See more on stating a thesis.
Start with a Thesis. Reflect a moment: What is your purpose? What is your main point? Try writing a paragraph that sums up the purpose of your evaluation or stating a thesis that summarizes your main point.
For practice developing and supporting effective thesis statements, go to the interactive “Take Action” charts in Re:Writing.
| TOPIC + JUDGMENT | Campus revival of South Pacific — liked the performers featured in it plus the problems the revival raised |
| WORKING THESIS | Chosen to showcase the achievements of graduating seniors, the campus revival of South Pacific also brings up societal problems. |
Consider Your Criteria. Many writers find that a list of specific criteria gives them confidence and provokes ideas. Consider filling in a chart with three columns — criteria, evidence, judgment — to focus your thinking.
Develop an Organization. You may want to begin with a direct statement of your judgment: Based on durability, cost, and comfort, the Classic 7 is an ideal campus backpack. On the other hand, you may want to reserve judgment by opening with a question about your subject: How good a film is Argo? Each approach suggests a different organization:
| Thesis or main point | → | Supporting evidence | → | Return to thesis |
| Opening question | → | Supporting evidence | → | Overall judgment |
Either way, you’ll supply lots of evidence — details, examples, maybe comparisons or contrasts — to make your case compelling. You’ll also cluster your evidence around your points or criteria for judgment so that readers know how and why you reach your judgment. You might try both patterns of organization to see which works better for your subject and purpose.
Most writers find that an outline — even a rough list — helps them keep track of points to make. If you compare and contrast your subject with something else, one way to arrange the points is subject by subject: discuss subject A, and then discuss subject B. For a longer comparison, a better way to organize is point by point, applying each point first to one subject and then the other. If approved by your instructor, you also might include a sketch, photograph, or other illustration of your subject or develop a comparative table summarizing the features of similar items you have compared.