The thesis statement generally appears at the end of your or .
The thesis statement is one of the most important elements of any piece of . It is a brief statement of your paperâs main argument. Essentially, you are stating what you will be writing about.
A strong thesis statement is often not created all at once but will rather go through stages of revision. A thesis statement in its early form is called a “working thesis.” While honing and tightening your working thesis, ask yourself these questions:
You can see your thesis statement as an answer to a question. While it also contains the question, it should really give an answer to the question with new information and not just restate or reiterate it.
To write a thesis statement, follow these guidelines:
Effective thesis statements directly and boldly articulate a complex, arguable or surprising argument (or arguments) of your own which will need to develop throughout the essay. They should be intelligent, well thought-out responses to a question or problem your essay will address.
Thesis statements are essentially the driving force and backbone of an academic essay. Without a thesis statement, your essay will lack a cohesive argument and will read more like a list of statistics, quotations or connecting ideas. Before completing your thesis statement, ask yourself:
This is an arguable analytical claim. To argue for this claim, the essay writer will need to show how evidence from the article itself points to this interpretation. It’s also a reasonable scope for a thesis because it can be supported with evidence available in the text and is neither too broad nor too narrow.
A thesis statement is not a question. A statement must be arguable and provable through and analysis. While your thesis might stem from a research question, it should be in the form of a statement.
A good thesis statement restates the question and answers it:
In a composition class, you have to write an essay about the first time you realized how your gender was part of your identity. Your essay’s thesis statement might read,
How to write a thesis statement:
This is an arguable claim because it would be possible to argue against it by saying that Michael Sandel’s arguments do take all of the relevant issues into consideration. But the claim is too broad. Because the thesis does not specify which “issues” it is focused on—or why it matters if they are considered—readers won’t know what the rest of the essay will argue, and the writer won’t know what to focus on. If there is a particular issue that Sandel does not address, then a more specific version of the thesis would include that issue—hand an explanation of why it is important.
How to Write a Thesis Statement
Especially in composition and creative writing classes, you might be asked to write essays that draw upon your personal experiences. Prompts for personal essays might include writing about your experiences with race or your development as a writer, and these essays are often centered on a moment of realization or revelation. You can distill these themes into a thesis statement for your personal essay. While there may be no central argument in a thesis like this, there is always an organizing principle, such as change, destiny, growth, or irony.
Tips and Examples for Writing Thesis Statements
Write this down here (ex. Although traditionally video games are only used in younger children's education, studies show it is one of the most motivating ways to learn for all ages; therefore, they should be implemented in higher education more often.):
[PDF] How to Create a Strong ThesisStatement
In a biochemistry class, you’ve been asked to write an essay explaining the impact of bisphenol A on the human body. Your thesis statement might say,
How to Write a STRONG Thesis Statement
Tip: A thesis statement is typically 1-2 sentences. For a longer project like a thesis, the statement may be several sentences or a paragraph.