Critical thinking, thesis thinking and field work

Thesis Statements
Tells the reader what you will attempt to do
Tells the reader what you will argue in your paper
Appears near the beginning of your paper
Can be recalibrated as you advance
Thesis statement will be carried throughout your paper
Helps organize your thoughts
Used in qualitative research

Why do we need a thesis statement?
It tells the reader what your conclusions are
Helps keep you and the reader on track
It may or may not include a plan of development
Narrows the scope of your paper
Makes for a stronger paper
Shows that you acknowledge the different positions on the topic
Answers questions like who, what, where, why and how

Testing your thesis statement
Does the thesis statement show analysis and depth of thought, or is it mainly descriptive?
Does the thesis statement present an argument about the material, and is it worded as an argument?
Is the thesis contestable?
Is the thesis defensible?

>Example of thesis statement

What is critical thinking?
Analyzing; conceptualizing; defining; examining; inferring; listening; questioning; reasoning; synthesizing
Pinpoint and minimize biasing influence from culture and upbringing
Seek out and be guided by knowledge and evidence that fits with reality
We must not hold onto our beliefs unconditionally
Skepticism= doubting, suspending our judgment
Reasoning based on acts not emotional claims
Black and white terms- false dichotomy
Taking apart things and looking at how they are constructed
Ask the questions HOW- how does this argument work? How is the topic argued? How is the evidence used and interpreted? How does the author reach his/her conclusions?

Reading critically
Is the question at issue well stated? Is it clear an unbiased? Does the expression of the question do justice to the complexity of the matter at issue?