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How to Write a Three Prong 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.
Pre-write your thesis by outlining your ideas. Use the bubble method of brainstorming to come up with three good points to use. Pick three points that will back up your argument.
Create an introduction for your essay or report. Explain your topic in the first sentence and then write your thesis statement. Your thesis will describe how you are going to prove your topic sentence.
Write three points that you will prove or argue in your essay. These three points should specify or back up what you are stating in your topic sentence. You will explain each of these points in your essay.
Include three steps if you are writing an explanatory essay. Include three things you will use to prove your thesis is true if you are writing an argumentative essay.
Use topic sentences to write these points so you can expand on the points in each paragraph of your essay. Make sure your three points will be clear because they will also be the basis of your three opening sentences for each of your paragraphs.
Conclude your thesis by leading into your essay. Your essay will begin with the first prong of your thesis statement.
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An argumentative or persuasive piece of writing must begin with a debatable thesis or claim. In other words, the thesis must be something that people could reasonably have differing opinions on. If your thesis is something that is generally agreed upon or accepted as fact then there is no reason to try to persuade people.
Example of a non-debatable thesis statement:
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.
Example of a debatable thesis statement:
This is an example of a debatable thesis because reasonable people could disagree with it. Some people might think that this is how we should spend the nation's money. Others might feel that we should be spending more money on education. Still others could argue that corporations, not the government, should be paying to limit pollution.
Another example of a debatable thesis statement:
In this example there is also room for disagreement between rational individuals. Some citizens might think focusing on recycling programs rather than private automobiles is the most effective strategy.
Although the scope of your paper might seem overwhelming at the start, generally the narrower the thesis the more effective your argument will be. Your thesis or claim must be supported by evidence. The broader your claim is, the more evidence you will need to convince readers that your position is right.
Example of a thesis that is too broad:
There are several reasons this statement is too broad to argue. First, what is included in the category "drugs"? Is the author talking about illegal drug use, recreational drug use (which might include alcohol and cigarettes), or all uses of medication in general? Second, in what ways are drugs detrimental? Is drug use causing deaths (and is the author equating deaths from overdoses and deaths from drug related violence)? Is drug use changing the moral climate or causing the economy to decline? Finally, what does the author mean by "society"? Is the author referring only to America or to the global population? Does the author make any distinction between the effects on children and adults? There are just too many questions that the claim leaves open. The author could not cover all of the topics listed above, yet the generality of the claim leaves all of these possibilities open to debate.
Example of a narrow or focused thesis:
In this example the topic of drugs has been narrowed down to illegal drugs and the detriment has been narrowed down to gang violence. This is a much more manageable topic.
We could narrow each debatable thesis from the previous examples in the following way:
Narrowed debatable thesis 1:
This thesis narrows the scope of the argument by specifying not just the amount of money used but also how the money could actually help to control pollution.
Narrowed debatable thesis 2:
This thesis narrows the scope of the argument by specifying not just what the focus of a national anti-pollution campaign should be but also why this is the appropriate focus.
Qualifiers such as " typically ," " generally ," " usually ," or " on average " also help to limit the scope of your claim by allowing for the almost inevitable exception to the rule.
Claims typically fall into one of four categories. Thinking about how you want to approach your topic, or, in other words, what type of claim you want to make, is one way to focus your thesis on one particular aspect of your broader topic.
Claims of fact or definition: These claims argue about what the definition of something is or whether something is a settled fact. Example:
Claims of cause and effect: These claims argue that one person, thing, or event caused another thing or event to occur. Example:
Claims about value: These are claims made of what something is worth, whether we value it or not, how we would rate or categorize something. Example:
Claims about solutions or policies: These are claims that argue for or against a certain solution or policy approach to a problem. Example:
Which type of claim is right for your argument? Which type of thesis or claim you use for your argument will depend on your position and knowledge of the topic, your audience, and the context of your paper. You might want to think about where you imagine your audience to be on this topic and pinpoint where you think the biggest difference in viewpoints might be. Even if you start with one type of claim you probably will be using several within the paper. Regardless of the type of claim you choose to utilize it is key to identify the controversy or debate you are addressing and to define your position early on in the paper.
A thesis statement is “a short summary of the main idea, purpose, or argument of an essay that usually appears in the first paragraph.” It’s generally only one or two sentences in length.
A strong thesis statement is the backbone of a well-organized paper, and helps you decide what information is most important to include and how it should be presented.
This thesis statement, for example, could open a paper on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s importance as a civil rights leader: “Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the most influential figures of the American civil rights movement. His moving speeches and nonviolent protests helped unite a nation divided by race.”
This example lays out the writer’s basic argument (King was an important leader of the American civil rights movement), offers two areas of evidence (his speeches and nonviolent protests), and explains why the argument matters (united a divided nation).
A good thesis statement delivers a clear message about the scope of the topic and the writer’s approach to the subject. In contrast, poor thesis statements fail to take a position, are based solely on personal opinion, or state an obvious truth. For example, “Democracy is a form of government,” is a weak thesis statement because it’s too general, doesn’t adopt a stance, and states a well-known fact that doesn’t need further explanation.
Thesis statements can be explanatory , argumentative , or analytical . The type of paper determines the form of the thesis statement.
An explanatory thesis statement is based solely on factual information. It doesn’t contain personal opinions or make claims that are unsupported by evidence. Instead, it tells the reader precisely what the topic will be and touches on the major points that will be explored in the essay. An explanatory thesis statement is sometimes also called an expository thesis statement .
For example: The core components of a healthy lifestyle include a nutritious diet, regular exercise, and adequate sleep.
In an argumentative essay, the writer takes a stance on a debatable topic. This stance, and the claims to back it up, is the argument . Unlike an explanatory thesis statement, an argumentative thesis statement allows the writer to take a position about a subject (e.g., the deeper meaning of a literary text, the best policy towards a social problem) and to convince readers of their stance. The body of the argumentative essay uses examples and other evidence to support the writer’s opinion.
For example: Shakespeares’s Taming of the Shrew uses humor, disguise, and social roles to criticize the lack of power women had in Elizabethan England.
An analytical thesis statement analyzes, or breaks down, an issue or idea into its different parts. Then, it evaluates the topic and clearly presents the order of the analysis to the reader.
For example: The school’s policy to start its school day an hour later revealed three related benefits: students were more alert and attentive in class, had a more positive about school, and performed better in their coursework.
Writing a thesis statement requires time and careful thought. The thesis statement should flow naturally from research and set out the writer’s discoveries. When composing a thesis statement, make sure it focuses on one main idea that can be reasonably covered within your desired page length. Try not to write about the entire history of America, for example, in a three-page paper.
Although deciding upon a thesis statement can be challenging and time-consuming, a strong thesis statement can make the paper both easier to write and more enjoyable to read. Don’t worry: we’re not going to leave you hanging! We’ve got a whole article to help you write an effective thesis statement here .
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Jul 18, 2014
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Three-Pronged Thesis Statements. What is a Thesis Statement?. A Three-Pronged Thesis Statement…. Is your o pinion/argument. Organizes your entire essay. Is always a Complex Sentence . . 3 Parts to a Three-Pronged Thesis Statement…. Ask yourself: What is my topic ?
Three-Pronged Thesis Statements What is a Thesis Statement?
A Three-Pronged Thesis Statement… • Is youropinion/argument. • Organizes your entire essay. • Is always a Complex Sentence.
3 Parts to a Three-Pronged Thesis Statement… • Ask yourself: • What is my topic? 2. What is the significant thing I want to say about my topic? (Your opinion) 3. What are three facts/explanations I can use to defend this significant thing about my topic?
How to write a Thesis Statement
Now you try: • Topic: Reading. • What is the significant thing/opinion that you’d like to support about reading? • What are three ways you will defend that opinion?
An example: • Subject: Reading. • Significant opinion: Reading makes us better people. • 1. We can learn from other’s mistakes, we 2. can see how other people live, and 3. reading allows us to practice how we want to live our lives.
My Three-Pronged Thesis Statement: • Reading can make us better people because reading helps us to learn from other’s mistakes, it allows us to see how other people live, and reading lets us practice how we want to live our lives. • Side note: This thesis statement is an acceptable, good thesis statement. • So, how can we make it even BETTER, so that it can be the BEST thesis statement it can be?
A Better Thesis Statement: • COMPLEX SENTENCE • “Starter Phrase” • WHY you are arguing your point.
Example: • Add a “Starter Phrase”- • Although many people think reading is a waste of time, • Reading can make us better people because reading helps us to learn from other’s mistakes, it allows us to see how other people live, and reading lets us practice how we want to live our lives. MUCH BETTER!
From now on, let’s practice: • We will be writing several Poetry Analysis paragraphs over the next few weeks. • The topic sentence of each Poetry Analysis you write should look like a Three-Pronged Thesis Statement.
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Examples of 3-Pronged Thesis Statements. 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 ...
Thesis Statement: "The accelerating effects of climate change threaten global biodiversity through temperature shifts, habitat degradation, and altered migration patterns.". In this example, the 3-point thesis statement clearly presents the three main points that will be discussed in the paper: temperature shifts, habitat degradation, and ...
A standard thesis statement has three main components: a narrowly defined topic, a claim and reasons that support the claim. If you want a strong thesis statement, you need to make sure that all three of these points are included in it. Step 1. First, identify your topic and narrow it down as much as possible. Clothing, for example, is too ...
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 ...
• 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.
Step 2: Write your initial answer. 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. The internet has had more of a positive than a negative effect on education.
A Three-Pronged Thesis Statement. • You will use a three-prong thesis statement. •3-prongs means that it has 3 important parts. •Each prong is a sub-topic. •Each prong will be elaborated into a paragraph (the 3 "body" paragraphs) . Examples. The snow, sports, and beauty make winter the best part of the year. .
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 ...
Step 3: Determine what information you'll use to back up your point. Once you have the point you want to make, you need to figure out how you plan to back it up throughout the rest of your essay. Without this information, it will be hard to either prove or argue the main point of your thesis statement. If you decide to write about the ...
It is a brief statement of your paper's main argument. Essentially, you are stating what you will be writing about. Organize your papers in one place. Try Paperpile. No credit card needed. Get 30 days free. You can see your thesis statement as an answer to a question. While it also contains the question, it should really give an answer to the ...
Teachers will have different preferences for the precise location of the thesis, but a good rule of thumb is in the introduction paragraph, within the last two or three sentences. Strength: Finally, for a persuasive thesis to be strong, it needs to be arguable. This means that the statement is not obvious, and it is not something that everyone ...
You will be presented with different thesis statements based on the four thesis categories that we discussed. Please identify which thesis statement is the most effective. Refer back to the "Type of Paper" section to get a refresher on types of thesis statements and examples of them. 1. Argumentative Essay Thesis: a.
3 Point Thesis Statement Examples. Below you will see thesis statement examples and their explanations. Children's use of social media is a highly debated issue. Parents are divided into two on this issue. Many people think that social media does not hurt children. Children should not use social media because they are influenced by seeing ...
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 ...
Strong Thesis Statement Examples. 1. School Uniforms. "Mandatory school uniforms should be implemented in educational institutions as they promote a sense of equality, reduce distractions, and foster a focused and professional learning environment.". Best For: Argumentative Essay or Debate. Read More: School Uniforms Pros and Cons.
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.
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.
The thesis statement or main claim must be debatable. ... Example of a debatable thesis statement: At least 25 percent of the federal budget should be spent on limiting pollution. This is an example of a debatable thesis because reasonable people could disagree with it. Some people might think that this is how we should spend the nation's money.
A strong thesis statement is the backbone of a well-organized paper. Learn how to write an explanatory, argumentative, or analytical thesis statement.
Remember that the thesis statement is a kind of "mapping tool" that helps you organize your ideas, and it helps your reader follow your argument. After the topic sentence, include any evidence in this body paragraph, such as a quotation, statistic, or data point, that supports this first point. Explain what the evidence means. Show the reader ...
The document provides guidance on crafting effective 3-prong thesis statements. It explains that a 3-prong thesis consists of three main arguments that support the central claim of the paper. Each prong must be specific, relevant, and cohesive while also offering a unique perspective. Developing these prongs requires careful analysis and understanding of the topic. The document also notes that ...
A Three-Pronged Thesis Statement…. Is your o pinion/argument. Organizes your entire essay. Is always a Complex Sentence . . 3 Parts to a Three-Pronged Thesis Statement…. Ask yourself: What is my topic ? Slideshow 1901538 by ... An example: • Subject: Reading. • Significant opinion: Reading makes us better people. • 1. We can learn ...