of work seriously if they’re constantly distracted by careless errors. Try to compose every sentence with care in order to avoid these pitfalls.
- When writing my mémoire , I never hesitated to look up a word, phrase, or grammar rule when I was even the tiniest bit uncertain. I also double-checked for errors that I commonly make, like accidentally including a serial comma when I’m writing in French.
Perfect Your Formatting
You shouldn’t organize your master’s thesis like you would a novel, an essay, or a report. Depending on your field of study and your degree program’s requirements, you’ll likely have specific norms to apply and rules to follow for structuring your mémoire . Your acknowledgements, dedication, abstract, abbreviations, table of contents, references, and appendices can’t be placed just anywhere! You should also ensure that your work is pleasing to the eye, with an appropriate cover page, sensible headings, proper font sizes and line spacing, logical page breaks, and accurate citations. These details are what make the difference between a good master’s thesis and a great one.
- In French law school, for example, writing to a detailed, hierarchical outline, known as a plan , is often an absolute must. As such, the final version of my master’s thesis manuscript consists of an introduction, two chapters with three sections and eight sub-sections each, and a conclusion.
Prepare Your Defense
When you’re finally done writing your master’s thesis, it can be tempting to put it completely out of your mind. But once you conquer this first step, you still have one more challenge to tackle: your soutenance , or master’s thesis defense. To pass your defense, you need to do more than just prepare to present your research and findings to the jury. A quality presentation will also include explaining the reason you chose your topic, the sources you used, the problems you faced , the limitations of your work, any updates on your subject since you finished writing, and future research possibilities. Don’t forget to reread your mémoire with a critical eye to anticipate the jury’s critiques in advance. Going the extra mile to prepare your defense to the best of your ability is a recipe for triumph.
- I prepared for my defense one week in advance, and it consisted of a 20-minute presentation, a 25-minute question and answer session, and a 10-minute jury deliberation.
Take Your Work Seriously
It’s no secret that some degree programs are more rigorous than others, just as it’s true that some students take their studies more seriously than others. However, if you decide that writing a solid master’s thesis demonstrating your academic talents and integrity isn’t worth your time because you know that your program will accept work of lower calibre, you’ve effectively proven your degree to be a second-rate credential and yourself to be a substandard student. Would you rather throw together a mediocre mémoire that you’ll stuff away the moment it’s over, or compose a meaningful piece of work representing the best of your capacities that you’ll be excited to share with others for years to come? Taking your work seriously won’t steer you wrong, especially when it comes to an assignment as noteworthy as a master’s thesis.
- I know that my decision to do my absolute best played a large role in the jury’s attribution of my final grade, and I’m proud of myself for having done so.
Everyone’s master’s thesis journey is unique, but implementing these tips will put you on a path to success. Is writing a French mémoire in your future? Have you ever carried out a significant research project? Do you want to know more about my experience? Let me know in a comment!
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If you are writing a graduate thesis ( mémoire or thèse) don't forget to consult the Faculty of Graduate Studies' guide on Dissertation and Thesis Preparation
For further information about theses and dissertations, take a look at the Theses and Dissertations Guide.
- ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global This link opens in a new window Includes millions of searchable citations to dissertations and theses from 1861 to the present day together with over a million full-text dissertations that are available for download in PDF format.
- Center for Research Libraries (CRL) Foreign Dissertation Database Search 800,000 doctoral dissertations (including those of Albert Einstein, Dag Hammarskjold, and other Nobel laureates) from universities outside the U.S. and Canada. CRL acquired the majority of the collection through deposit from member libraries. CRL continues to acquire about 5,000 titles per year from major universities through demand purchase and deposit.
- Dart e-Portal DART-Europe is a partnership of research libraries and library consortia who are working together to improve global access to European research theses. DART-Europe is endorsed by LIBER (Ligue des Bibliothèques Européennes de Recherche), and it is the European Working Group of the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
- Catalogue SUDOC (Système Universitaire de Documentation) The French collective catalogue created by libraries and resource centres in higher education and research. To find dissertations and theses, click Advanced .... Material selection... Dissertations [or in French: Recherche avancée ... Type de publication ... Thèses].
- L'Atelier national de reproduction des thèses (ANRT) The ANRT is a French public organization which has been reproducing and distributing doctoral theses since 1971.
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Améliorez votre score à l’épreuve écrite du TOEFL, IELTS, GMAT et CAE avec un énoncé de thèse ou « thesis statement »
Si vous envisagez de réussir les épreuves écrites des tests GMAT, TOEFL, IELTS, BULATS ou encore le CAE, vous devez vous rappelez d’inclure un « thesis statement » dans votre dissertation.
Dans ces examens, il vous sera demandé de répondre à une problématique spécifique. Il n’est pas attendu que vous construisiez la problématique. Elle est déjà créée pour vous. Votre responsabilité est de répondre de façon directe, clair et concise. Pensez donc à utiliser un « thesis statement. »
Le « thesis statement » est une phrase qui exprime le sujet et l’idée principale de votre dissertation. Il se trouve dans le premier paragraphe de votre dissertation ; normalement il constitue la dernière phrase. Cette phrase répond la question posée par le test.
Le « thesis statement » peut être traduit comme un énoncé d’opinion ou énoncé de thèse.
Thesis, (noun) : the main idea, opinion, or theory of a person, group, piece of writing, or speech. Ex.: Their main thesis was that war was inevitable.
Cambridge dictionary.
Exemples de « thesis statements » dans le TOEFL; IELTS et GMAT.
Voici quelques exemples de « thesis statements » qui répondent à des problématiques dans les parties écrites des examens TOEFL, IELTS et GMAT :
Thesis statement TOEFL : “I believe schools should teach values as well as skills because the world needs people with both strong values and academics.” Problématique : “Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? : The purpose of education should be to teach skills, not values.” (Extrait de la tache de production écrite no. 2 du TOEFL)
Thesis statement GMAT : “…The argument is flawed because it assumes that the alleged lack of warning is the main or only cause of midair plane collisions.” Problématique : “Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument: the computerized on-board warning system that will be installed in commercial airliners will virtually solve the problem of midair plane collisions.” (Extrait de la tache de l’analytical writing assessment du GMAT)
Thesis statement IELTS : “These two groups are obviously extremes. So, in my opinion, the real truth is somewhere in the middle.” Problématique : Tourism has increased so much over the last 50 years that it is having a mainly negative impact on local inhabitants and the environment. However, others claim it is good for the economy. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of tourism and give your own opinion. (Extrait de la tache de production écrite no. 2 de l’IELTS.)
Vous avez surement remarqué que dans ces exemples le « thesis statement » répond à la question de façon spécifique et présente au lecteur ce qui va être développé dans la dissertation. Vous devez faire pareil. Le lecteur ne devrait pas avoir besoin de lire le texte entier pour découvrir la position de l’auteur.
Néanmoins, exprimer votre position de façon claire n’est pas suffisant. Il faut aussi annoncer les arguments qui motivent votre position ou votre idée principale. Si le « thesis statement » exprime votre idée, les arguments expliquent pourquoi vous avez cette idée.
Mentionnez les arguments de soutien de votre « thesis statement »
Les arguments de soutien doivent être identifiés ou annoncés. Vous devez essayer d’être le plus concis possible. Evitez les résumés, ce qui est demandé est d’expliquer votre avis et d’annoncer les arguments qui explique pourquoi vous pensez cela. Regardons un exemple :
Problématique : “Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? “Police officers should not be allowed to carry guns.”
Exemple 1 : “I believe police officers should not carry guns.” (Le “thesis statement” doit être complété car il n’explique pas pourquoi l’auteur pense cela.)
Exemple 2 : “I believe police officers should not carry guns because they increase the likelihood of police brutality.” (Correct)
Exemple 3 : “I believe police officers should not carry guns. Statistics show that guns actually undermine public safety.” (Correct, même si le « thesis statement » et sa motivation sont exprimés dans deux phrases différentes.)
Les arguments en soutien de votre « thesis statement » annoncent la structure du texte. Ils seront ensuite développés dans des paragraphes. Ceci est le format typique à utiliser pour organiser les dissertations des tests d’anglais.
Identifiez clairement la problématique qui vous est posée pour adapter en en fonction le « thesis statement »
Une bonne dissertation doit répondre à la question posée. Selon la question posée, la dissertation peut (i) expliquer (ii) analyser ou (iii) argumenter.
Le « thesis statement » doit déclarer exactement ce que va être expliqué (si le texte est explicatif) ; présenter les différents éléments à évaluer (si le texte est analytique) ; et condenser les arguments (si le texte est argumentatif).
La plupart des questions posées lors des examens d’anglais requièrent une argumentation personnelle sur un sujet particulier. Néanmoins, familiarisez-vous avec les problématiques qui correspondent à l’examen que vous envisagez de passer car elles peuvent varier. Voici quelques exemples de “thesis statements” utilisés dans différents types de textes :
Pour un texte explicatif / for an expository text :
(TS) I intend to address three things that will help you and your team keep a clear focus: a common goal, a clear path, and a tracking instrument. (Anticipation du contenu) L’auteur va expliquer la « common goal », le « clear path » et le « tracking instrument » ainsi que la façon dont ils vont aider l’équipe à « keep a clear focus. »
Pour un texte analytique / for an analytical text :
(TS) “This paper examines the contribution of each of the four dimensions in Thomas and Velthouse’s (1990) multidimensional psychological empowerment in predicting work satisfaction.” (Anticipation du contenu) Le texte doit expliquer et analyser les “ four dimensions, ” et b) discuter les résultats qui montrent si “they have any power to predict work satisfaction.”
Pour un texte argumentatif / for an argumentative text :
(TS) All workers should be given a tree-day weekend in order to improve their levels of productivity. (Anticipation du contenu) Le texte va expliquer que “all workers should be given a three day weekend” et aussi les arguments et preuves qui soutien expliquent comment ou pourqui cela “improves the levels of productivity.
Si l’introduction en français peut être un jeu de séduction dans laquelle l’auteur attire l’attention du lecteur, en anglais c’est un jeu de satisfaction immédiate. L’auteur ne cache pas son avis, ne provoque pas de suspense et ne cherche pas à impressionner avec de jolis mots. La clarté et la breveté de votre idée principale, exprimée dans l’introduction, sont les meilleurs instruments pour impressionner votre lecteur anglophone.
Résistez à la tentation d’écrire une introduction à la française (et donc d’oublier le « thesis statemen »)
Dans le BAC et dans les programmes universitaires francophones on utilise généralement une introduction avec un protocole spécifique : phrase d’accroche + mise en contexte + problématique + annonce du plan.
Votre expérience peut probablement témoigner qu’en français il est déconseillé d’exprimer l’idée principale dans l’introduction. Cela peut être exprimé dans le développement de votre dissertation ou dans l’antithèse ou synthèse si vous utilisez un plan dialectique.
N’utilisez pas ce format dans les tests de langue ou dans votre programme académique en anglais. Encore une fois, vous devez exprimer de façon claire votre idée principale et ses arguments dans l’introduction, (« thesis statement). Le lecteur comprendra que vous allez développer les arguments en soutien de votre idée principale que vous avez annoncée.
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Dissertation search tools available at Yale
- ProQuest Dissertations & Theses This database makes nearly every dissertation ever filed in the United States available in PDF format. Not all dissertations are available, however, as authors with dissertations under contract with a press are sometimes encouraged not to make their dissertations freely available. In these cases you can at least read an abstract. Note that you can search by school, department, and adviser.
Dissertations databases outside Yale
- DART-Europe The European portal for finding electronic theses and dissertations. DART-Europe is a partnership of research libraries and library consortia who are working together to improve global access to European research theses.
- SUDOC - Le catalogue du Système Universitaire de Documentation
- Theses theses.fr donne accès à la description : • de 65 000 thèses en préparation en France, • et 8 000 thèses soutenues en France depuis 2006. Le texte intégral est accessible pour près de 6 000 d’entre elles. La base de données de theses.fr est en constante évolution. A terme, l'ensemble des thèses de doctorat soutenues en France sera signalé.
- CRL Center for Research Libraries Foreign Doctoral Dissertations Holds 800,000 dissertations from universities outside the U.S. and Canada. However, only 20,000 of these are cataloged in the database. If you know the exact title of a dissertation and do not find it in the database, CRL recommends searching the CRL Catalog. If the title does not appear in the database or the catalog, contact CRL directly to inquire if it is held. CRL continues to acquire about 5,000 titles per year from major universities.
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There are a number of different resources available for finding French dissertations.
- Atelier national de Reproduction des thèses Also known as tne National Center for the Reproduction of PhD theses
- SUDOC Le catalogue du Système Universitaire de Documentation
- Thèses en ligne (TEL): serveur de thèses multidisciplinaire Although multidisciplinary the majority of theses are in scientific disciplines.
- thèses.fr This research tool is maintained by ABES (Agence bibliographique de l'enseignement supérieur) and records titles of theses in preparation in French universities and higher education institutions
Belgian dissertations and theses
- Répertoire commun des thèses électroniques des universités de la Communauté Française de Belgique Portal to access French-language theses through relevant University repositories
General resources for dissertations and theses
- ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global The world's most comprehensive collection of full-text dissertations and theses. As the official digital dissertations archive for the Library of Congress and as the database of record for graduate research, PQDTGlobal includes millions of searchable citations to dissertations and theses from 1861 to the present day together with over a million full-text dissertations that are available for download in PDF format. Over 2.1 million titles are available for purchase as printed copies. The database offers full text for most of the dissertations added since 1997 and strong retrospective full-text coverage for older graduate works. It also includes content from PQDT UK & Ireland (aka Index to Theses).
- Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD) an international organization dedicated to promoting the adoption, creation, use, dissemination and preservation of electronic analogues to the traditional paper-based theses and dissertations.
- DART-Europe E-theses Portal DART-Europe is a partnership of research libraries and library consortia who are working together to improve global access to European research theses.
- Top 100 Dissertation and theses references on the web
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- How to Write a Thesis Statement | 4 Steps & Examples
How to Write a Thesis Statement | 4 Steps & Examples
Published on January 11, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on August 15, 2023 by Eoghan Ryan.
A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . It usually comes near the end of your introduction .
Your thesis will look a bit different depending on the type of essay you’re writing. But the thesis statement should always clearly state the main idea you want to get across. Everything else in your essay should relate back to this idea.
You can write your thesis statement by following four simple steps:
- Start with a question
- Write your initial answer
- Develop your answer
- Refine your thesis statement
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What is a thesis statement, placement of the thesis statement, step 1: start with a question, step 2: write your initial answer, step 3: develop your answer, step 4: refine your thesis statement, types of thesis statements, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about thesis statements.
A thesis statement summarizes the central points of your essay. It is a signpost telling the reader what the essay will argue and why.
The best thesis statements are:
- Concise: A good thesis statement is short and sweet—don’t use more words than necessary. State your point clearly and directly in one or two sentences.
- Contentious: Your thesis shouldn’t be a simple statement of fact that everyone already knows. A good thesis statement is a claim that requires further evidence or analysis to back it up.
- Coherent: Everything mentioned in your thesis statement must be supported and explained in the rest of your paper.
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The thesis statement generally appears at the end of your essay introduction or research paper introduction .
The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts and among young people more generally is hotly debated. For many who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its many benefits for education: the internet facilitates easier access to information, exposure to different perspectives, and a flexible learning environment for both students and teachers.
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.
You might already have a question in your assignment, but if not, try to come up with your own. What would you like to find out or decide about your topic?
For example, you might ask:
After some initial research, you can formulate a tentative answer to this question. At this stage it can be simple, and it should guide the research process and writing process .
Now you need to consider why this is your answer and how you will convince your reader to agree with you. As you read more about your topic and begin writing, your answer should get more detailed.
In your essay about the internet and education, the thesis states your position and sketches out the key arguments you’ll use to support it.
The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its many benefits for education because it facilitates easier access to information.
In your essay about braille, the thesis statement summarizes the key historical development that you’ll explain.
The invention of braille in the 19th century transformed the lives of blind people, allowing them to participate more actively in public life.
A strong thesis statement should tell the reader:
- Why you hold this position
- What they’ll learn from your essay
- The key points of your argument or narrative
The final thesis statement doesn’t just state your position, but summarizes your overall argument or the entire topic you’re going to explain. To strengthen a weak thesis statement, it can help to consider the broader context of your topic.
These examples are more specific and show that you’ll explore your topic in depth.
Your thesis statement should match the goals of your essay, which vary depending on the type of essay you’re writing:
- In an argumentative essay , your thesis statement should take a strong position. Your aim in the essay is to convince your reader of this thesis based on evidence and logical reasoning.
- In an expository essay , you’ll aim to explain the facts of a topic or process. Your thesis statement doesn’t have to include a strong opinion in this case, but it should clearly state the central point you want to make, and mention the key elements you’ll explain.
If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!
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A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.
The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:
- It gives your writing direction and focus.
- It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.
Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.
Follow these four steps to come up with a thesis statement :
- Ask a question about your topic .
- Write your initial answer.
- Develop your answer by including reasons.
- Refine your answer, adding more detail and nuance.
The thesis statement should be placed at the end of your essay introduction .
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Discussions du forum dont le titre comprend le(s) mot(s) "statement" :
Dans d'autres langues : espagnol | italien | portugais | roumain | allemand | néerlandais | suédois | russe | polonais | tchèque | grec | turc | chinois | japonais | coréen | arabe
Dissertations & Theses
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▾ Dictionary English-FrenchStatement noun ( plural: statements ) —, déclaration f ( plural: déclarations f ), relevé m ( plural: relevés m ), affirmation f ( plural: affirmations f ), communiqué m ( plural: communiqués m ), make a statement v —, written statement n —, closing statement n —, statement of defence n —, strong statement n —, false statement n —, accounting statement n —, preliminary statement n —, positive statement n —, earnings statement n —, pension statement n —, statement issued n —, binding statement n —, initial statement n —, diversity statement n —, explicit statement n —, complete statement n —, partnership statement n —, chairman's statement n —, first statement n —, voluntary statement n —, fraudulent statement n —, governance statement n —, president's statement n —, financial statement n —, recap statement n [colloq.] [abbr.] —, template statement n —, ▾ external sources (not reviewed).
Advertisement EU and China launch Cross-Border Data Flow Communication MechanismYesterday (27 August), the EU and China launched the first discussions under the new Cross-Border Data Flow Communication Mechanism. Sabine Weyand, director-general of DG Trade at the European Commission, met online yesterday with Vice-Minister Wang Jingtao of the Cyberspace Administration of China to formally launch the new mechanism. The mechanism will focus on practical solutions to address problems European companies face in China regarding cross-border flows of non-personal data. This is a deliverable of the political agreement reached in 2023 between European Commission Vice-President Věra Jourová and Chinese Vice-Premier Zhang Guoqing at the EU-China High-Level Digital Dialogue , as well as at the EU-China High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue between Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis and Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng. It aims at finding ways to facilitate cross-border transfers of non-personal data for European businesses, as well as their compliance with Chinese data laws. This issue was also raised by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, in their December 2023 meeting with China's president, Xi Jinping, followed by an exchange with China's premier, Li Qiang, in the context of the last EU-China Summit . At the inaugural formal meeting of the new mechanism - the first cooperation structure of its kind between the two sides – the EU expressed its objective of addressing concrete concerns raised by EU businesses in China regarding cross-border flows of non-personal data. Data flows are essential to trade. A significant part of the EU-China foreign direct investment stock depends on companies’ ability to manage their data across borders. This is particularly relevant for sectors such as finance and insurance, pharma, automotive, and information and communication technology (ICT). Cross-border data flows are key for research & development activities, and essential for business to thrive. In recent years, European businesses in China have faced increasing uncertainty and difficulties in exporting data from China. They have been specifically concerned about the systematic application of security approvals to exports of all ‘important data’, following the 2022 adoption of the law on Measures for Data Export Security Assessment. This concern has been further exacerbated by uncertainty as to what constitutes ‘important data’, as the concept has so far been only vaguely defined and applied in a far-reaching manner. Cross-border data transfer restrictions are also a major contributing factor to the declining confidence of European investors in China. Further engagement is foreseen at expert and technical levels, with a view to reviewing progress at the political level at the next appropriate occasion.
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De très nombreux exemples de phrases traduites contenant "thesis statement" - Dictionnaire français-anglais et moteur de recherche de traductions françaises.
Une problématique is a thesis statement to some people. In my experience, they are used in the same general educational contexts. Cependant (however), they do not mean exactly the same thing. The word for a thesis statement is une thèse principale or un énoncé de la thèse. It's a subtle difference, but la problématique is more about ...
thesis statement n. (dissertation: presentation of main argument) énoncé de la thèse nm. Un oubli important ? Signalez une erreur ou suggérez une amélioration. Discussions du forum dont le titre comprend le (s) mot (s) "thesis statement" : thesis statement.
July 20, 2022. Pursuing graduate studies in France entails mastering all sorts of assignments, but perhaps none as daunting as the notorious mémoire, or master's thesis. Writing and defending a master's thesis is the cornerstone of many, though not all, French graduate degrees, making it a rite of passage for degree-seeking students in France.
Writing a Thesis. If you are writing a graduate thesis (mémoire or thèse) don't forget to consult the Faculty of Graduate Studies' guide on Dissertation and Thesis Preparation . For further information about theses and dissertations, take a look at the Theses and Dissertations Guide.
Le « thesis statement » est une phrase qui exprime le sujet et l'idée principale de votre dissertation. Il se trouve dans le premier paragraphe de votre dissertation ; normalement il constitue la dernière phrase. Cette phrase répond la question posée par le test. Le « thesis statement » peut être traduit comme un énoncé d'opinion ...
Developing your thesis statement is an important part of writing your paper. L'élaboration de votre énoncé de thèse constitue une étape importante dans l'écriture de votre texte. A thesis statement presents the main idea, goal, or argument of your essay. Un énoncé de thèse présente l'idée, l'objectif ou l'argument principal de votre ...
A clear introduction with a thesis statement. Une introduction claire et un énoncé de thèse. A paper may still be effective and well-written without a thesis statement. Un essai peut quand même être efficace et bien rédigé sans énoncé de thèse. 3 Work on a thesis statement to establish your argument. 3 Travaillez sur un énoncé de ...
n. [Bus.] Write a rough draft of your thesis statement. Faites l'ébauche de votre énoncé de thèse. You may also develop your own thesis statement. Vous pouvez également formuler votre propre énoncé de thèse. Include a thesis statement or controlling idea. Incluez un énoncé de thèse si nécessaire. A clear introduction with a thesis ...
theses.fr donne accès à la description : • de 65 000 thèses en préparation en France, • et 8 000 thèses soutenues en France depuis 2006. Le texte intégral est accessible pour près de 6 000 d'entre elles. La base de données de theses.fr est en constante évolution. A terme, l'ensemble des thèses de doctorat soutenues en France ...
thèse f (plural: thèses f) She is writing a thesis to get a PhD in chemistry. Elle écrit une thèse pour obtenir un doctorat en chimie. The student wrote a brief summary of his thesis. L'étudiant a écrit un résumé succinct de sa thèse.
The world's most comprehensive collection of full-text dissertations and theses. As the official digital dissertations archive for the Library of Congress and as the database of record for graduate research, PQDTGlobal includes millions of searchable citations to dissertations and theses from 1861 to the present day together with over a million full-text dissertations that are available for ...
The Thesis. thèse cette thèse mémoire. Statement. déclaration énoncé communiqué état relevé. votre énoncé de thèse. l'énoncé de thèse. The Thesis Statement (is debatable note: Énoncé de la thèse (Est contestable. Take note of the thesis statement or hypothesis.
Many translated example sentences containing "thesis statement" - French-English dictionary and search engine for French translations.
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 ...
Traduction de "thesis statement" en français . énoncé de la thèse est la traduction de "thesis statement" en français. Exemple de phrase traduite : Intro. Thesis statement, including main points. ↔ Introduction. Énoncé de la thèse, y compris les idées principales.
Placement of the thesis statement. Step 1: Start with a question. Step 2: Write your initial answer. Step 3: Develop your answer. Step 4: Refine your thesis statement. Types of thesis statements. Other interesting articles. Frequently asked questions about thesis statements.
statement n. (situation that says [sth] strongly) to make a statement : affirmer son identité, s'affirmer loc v. to make a statement : prendre position, afficher ses goûts/opinions loc v. The clothes she wears really make a statement about who she is. Les vêtements qu'elle porte montrent vraiment qui elle est.
thesis = fr. volume_up. ... EN thesis statement {noun} volume_up. thesis statement. volume_up. énoncé de la thèse {m} EN thesis supervisor {noun} ... Every outline should contain a strong thesis statement that clearly declares your position as well as two to three pieces of supporting evidence.
Retrouvez toutes les traductions de thesis en Français comme thèse, mémoire de maîtrise, thèse de master et bien d'autres. ... expand_more anglais anglais swap_horiz francais français. Français . chevron_right. ... or even thematically, often meandering without an obvious thesis statement. more_vert.
Traductions de expression THESIS STATEMENT du anglais vers français et exemples d'utilisation de "THESIS STATEMENT" dans une phrase avec leurs traductions: ...at the research question and thesis statement or hypothesis.
Dissertations & Theses. Represents the work of authors from over 1,000 North American and European universities on a full range of academic subjects. Includes abstracts for doctoral dissertations beginning July 1980 and for Master's theses beginning Spring 1988. All dissertations published since 1997, and some from prior years, are available ...
déclaration f (plural: déclarations f) The minister's statement was quoted in several newspapers. La déclaration du ministre a été reprise dans plusieurs journaux. I submitted my income statement to the tax authorities. J'ai soumis ma déclaration de revenus à l'administration fiscale.
143K likes, 9,266 comments - leahremini on August 29, 2024: "Well, here we are. After 28 years together and 21 years of marriage, we have decided to file for divorce. This decision came after a lot of thought and care, and as hard as divorce is, we are approaching this with a positive outlook because we know it's what's best for us. We are proud of how we have worked through this together.
The forward-looking statements in this press release relate to, among other things, data center AI accelerator opportunity, obtaining applicable regulatory approvals, satisfying other closing conditions to the transaction, the expected timing of the transaction, and the integration of the businesses, sale of ZT Systems' manufacturing business ...
With Vice President Kamala Harris having replaced President Biden on the Democratic ticket, her stances on key issues will be scrutinized by both parties and the nation's voters.. She has a long ...
Sabine Weyand, director-general of DG Trade at the European Commission, met online yesterday with Vice-Minister Wang Jingtao of the Cyberspace Administration of China to formally launch the new mechanism.