That qualified answer is your thesis. You know now precisely what it is you want to say—and that is the first long step in the path toward better writing. LAW Chap 2 From Opinion to Thesis Questions What is the difference between opinion and thesis? A thesis is your opinion boiled down to one arguable statement. What is the five-step process for narrowing a general subject to a thesis? Take inventory-what do you know about the subject? Ask questions Look for relationships Ask the yes-or-no question Quality-what degree (always, never, many, most What is the value of the yes-or-no question? It allows you to decide if your position is defendable. If you cannot answer or you need to add a qualification. “yes” “no”, then Why is qualification of a thesis important? Qualifications allow you to indicate the degree of truth in your thesis. LAW Chap 2 From Opinion to Thesis Assignments At the top of a sheet of paper, write the name of some subject in which you are now enrolled. Then do the following: Write at least five statements of fact about it.  Write at least two yes-or-no questions that occur to you in relation to these facts.  Write a thesis based on one of the questions.  Write an antithesis. (If your antithesis is not valid, write a new thesis. Keep trying until you are sure that both thesis and antithesis can be defended.)  Give at least one reason (or one piece of evidence) supporting your antithesis.  Give at least two reasons (or pieces of evidence) supporting your thesis.  Write a paragraph based on your thesis (#3). Include in this paragraph the point supporting the antithesis (#5) and both the points supporting you thesis (#6). Bear in mind that your purpose is to persuade a reader to agree with your thesis. Organize your paragraph in the way that seems to be best for this purpose. 
That qualified answer is your thesis. You know now precisely what it is you want to say—and that is the first long step in the path toward better writing. LAW Chap 2 From Opinion to Thesis Questions What is the difference between opinion and thesis? A thesis is your opinion boiled down to one arguable statement. What is the five-step process for narrowing a general subject to a thesis? Take inventory-what do you know about the subject? Ask questions Look for relationships Ask the yes-or-no question Quality-what degree (always, never, many, most What is the value of the yes-or-no question? It allows you to decide if your position is defendable. If you cannot answer “yes” or “no”, then you need to add a qualification. Why is qualification of a thesis important? Qualifications allow you to indicate the degree of truth in your thesis. LAW Chap 2 From Opinion to Thesis Assignments At the top of a sheet of paper, write the name of some subject in which you are now enrolled. Then do the following: Write at least five statements of fact about it.  Write at least two yes-or-no questions that occur to you in relation to these facts.  Write a thesis based on one of the questions.  Write an antithesis. (If your antithesis is not valid, write a new thesis. Keep trying until you are sure that both thesis and antithesis can be defended.)  Give at least one reason (or one piece of evidence) supporting your antithesis.  Give at least two reasons (or pieces of evidence) supporting your thesis.  Write a paragraph based on your thesis (#3). Include in this paragraph the point supporting the antithesis (#5) and both the points supporting you thesis (#6). Bear in mind that your purpose is to persuade a reader to agree with your thesis. Organize your paragraph in the way that seems to be best for this purpose. 