Handout: A SMART Thesis Development Worksheet
Classical Studies
A SMART thesis statement has the following six attributes:
- Alludes to structure: Prepares the reader for the type and order of evidence you will discuss.
- Specific: Expresses one main idea with specific language.
- Manageable: Deals with a subject that can be adequately treated given the nature and length of the assignment.
- Arguable: Focuses on a subject about which reasonable people could disagree.
- Relevant: Gets to the heart of the text or topic and is non-obvious.
- Takes a stand: Asserts your conclusions about a subject.
Original concept:
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Specific topic:
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Relevant:
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Manageable:
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Take a stand:
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Arguable:
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Specific language:
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Alludes to structure:
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So what?
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Developed at Brandeis University through a grant from the Davis Educational Foundation