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What/How/Why
One way to develop a concise thesis is to organize your thoughts around a What/How/Why strategy.
This method can help you move from a descriptive position to an interpretive one.
• WHAT: the topic or incident to be examined (e.g., Christi Belcourt’s art)
• HOW: the means by which the topic will be examined—examples, themes, key images—i.e., the
major discussion points of your essay (e.g., use of floral patterns inspired by Métis beadwork;
thematic focus on human-environment relationships)
• WHY: your interpretation of the events, topic, etc.; the significance of examining the topic from
the angle you have chosen; your conclusions (i.e., the “so what?” of your argument) (e.g.,
Belcourt’s art is a form of environmental activism)
With these factors in mind, a more fully developed thesis statement might look like this:
Through the use of floral patterns inspired by Métis beadwork, Christi Belcourt calls attention to human-
environment relationships and demonstrates how art can be a tool for environmental activism.
When using a what/how/why breakdown, the heart of the thesis usually rests in the why statement. A
thesis that only addresses what and how usually ends up being merely descriptive. The why component
foregrounds your interpretation of the data presented, which is the core of your paper. What your
reader is most interested in is your take on the information—your interpretation or approach to the
matter at hand—not just a summary of the details involved.
A thesis statement that answers what/how/why in one to two sentences gives your paper a precise
focus. It shows your reader that you know where you’re going and why it is worthwhile to get there.
References
Belcourt, C. (2021, May 27). Biography. http://christibelcourt.com/bio/.
Three Examples of Thesis Statements
1. The simple statement of position
As a democracy, Canada offers only limited rights and privileges to its citizens.
“Ng’s novel Little Fires Everywhere . . . explores the theme of maternal rights. . .through multiple
characters.” (Williams, 2021)
2. The roadmap thesis statement includes supporting points in the order they
will appear:
Canada offers only limited rights and privileges to its citizens because of the persistence of a class
structure and limited accessibility to both the political process and higher education.