An effective thesis is sharply focused; it is not too vague.

Although a thesis needs to venture a generalization, in its statement it must not rely on vague or loosely used words such as good, interesting or worthless.

Too Vague: “Many of the songs played on the college station are disgusting.”

Revised: “Of the songs played on the college station, too many depict sex crudely, sanction the beating or rape of women, or foster gang violence.”

Hacker, Diana. The Bedford Handbook for Writers. 4th ed. Boston: Bedford, 1994. 34.