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6.11: Writing a Thesis Statement

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    Readers always want to know “What is the big idea?” Every type of non-fiction writing – from a short essay to a 10-page term paper to a lengthy thesis or dissertation– needs a controlling idea as a “spine” that holds the paper together (see Figure 6.6). Look at Table 6.3: Topics and Thesis Statements for a comparison of topics and thesis statements.

    Table 6.3: Topics and thesis statements: A comparison

    Topic Thesis Statement

    Healthcare funding

    To plan and fund healthcare, local health networks are better at improving the patient experience and access to care than a large central body.

     

    Acute respiratory distress syndrome

    Positioning clients with acute respiratory distress syndrome in the prone position increases ventilation and decreases mortality rates.

     

    Fig-6.8.jpg

    Figure 6.6: Thesis skeleton

    Begin by writing a working thesis statement. You will need this working thesis statement when you begin to outline and organize your assignment. As you continue to develop your paper, you can limit the working thesis statement if it is too broad or expand it if it proves too narrow for what you want to say. Each draft of the thesis statement will bring you closer to the exact wording that expresses your controlling idea.

    Student Tip

    The Controlling Idea

    The controlling idea should be broader for a longer piece of writing than for a shorter piece of writing. Make sure the controlling idea is appropriate for the length of the assignment. How many pages it will take to explain and explore the controlling or main idea in detail? Be reasonable with your estimate. Then expand or trim the controlling or main idea to match the required length.

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    This page titled 6.11: Writing a Thesis Statement is shared under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Lapum et al. (Ryerson University Library) via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request.