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Checklist for an
Effective Thesis Statement
-
One complete
sentence
-
Specific
(specifically stated main points and specifically stated controlling
purpose; controlling purpose not a main point and so not a main Roman
numeral in outline)
-
Limited (if
specifically stated thesis statement, points will be
limited)
-
Strong action
verb
-
Active
voice
-
Proper
emphasis (main points should be subject or direct object and not, for
example, objects of a preposition or in a dependent
clause)
Methods of Developing an
Introduction
-
Defining a
key word or phrase
-
Writing a
brief history
-
Using a
quotation
-
Writing a
brief narrative or anecdote
-
Analyzing
theme divisions
-
Interpreting
statistics
-
Contrasting
opposing ideas
-
Going from
the general to the specific (inverted pyramid)
Methods of Arranging
Paragraphs
-
Chronological
order (time)
-
Spatial
order (left to right, near to far, top to bottom)
-
Degree order
(on a scale between two limits)
-
Cause and
effect order
Methods of Developing a
Conclusion
-
Summarizing
-
Discussing
the future
-
Giving a
solution to the problem
-
Stating your
position
-
Relating your
idea to man
-
Using a
quotation
-
Going from
the specific to the general
Transitional Words and
Phrases
-
Addition: moreover, further, furthermore,
besides, likewise, also, too, again, in addition, equally important,
next, first of all, finally
-
Contrast: yet, however, still,
nevertheless, however, on the other hand, on the contrary, after all, at
the same time
-
Comparison: similarly, likewise, in like
manner
-
Purpose: to this end, for this purpose,
with this object in mind
-
Result: hence, therefore, accordingly,
consequently, thus, thereupon, wherefore
-
Time:
meanwhile, at length, immediately, soon, afterwards
-
Place:
here, beyond, near, opposite to, adjacent to, on the opposite
side
-
Summary: in brief, on the whole, in short,
in other words, to be sure, as has been noted, for example, for
instance, in fact, indeed, in any event
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