That Thesis Thing

By definition, every essay needs a thesis (whether your teacher asked you to include one or not).  However, there is a lot of confusion about what a thesis is; a lot of definitions you’ll encounter might leave you scratching your head. 

Let’s start with the basics: a thesis is an opinion. Your job (should you choose to accept it) is to prove your thesis is correct  … convince your reader to agree … or at least cause your reader to acknowledge, even if she or she doesn’t agree with you, that your opinion is valid, which means it is based on facts, information, respected sources, and logical thought.  One reason isn’t enough: it could be a one-off, a fluke, and an anomaly. Two is better. Three? Rock-solid.  In fact, you should always assume you’ll need to present three. (Unless you’ve been instructed otherwise, which hardly ever happens.)

So, how do you pick a good thesis?

First, your thesis IS NOT A FACT or something the majority of people will agree with.  

Not a Thesis: Some dogs have spots.

Potential Thesis: Dogs with spots are smarter than your average bear. 

Hmm. This could be a thesis, if you have three pieces of evidence that prove this is true. Perhaps you have the results of an IQ test for dogs that shows dogs with spots are smarter than spotless dogs. Then, you compared the spotted dog tests to IQ tests of bears, interviewed a veterinarian, and observed 100 dogs and bears attempting to solve a Rubik’s Cube.

The best theses aren’t just opinions; they’re unique, perhaps even intriguing, opinions. Ice cream is delicious is an opinion, but it’s not much of a thesis because pretty much everyone already agrees with you.

Superman is a hero isn’t a good thesis for the same reason. However, if you said Superman isn’t a hero … and you can prove it, perhaps by listing his flaws … that’s an interesting thesis!  

Stuff I’ve Seen IRW (In Real Writing)

Please don’t write a thesis that states, “This novel is a classic” when it heads up your reading list for the course “Classic Literature.”  Similarly, “Great Expectations is a great book” is an opinion, but it makes a weak thesis because it’s not a unique one. (After all, the title includes “Great,” which clues people in.)

One final tip: before you start writing, do a quick check of your thesis’* viability with this simple test. List the evidence you plan to use. If you don’t have at least three points to make, you need to choose a different thesis. 

For more help in choosing, testing, and writing a strong thesis feel free to contact me. 

* If you’re not sure why thesis has an apostrophe (‘) here, you should contact me immediately.