Question

Which sentence is an example of an effective thesis statement for an argument about cancer funding?

A. Cancer has become a topic discussed around dinner tables across America.
B. In the past few decades, people have become more aware of breast cancer.
C. Funding for breast cancer should remain higher than the funding of other cancers because much of the funding is privately raised,
the resulting research has proven beneficial for advancing the treatment of other cancers, and public support will demand the
maintenance of current funding.
D. One in eight women will be treated for breast cancer in her lifetime.

Answer 1

The best example of a thesis statement is the following: "Funding for breast cancer should remain higher than the funding of other cancers because much of the funding is privately raised, the resulting research has proven beneficial for advancing the treatment of other cancers, and public support will demand the maintenance of current funding" (C).

A good thesis statement should be one sentence containing clearly:

• the main idea of the essay or paper;
• the conclusion you will be reaching as an answer to this question;
• and, potentially, a summary of the thread of ideas you will be developing to come to this conclusion.

In statement C, the thesis is expressed directly and the author explains why this argument is important: current levels of research about breast cancer funding should at least be maintained, and prioritized over other forms of cancer, because this specific research helps us learn more about other cancers and how to treat them.

The author also adds an element which will appear in the development of ideas (the main body of the paper): the fact that the public opinion supports current breast cancer research funding levels.