I have an essay to write. The topic is What are the chief causes of shoplifting? Are these topics strong thesis statements?
1 People shoplift for immoral reasons.
2 The influence of the social society contributes to shoplifting.
I think that #2 is far superior.
You can support that thesis; the influence of peer values, the economic crisis, etc. will be great.
I like the second one better.
Either in your thesis statement or in your support, you should clarify "social society" as it applies to shoplifting.
A better wording might be -- "The influence of our affluent society contributes to shoplifting."
To evaluate whether these thesis statements are strong, we need to consider two key factors: clarity and depth. A strong thesis statement should clearly state the main argument and provide enough depth for further exploration in your essay.
1. "People shoplift for immoral reasons."
This thesis statement lacks depth as it is too general and does not provide specific causes of shoplifting. Instead of simply stating that people shoplift for immoral reasons, you can consider rephrasing it to provide more specificity. For example, "The main causes of shoplifting include socio-economic factors, psychological motivations, and moral ambiguity." This revised thesis statement is more specific, allowing for a more focused essay that explores different causes of shoplifting.
2. "The influence of the social society contributes to shoplifting."
This thesis statement provides a bit more depth by mentioning the influence of social society on shoplifting. However, it can be made stronger by providing more specific information on how social society contributes to shoplifting. Consider revising it to something like, "Shoplifting is influenced by social factors such as peer pressure, consumerism, and the glorification of material possessions in media." This revision makes the thesis statement clearer and provides more depth, suggesting specific aspects of social society that contribute to shoplifting.
In summary, to make your thesis statements stronger, aim for clarity and depth by being more specific and identifying the key causes or aspects of shoplifting that you will address in your essay.