Depending on the type of paper that you are writing, your domestic violence thesis statement may answer a social services question, spell out the statistics or explain the hows and whys of a specific issue such as confidentiality or stalking. Crafting a thesis statement involves narrowing your focus and deciding on a point of view or position for the reader to follow.
Selection Process
Choosing one idea for your thesis statement requires careful consideration, evaluating the evidence and digesting the significance of the material or research on the subject. It may also depend on a specific topic that your professor requires. You're providing the reader with an introduction to your domestic violence paper and want to ensure that you clearly spell out your message and communicate why your point of view is important. For example, a general statement that simply says domestic violence happens between partners isn't clear and doesn't help the reader to understand where your paper is going. In contrast, a statement that says domestic violence affects 1.3 million people in relationships annually demonstrates a specific call for action.
Types of Injuries
Domestic violence isn't always the same. Some victims suffer emotional abuse, while others endure the physical kind. If your paper focuses on injuries incurred during spousal or relationship abuse, ideas for a possible thesis can address a particular type of injury. For example, traumatic brain injury is a possible result when one partner strikes the other in the head. If you choose this type of injury, your thesis should spell out how prevalent this is, why it is a problem and what the symptoms are. You may take an even more focused approach and design a thesis statement that includes the issue of repeat brain injury or the healing process. Other potential topics for your thesis in this area include bone breaks, bruises or weapon-inflicted wounds.
The Other Victims
The picture of the battered wife that the media depicts isn't always accurate. Not every instance of domestic violence is abuse against a woman. Women can assault men and men can also assault their males partners. A thesis statement on non-female victims of domestic violence may assert the position that prevention programs are essential for both genders or explain the problem of abuse toward males through facts and figures. If you're choosing this focus for your thesis idea, first define which population -- hetero- or homosexual men -- you are going to present in your paper. Doing so can help you to narrow the topic and present a concise statement.
Professional Issues
It's possible that your paper won't focus on the victims of violence, but instead on how the social service professional handles a client who is being abused. This type of thesis is often geared more toward a professional practice, ethics in practice or professionalism in the workplace course. You might, for example, include confidentiality as a topic and your thesis could reflect your position on why keeping client's identity safe is important. Other professional issues topics might include a statement on a specific counseling technique, an outline of legislation that social service workers must follow when it comes to client confidentiality.
Related Articles
References
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Thesis Statements
- Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence: Domestic Violence Topics
- National Online Resource Center on Violence Against Women: Special Collection: Traumatic Brain Injury and Domestic Violence: Understanding the Intersections
- Time: The Surprising Truth About Women and Violence
- Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence: Stalking
Writer Bio
Based in Pittsburgh, Erica Loop has been writing education, child development and parenting articles since 2009. Her articles have appeared in "Pittsburgh Parent Magazine" and the website PBS Parents. She has a Master of Science in applied developmental psychology from the University of Pittsburgh's School of Education.