College Writing 3-1

74 Chapter 2 Evaluating Web Design
The thesis statement is important because:
1. lt helps the writer focus the essay (as a camera can focus a
photograph)
2. lt helps the writer create the topic sentences for the body
paragraphs (each topic sentence will be about one or more of
the controlling ideas in the thesis).
g. lt tells the reader early in the essay the main idea of that essay.
4. lt gives the reader enough information to predict the main
ideas of the body paragraphs by asking questions the writer is
expected to answer.
Think of the thesis statement as the roof of a house: the rest of
the essay must fit under the thesis just as a house must fit under the
roof. lf the roof is too big, the house will look too small. A too-broad
thesis would make an essay look underdeveloped. lf the roof is too
small, some of the rooms will not be covered; likewise, if the thesis is
too narrow, some of the body paragraphs will seem off topic (outside
the roof).
Here is a sample thesis statement about evaluating websites:
ftlosl. ulleXe sluAents prefu the brt4hl. ulars attd Xood
oryanizatiort at the Sxippl u:ebsiLe to lhe Jti uebsite.
What's the essay about?
The Skippy Website
What does the writer want to communicate to the readers?
Why coltege students prefer this website
What can readers predict will occur in the body paragraphs?
The writer wi!! explain why students prefer it, why the bright colors
make the website preferable, what "good organization" means, why
the other website was not preferred.
Writing a thesis statement that fits your essay"just right"can be
difficult. Even experienced writers cannot write a perfect thesis on the
first try. Assume that your first thesis statement is a "work in progress,"
a "working thesis." Later, when your essay takes shape, you will review
and perhaps revise or even rewrite your thesis statement.