Tone: Informative but not too formal. Positive. Effective.
Thesis statements must be precise. This is what I’m writing about, why I chose
this topic, and how I’m going to explain my point of view. For example, “The Matrix is
a good film,” doesn’t tell the reader much and the reader’s response might be, “Oh, yeah,
says who? Why is it so good?” BUT, if you wrote “The Matrix is a great movie because
it is intense and thought-provoking, full of ambiguities about reality and truth,” this gives
the reader a good idea of what you plan
to say about the movie in your essay.
Does this thesis statement do the four j
obs it is supposed to do? What is the topic
being written about? __________________________ What is the claim being made?
______________________ In what direction will this essay head? _________________
_____________ And, finally, what type of tone is the writer trying to set? ____________
Once you have your thesis statement, stick to its
premiered, who stars in it, what is its rating, and any other background information
available; (2) end the introductory paragraph with your thesis statement; (3) use the next
several paragraphs explaining how the movie is:
1. Intense
2. Thought provoking
Thesis statements do not have to be difficult to write. Take it slowly, stick to the
point. In the film, Philadelphia, Denzel Washington, playing an attorney, said to Tom
Hanks, “Pretend I’m a six-year-old; tell me what happened, one, two, three.” Remember
this advice when you are writing your thesis and provide support for it in your paper!
What is your essay about? One, two, three!
Copyright for this document is held y the Writing Center and Grammar Hotline of Tidewater Community College,
Virginia Beach Campus. It has been written, revised, and/or edited by staff paid to perform that work college; for the
therefore, the rights are retained by the college.
11/26/03