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Playlist How to Write an A Essay 30 videos

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How to Write A Killer Thesis Statement
62203 Views

Without a thesis statement, you don't have a paper. Watch this video, and get the inside scoop on how to write a killer thesis statement.

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How to Write A Killer Thesis Statement 62203 Views


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Description:

Without a thesis statement, you don't have a paper. Watch this video, and get the inside scoop on how to write a killer thesis statement.

Language:
English Language

Transcript

00:00

Edited at https://subtitletools.com

00:07

How to Write a Killer Thesis Statement, a la Shmoop.

00:12

First of all, what do we mean by a… killer thesis statement? [Thesis statement sprouts limbs and holds knife]

00:14

Should this thing be armed and dangerous? Well… kinda.

00:18

No, we don’t want to see your thesis statement to show up on the evening news.

00:22

But your thesis statement should aim to… kill… with eloquence, suspense, intrigue,

00:28

originality, and clarity.

00:30

Here’s an example:

00:32

Humans are not genetically required to be meat-eaters, so vegetarianism is the only

00:37

moral choice to avoid the senseless killing of animals. [cow, turkey and girl holding vegetables]

00:41

It states a valid point, expresses a strong opinion, and can be supported with facts.

00:45

Doesn’t mean it’s necessarily true, but it can definitely be debated. [student caveman vs student hippie]

00:51

A thesis statement is that thing at the very beginning of your paper that tells your reader

00:58

what this whole thing is going to be about.

01:01

Right out of the gate, it tells your reader roughly what elements you will develop in

01:04

the coming paragraphs…

01:05

…and exactly how you feel about it.

01:08

The thesis is the most important part of your essay. It is the heart, soul and brain of

01:13

your paper. [flaming heart and brain in between thesis statement sign]

01:15

Once you’ve got that puppy figured out, you’re at least halfway home. [puppy with bone on the road home]

01:21

How do you get to this promised land? Well, first you must establish an issue or problem.

01:27

Think… humankind’s negative effects on rainforests…

01:30

The factors that enable politicians to become corrupt…

01:34

The slow death of the film industry.

01:38

Anything ripe for the picking… and preferably something that is not without a little controversy.

01:42

The thesis shouldn’t be something like… the sun makes it hot outside…

01:47

…because you’re not going to hear much argument from anyone on that point.

01:51

Instead… it should be something interesting… something that perhaps your reader hasn’t

01:55

previously considered [lion with a flower for a mane]

01:56

Don’t hold back… go right for the gut.

02:00

To make sure you’ve got an interesting topic, ask yourself questions someone else might

02:05

ask you.

02:06

Play devil’s advocate with yourself, until you’re certain you’ve covered all the

02:09

bases. [angel and devil on student's shoulder]

02:11

Is it something only you would find interesting, like… how affectionate your dog is right

02:15

after you finish walking him?

02:17

or would it appeal to a wide range of readers, like… oh, anything having to do with the

02:24

Kardashians? [large crowd gathers]

02:26

Is it something that can be argued empirically… like the rise and fall of the stock market…

02:31

or is it pretty much just going to be pure opinion… like what the… best color is? [color wheel spins]

02:36

Keep in mind that you’re not just laying down the facts… you also want to get your

02:41

message across… …so be sure to express your own thoughts

02:44

on the issue.

02:45

Take a strong position. [girl flexes muscles]

02:47

It’s not enough to state that… for the last twenty years, America has actually become

02:52

more racist than it was in the 1990s…

02:54

…if your position is that… hm, yeah, maybe, I don’t know, could be.

02:59

It’s an intriguing proposition… but it’s not going to go anywhere if you plan on being

03:03

wishy-washy. [girl spinning in washing machine]

03:06

Either argue strongly for or against the idea. It’s the only way you’re going to bring

03:10

your reader to their knees. So… what’s a good thesis, and what’s

03:16

a bad one?

03:17

Good thesis: World travel is an essential element of any young person’s well-rounded

03:21

education.

03:23

Bad thesis: There are some great places to visit in Europe.

03:27

Good thesis: More than anything else in our society, video games are responsible for the

03:33

dumbing down of America

03:34

Bad thesis: People are dumb.

03:38

Good thesis: When an elderly person is deciding on a pet, adopting a cat is a far better option

03:45

than adopting a dog.

03:46

Bad thesis: Cats rule, dogs drool.

03:50

Get the idea?

03:53

It should be broad enough that a large portion of your audience will be able to relate…[light bulbs go off]

03:56

…but specific enough that you can zero in on a particular topic and really dissect it. [topic gets sliced in two]

04:01

Finally, you can’t just state your thesis, drop the mic and walk off stage.

04:06

You’ll need to bring some supporting points to the table…

04:09

…so be prepared to back your thesis up with some actual, factual pieces of evidence.

04:15

And while quality is certainly more valuable than quantity…[a few nice strawberries next to a mound of small ones]

04:18

…have at least three supporting points.

04:20

Any less, and your thesis is going to be a bit… flimsy. [thesis falls down]

04:24

Put all this together, and you should have a killer thesis statement.

04:30

If you’re absolutely stumped and can’t come up with one on our own…

04:34

…you can borrow ours.

04:35

It gets out on parole

04:48

in about three months. [killer thesis statement inside cage]

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