Thesis Statements

A thesis statement is a very important aspect of any piece of writing. According to Purdue Owl the thesis statement should: “…be specific—it should cover only what you will discuss in your paper and should be supported with specific evidence.” It should also be noted that: “The thesis statement usually appears at the end of the first paragraph of a paper.” Without a thesis statement, the reader may be confused about what the author is attempting to convey to the audience, or which side of the argument that the author wants the audience to agree with. A strong thesis statement for an argumentative paper should include which topic is going to be covered, as well as which side the author is on.

            I decided to expand on the plastic bag ban, by connecting it to worldwide pollution. My stance was that if local communities acted to reduce their waste, that those actions would cause a positive worldwide reaction. My previous paper included data from numerous sources that attempted to convey the level of devastation that plastic waste has on the natural environment. For my thesis statement, I want to attempt to show what the paper is about, as well as show the audience that I am for a plastic bag ban because I believe that it will contribute positively to the plastic pollution problem.

            My first thesis statement could look something like this: The local plastic bag bans that are being enacted across the U.S. are a positive step towards reducing waste and preventing further plastic pollution. My second thesis statement could look like this: Oceanic wildlife are being severely impacted by plastic waste, therefore policies such as the plastic bag ban are imperative to reduce pollution on a local and worldwide scale. Both of these thesis statements capture what the paper will include, as well as convey to the reader what my stance is on the plastic bag bans.