Which statement is not an example of an effective thesis for an essay comparing two texts about the life of Abraham Lincoln?

A

Both Davis and Kneip write about Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States.

B

Kneip’s analysis of Abraham Lincoln’s role in the Civil War shows an awareness of race issues that is not present in the article by Davis.

C

Kneip’s more detailed analysis of historical documents makes her article more convincing than the one by Davis.

D

Davis relies on the work of just one historian, which makes his article less authoritative than Kneip’s.

The statement that is not an example of effective thesis for an essay comparing two texts about the life of Abraham Lincoln is: Both Davis and Kneip wrote about Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States.

A well-written statement for a thesis must be specific, clear, direct, not ambiguous like: “Both Davis and Kneip, wrote about Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States.” This is a general statement, an ambiguous one. It sounds more like the title of a note.

A good thesis title is specific and establishes the central focus of the work. It is also engaging and argumentative. By reading the statement, the reader can identify the purpose or the aim of the essay.