It is helpful to think of the thesis statement as serving two purposes: as a guide to motivate and structure your initial drafts and as the central organising idea of your final draft. In effect, you will have a working claim that guides your outlining and drafting and then a revised and more polished final claim that encapsulates your consideration of all the evidence at the end of the writing process. A strong thesis statement answers the question with a summary of your position and argument, stating the most important points. It should be arguable, debatable and contestable - if you cannot imagine anybody being able to make a case against the statement you are making, there is little point in writing about it. Ideally, a strong thesis emphasises something that will interest, challenge, persuade, or enlighten the reader. There should also be evidence available to support your thesis. A thesis is not a simple statement of fact nor should it be vague. A strong thesis should be limited in scope using language and vocabulary that is specific to your field of study – avoid sweeping statements and generalisations. Broad claims are more difficult to support effectively than focused claims. Specific claims also tend to provide readers with more useful information than broad claims. | | Communications from the Library: Please note all communications from the library, concerning renewal of books, overdue books and reservations will be sent to your NCI student email account. - << Previous: Beginning Your Writing
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What are your chances of acceptance?Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance. Your chancing factorsExtracurriculars. How to Write a Strong Thesis Statement: 4 Steps + ExamplesWhat’s Covered:What is the purpose of a thesis statement, writing a good thesis statement: 4 steps, common pitfalls to avoid, where to get your essay edited for free. When you set out to write an essay, there has to be some kind of point to it, right? Otherwise, your essay would just be a big jumble of word salad that makes absolutely no sense. An essay needs a central point that ties into everything else. That main point is called a thesis statement, and it’s the core of any essay or research paper. You may hear about Master degree candidates writing a thesis, and that is an entire paper–not to be confused with the thesis statement, which is typically one sentence that contains your paper’s focus. Read on to learn more about thesis statements and how to write them. We’ve also included some solid examples for you to reference. Typically the last sentence of your introductory paragraph, the thesis statement serves as the roadmap for your essay. When your reader gets to the thesis statement, they should have a clear outline of your main point, as well as the information you’ll be presenting in order to either prove or support your point. The thesis statement should not be confused for a topic sentence , which is the first sentence of every paragraph in your essay. If you need help writing topic sentences, numerous resources are available. Topic sentences should go along with your thesis statement, though. Since the thesis statement is the most important sentence of your entire essay or paper, it’s imperative that you get this part right. Otherwise, your paper will not have a good flow and will seem disjointed. That’s why it’s vital not to rush through developing one. It’s a methodical process with steps that you need to follow in order to create the best thesis statement possible. Step 1: Decide what kind of paper you’re writingWhen you’re assigned an essay, there are several different types you may get. Argumentative essays are designed to get the reader to agree with you on a topic. Informative or expository essays present information to the reader. Analytical essays offer up a point and then expand on it by analyzing relevant information. Thesis statements can look and sound different based on the type of paper you’re writing. For example: - Argumentative: The United States needs a viable third political party to decrease bipartisanship, increase options, and help reduce corruption in government.
- Informative: The Libertarian party has thrown off elections before by gaining enough support in states to get on the ballot and by taking away crucial votes from candidates.
- Analytical: An analysis of past presidential elections shows that while third party votes may have been the minority, they did affect the outcome of the elections in 2020, 2016, and beyond.
Step 2: Figure out what point you want to makeOnce you know what type of paper you’re writing, you then need to figure out the point you want to make with your thesis statement, and subsequently, your paper. In other words, you need to decide to answer a question about something, such as: - What impact did reality TV have on American society?
- How has the musical Hamilton affected perception of American history?
- Why do I want to major in [chosen major here]?
If you have an argumentative essay, then you will be writing about an opinion. To make it easier, you may want to choose an opinion that you feel passionate about so that you’re writing about something that interests you. For example, if you have an interest in preserving the environment, you may want to choose a topic that relates to that. If you’re writing your college essay and they ask why you want to attend that school, you may want to have a main point and back it up with information, something along the lines of: “Attending Harvard University would benefit me both academically and professionally, as it would give me a strong knowledge base upon which to build my career, develop my network, and hopefully give me an advantage in my chosen field.” Step 3: Determine what information you’ll use to back up your pointOnce you have the point you want to make, you need to figure out how you plan to back it up throughout the rest of your essay. Without this information, it will be hard to either prove or argue the main point of your thesis statement. If you decide to write about the Hamilton example, you may decide to address any falsehoods that the writer put into the musical, such as: “The musical Hamilton, while accurate in many ways, leaves out key parts of American history, presents a nationalist view of founding fathers, and downplays the racism of the times.” Once you’ve written your initial working thesis statement, you’ll then need to get information to back that up. For example, the musical completely leaves out Benjamin Franklin, portrays the founding fathers in a nationalist way that is too complimentary, and shows Hamilton as a staunch abolitionist despite the fact that his family likely did own slaves. Step 4: Revise and refine your thesis statement before you start writingRead through your thesis statement several times before you begin to compose your full essay. You need to make sure the statement is ironclad, since it is the foundation of the entire paper. Edit it or have a peer review it for you to make sure everything makes sense and that you feel like you can truly write a paper on the topic. Once you’ve done that, you can then begin writing your paper. When writing a thesis statement, there are some common pitfalls you should avoid so that your paper can be as solid as possible. Make sure you always edit the thesis statement before you do anything else. You also want to ensure that the thesis statement is clear and concise. Don’t make your reader hunt for your point. Finally, put your thesis statement at the end of the first paragraph and have your introduction flow toward that statement. Your reader will expect to find your statement in its traditional spot. If you’re having trouble getting started, or need some guidance on your essay, there are tools available that can help you. CollegeVine offers a free peer essay review tool where one of your peers can read through your essay and provide you with valuable feedback. Getting essay feedback from a peer can help you wow your instructor or college admissions officer with an impactful essay that effectively illustrates your point. Related CollegeVine Blog Posts- Enroll & Pay
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Thesis StatementsThesis statements establish for your readers both the relationship between the ideas and the order in which the material will be presented. As the writer, you can use the thesis statement as a guide in developing a coherent argument. In the thesis statement you are not simply describing or recapitulating the material; you are taking a specific position that you need to defend . A well-written thesis is a tool for both the writer and reader, reminding the writer of the direction of the text and acting as a "road sign" that lets the reader know what to expect. A thesis statement has two purposes: (1) to educate a group of people (the audience) on a subject within the chosen topic, and (2) to inspire further reactions and spur conversation. Thesis statements are not written in stone. As you research and explore your subject matter, you are bound to find new or differing points of views, and your response may change. You identify the audience, and your thesis speaks to that particular audience. Preparing to Write Your Thesis: Narrowing Your TopicBefore writing your thesis statement, you should work to narrow your topic. Focus statements will help you stay on track as you delve into research and explore your topic. - I am researching ________to better understand ________.
- My paper hopes to uncover ________about ________.
- How does ________relate to ________?
- How does ________work?
- Why is ________ happening?
- What is missing from the ________ debate?
- What is missing from the current understanding of ________?
Other questions to consider: - How do I state the assigned topic clearly and succinctly?
- What are the most interesting and relevant aspects of the topic?
- In what order do I want to present the various aspects, and how do my ideas relate to each other?
- What is my point of view regarding the topic?
Writing a Thesis StatementThesis statements typically consist of a single sentence and stress the main argument or claim of your paper. More often than not, the thesis statement comes at the end of your introduction paragraph; however, this can vary based on discipline and topic, so check with your instructor if you are unsure where to place it. Thesis statement should include three main components: - TOPIC – the topic you are discussing (school uniforms in public secondary schools)
- CONTROLLING IDEA – the point you are making about the topic or significance of your idea in terms of understanding your position as a whole (should be required)
- REASONING – the supporting reasons, events, ideas, sources, etc. that you choose to prove your claim in the order you will discuss them. This section varies by type of essay and level of writing. In some cases, it may be left out (because they are more inclusive and foster unity)
A Strategy to Form Your Own Thesis StatementUsing the topic information, develop this formulaic sentence: I am writing about_______________, and I am going to argue, show, or prove___________. What you wrote in the first blank is the topic of your paper; what you wrote in the second blank is what focuses your paper (suggested by Patrick Hartwell in Open to Language ). For example, a sentence might be: I am going to write about senior citizens who volunteer at literacy projects, and I am going to show that they are physically and mentally invigorated by the responsibility of volunteering. Next, refine the sentence so that it is consistent with your style. For example: Senior citizens who volunteer at literacy projects are invigorated physically and mentally by the responsibility of volunteering. Here is a second example illustrating the formulation of another thesis statement. First, read this sentence that includes both topic and focusing comment: I am going to write about how Plato and Sophocles understand the proper role of women in Greek society, and I am going to argue that though they remain close to traditional ideas about women, the authors also introduce some revolutionary views which increase women's place in society. Now read the refined sentence, consistent with your style: When examining the role of women in society, Plato and Sophocles remain close to traditional ideas about women's duties and capabilities in society; however, the authors also introduce some revolutionary views which increase women's place in society. Writing StudioHow do i write a thesis statement. This page is Part 1 of a two-part handout that continues with our Thesis Statement Checklist . What is a Thesis Statement?In an effort to make our handouts more accessible, we have begun converting our PDF handouts to web pages. Download this page as a PDF: See p. 1 of How Do I Write a Thesis Statement Return to Writing Studio Handouts A thesis statement is a very specific argument that guides your paper. Generally, a thesis statement consists of two parts : - A clearly identifiable topic or subject matter
- A succinct summary of what you have to say about that topic
For your reader, a thesis functions like the case a lawyer has to make to the judge and jury in a courtroom. An effective thesis statement explains to your reader the case you are going to make and how you are going to make it. For you as the author, your thesis can also help you to stay focused as a writer and determine what information you do (and don’t) need to include in your analysis. Traditionally, the thesis statement is found near the end of your introduction , though this may change depending on the assignment and context. Don’t be afraid to draft a thesis statement that is more than one sentence. A Note on Writing ProcessYou do not need a perfect thesis statement before you draft the rest of the paper. In fact, you will likely need to modify your thesis once you have a complete draft to make sure that your draft and your thesis match one another. If your argument evolves in productive ways as you write, your thesis should, too. Honing and tweaking a thesis statement during the revision process is ultimately more important than having it exact and precise during the drafting process. Characteristics of a WEAK thesis statement- Vague: Raises an interesting topic or question but doesn’t specify an argument
- Offers plot summary, statement of fact, or obvious truths instead of an argument
- Offers opinion or conjecture rather than an argument (cannot be proven with textual evidence)
- Is too broad or too complex for the length of the paper
- Uses meaningful-sounding words, but doesn’t actually say anything of substance
Disclaimer: This is not a complete list! You can probably think of many more characteristics of a weak thesis statement. Characteristics of a STRONG thesis statement- Answers a specific question
- Takes a distinct position on the topic
- Is debatable (a reasonable person could argue an alternative position)
- Appropriately focused for the page length of the assignment
- Allows your reader to anticipate the organization of your argument
Having trouble drafting a thesis? Try filling in the blanks in these template statements:- In this paper, I argue that _____, because/by _____.
- While critics argue _____, I argue _____, because _____.
- By looking at _____, I argue that _____, which is important because _____.
- The text, _____, defines _____ as _____, in order to argue _____.
Disclaimer: These are only models. They’ll be useful to help you to get started, but you’ll have to do quite a bit of tweaking before your thesis is ready for your paper. For more on thesis statements, check out part 2: Our Thesis Statement Checklist . Last revised: 07/15/2008 | Adapted for web delivery: 5/2021 In order to access certain content on this page, you may need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader or an equivalent PDF viewer software. Encyclopedia for WritersWriting with artificial intelligence, formulating a thesis. - CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 by Andrea Scott
You need a good thesis statement for your essay but are having trouble getting started. You may have heard that your thesis needs to be specific and arguable, but still wonder what this really means. Let’s look at some examples. Imagine you’re writing about John Hughes’s film Sixteen Candles (1984). You take a first pass at writing a thesis: Sixteen Candles is a romantic comedy about high school cliques. Is this a strong thesis statement? Not yet, but it’s a good start. You’ve focused on a topic–high school cliques–which is a smart move because you’ve settled on one of many possible angles. But the claim is weak because it’s not yet arguable. Intelligent people would generally agree with this statement—so there’s no real “news” for your reader. You want your thesis to say something surprising and debatable. If your thesis doesn’t go beyond summarizing your source, it’s not arguable. The key words in the thesis statement are “romantic comedy” and “high school cliques.” One way to sharpen the claim is to start asking questions . For example, how does the film represent high school cliques in a surprising or complex way? How does the film reinforce stereotypes about high school groups and how does it undermine them? Or why does the film challenge our expectations about romantic comedies by focusing on high school cliques? If you can answer one of those questions (or others of your own), you’ll have a strong thesis. Tip : Asking “how” or “why” questions will help you refine your thesis, making it more arguable and interesting to your readers. Take 2. You revise the thesis. Is it strong now? Sixteen Candles is a romantic comedy criticizing the divisiveness created by high school cliques. You’re getting closer. You’re starting to take a stance by arguing that the film identifies “divisiveness” as a problem and criticizes it, but your readers will want to know how this plays out and why it’s important. Right now, the thesis still sounds bland – not risky enough to be genuinely contentious. Tip : Keep raising questions that test your ideas. And ask yourself the “so what” question. Why is your thesis interesting or important? Take 3. Let’s try again. How about this version? Although the film Sixteen Candles appears to reinforce stereotypes about high school cliques, it undermines them in important ways, questioning its viewers’ assumptions about what’s normal. Bingo! This thesis statement is pretty strong. It challenges an obvious interpretation of the movie (that it just reinforces stereotypes), offering a new and more complex reading in its place. We also have a sense of why this argument is important. The film’s larger goal, we learn, is to question what we think we understand about normalcy. Table of Contents What’s a Strong Thesis?As we’ve just seen, a strong thesis statement crystallizes your paper’s argument and, most importantly, argues a debatable point . This means two things. It goes beyond merely summarizing or describing to stake out an interpretation or position that’s not obvious, and others could challenge for good reasons. It’s also arguable in the literal sense that it can be argued , or supported through a thoughtful analysis of your sources. If your argument lacks evidence, readers will think your thesis statement is an opinion or belief as opposed to an argument. Exercises for Drafting an Arguable ThesisA good thesis will be focused on your object of study (as opposed to making a big claim about the world) and will introduce the key words guiding your analysis. To get started, you might experiment with some of these “mad libs.” They’re thinking exercises that will help propel you toward an arguable thesis. By examining __________________ [topic/approach], we can see _____________________[thesis—the claim that’s surprising], which is important because ___________________________. “ By examining Sixteen Candles through the lens of Georg Simmel’s writings on fashion, we can see that the protagonist’s interest in fashion as an expression of her conflicted desire to be seen as both unique and accepted by the group. This is important because the film offers its viewers a glimpse into the ambivalent yearnings of middle class youth in the 1980s. Although readers might assume _________________ [the commonplace idea you’re challenging], I argue that _________________________ [your surprising claim]. Although viewers might assume the romantic comedy Sixteen Candles is merely entertaining, I believe its message is political. The film uses the romance between Samantha, a middle-class sophomore, and Jake, an affluent senior, to reinforce the fantasy that anyone can become wealthy and successful with enough cunning and persistence. Still Having Trouble? Let’s Back Up…It helps to understand why readers value the arguable thesis. What larger purpose does it serve? Your readers will bring a set of expectations to your essay. The better you can anticipate the expectations of your readers, the better you’ll be able to persuade them to entertain seeing things your way. Academic readers (and readers more generally) read to learn something new. They want to see the writer challenge commonplaces—either everyday assumptions about your object of study or truisms in the scholarly literature. In other words, academic readers want to be surprised so that their thinking shifts or at least becomes more complex by the time they finish reading your essay. Good essays problematize what we think we know and offer an alternative explanation in its place. They leave their reader with a fresh perspective on a problem. We all bring important past experiences and beliefs to our interpretations of texts, objects, and problems. You can harness these observational powers to engage critically with what you are studying. The key is to be alert to what strikes you as strange, problematic, paradoxical, or puzzling about your object of study. If you can articulate this and a claim in response, you’re well on your way to formulating an arguable thesis in your introduction. How do I set up a “problem” and an arguable thesis in response?All good writing has a purpose or motive for existing. Your thesis is your surprising response to this problem or motive. This is why it seldom makes sense to start a writing project by articulating the thesis. The first step is to articulate the question or problem your paper addresses. Here are some possible ways to introduce a conceptual problem in your paper’s introduction. 1. Challenge a commonplace interpretation (or your own first impressions). How are readers likely to interpret this source or issue? What might intelligent readers think at first glance? (Or, if you’ve been given secondary sources or have been asked to conduct research to locate secondary sources, what do other writers or scholars assume is true or important about your primary source or issue?) What does this commonplace interpretation leave out, overlook, or under-emphasize? 2. Help your reader see the complexity of your topic. Identify and describe for your reader a paradox, puzzle, or contradiction in your primary source(s). What larger questions does this paradox or contradiction raise for you and your readers? 3. If your assignment asks you to do research, piggyback off another scholar’s reserach. Summarize for your reader another scholar’s argument about your topic, primary source, or case study and tell your reader why this claim is interesting. Now explain how you will extend this scholar’s argument to explore an issue or case study that the scholar doesn’t address fully. 4. If your assignment asks you to do research, identify a gap in another scholar’s or a group of scholars’ research. Summarize for your reader another scholar’s argument about your topic, primary source, or case study and tell your reader why this claim is interesting. Or, summarize how scholars in the field tend to approach your topic. Next, explain what important aspect this scholarly representation misses or distorts. Introduce your particular approach to your topic and its value. 5. If your assignment asks you to do research, bring in a new lens for investigating your case study or problem. Summarize for your reader how a scholar or group of scholars has approached your topic. Introduce a theoretical source (possibly from another discipline) and explain how it helps you address this issue from a new and productive angle. Testing Your ThesisYou can test your thesis statement’s arguability by asking the following questions: If so, try some of the exercises above to articulate your paper’s conceptual problem or question. If not, return to your sources and practice the exercises above. If it’s about the world, revise it so that it focuses on your primary source or case study. Remember you need solid evidence to support your thesis. “Formulating a Thesis” was written by Andrea Scott, Princeton University Acknowledgements I’d like to thank my current and former colleagues in the Princeton Writing Program for helping me think through and test ways of teaching the arguable thesis. Special thanks go to Kerry Walk, Amanda Irwin Wilkins, Judy Swan, and Keith Shaw. A shout-out to Mark Gaipa as well, whose cartoons on teaching source use remain a program favorite . 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Featured ArticlesAcademic Writing – How to Write for the Academic CommunityProfessional Writing – How to Write for the Professional WorldAuthority & Credibility – How to Be Credible & Authoritative in Research, Speech & WritingHow to Write a Solid Thesis StatementThe important sentence expresses your central assertion or argument arabianEye / Getty Images - Writing Research Papers
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A thesis statement provides the foundation for your entire research paper or essay. This statement is the central assertion that you want to express in your essay. A successful thesis statement is one that is made up of one or two sentences clearly laying out your central idea and expressing an informed, reasoned answer to your research question. Usually, the thesis statement will appear at the end of the first paragraph of your paper. There are a few different types, and the content of your thesis statement will depend upon the type of paper you’re writing. Key Takeaways: Writing a Thesis Statement- A thesis statement gives your reader a preview of your paper's content by laying out your central idea and expressing an informed, reasoned answer to your research question.
- Thesis statements will vary depending on the type of paper you are writing, such as an expository essay, argument paper, or analytical essay.
- Before creating a thesis statement, determine whether you are defending a stance, giving an overview of an event, object, or process, or analyzing your subject
Expository Essay Thesis Statement ExamplesAn expository essay "exposes" the reader to a new topic; it informs the reader with details, descriptions, or explanations of a subject. If you are writing an expository essay , your thesis statement should explain to the reader what she will learn in your essay. For example: - The United States spends more money on its military budget than all the industrialized nations combined.
- Gun-related homicides and suicides are increasing after years of decline.
- Hate crimes have increased three years in a row, according to the FBI.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) increases the risk of stroke and arterial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat).
These statements provide a statement of fact about the topic (not just opinion) but leave the door open for you to elaborate with plenty of details. In an expository essay, you don't need to develop an argument or prove anything; you only need to understand your topic and present it in a logical manner. A good thesis statement in an expository essay always leaves the reader wanting more details. Types of Thesis StatementsBefore creating a thesis statement, it's important to ask a few basic questions, which will help you determine the kind of essay or paper you plan to create: - Are you defending a stance in a controversial essay ?
- Are you simply giving an overview or describing an event, object, or process?
- Are you conducting an analysis of an event, object, or process?
In every thesis statement , you will give the reader a preview of your paper's content, but the message will differ a little depending on the essay type . Argument Thesis Statement ExamplesIf you have been instructed to take a stance on one side of a controversial issue, you will need to write an argument essay . Your thesis statement should express the stance you are taking and may give the reader a preview or a hint of your evidence. The thesis of an argument essay could look something like the following: - Self-driving cars are too dangerous and should be banned from the roadways.
- The exploration of outer space is a waste of money; instead, funds should go toward solving issues on Earth, such as poverty, hunger, global warming, and traffic congestion.
- The U.S. must crack down on illegal immigration.
- Street cameras and street-view maps have led to a total loss of privacy in the United States and elsewhere.
These thesis statements are effective because they offer opinions that can be supported by evidence. If you are writing an argument essay, you can craft your own thesis around the structure of the statements above. Analytical Essay Thesis Statement ExamplesIn an analytical essay assignment, you will be expected to break down a topic, process, or object in order to observe and analyze your subject piece by piece. Examples of a thesis statement for an analytical essay include: - The criminal justice reform bill passed by the U.S. Senate in late 2018 (" The First Step Act ") aims to reduce prison sentences that disproportionately fall on nonwhite criminal defendants.
- The rise in populism and nationalism in the U.S. and European democracies has coincided with the decline of moderate and centrist parties that have dominated since WWII.
- Later-start school days increase student success for a variety of reasons.
Because the role of the thesis statement is to state the central message of your entire paper, it is important to revisit (and maybe rewrite) your thesis statement after the paper is written. In fact, it is quite normal for your message to change as you construct your paper. - The Introductory Paragraph: Start Your Paper Off Right
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Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts Developing Strong Thesis StatementsWelcome to the Purdue OWLThis page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice. Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use. The thesis statement or main claim must be debatableAn argumentative or persuasive piece of writing must begin with a debatable thesis or claim. In other words, the thesis must be something that people could reasonably have differing opinions on. If your thesis is something that is generally agreed upon or accepted as fact then there is no reason to try to persuade people. Example of a non-debatable thesis statement: This thesis statement is not debatable. First, the word pollution implies that something is bad or negative in some way. Furthermore, all studies agree that pollution is a problem; they simply disagree on the impact it will have or the scope of the problem. No one could reasonably argue that pollution is unambiguously good. Example of a debatable thesis statement: This is an example of a debatable thesis because reasonable people could disagree with it. Some people might think that this is how we should spend the nation's money. Others might feel that we should be spending more money on education. Still others could argue that corporations, not the government, should be paying to limit pollution. Another example of a debatable thesis statement: In this example there is also room for disagreement between rational individuals. Some citizens might think focusing on recycling programs rather than private automobiles is the most effective strategy. The thesis needs to be narrowAlthough the scope of your paper might seem overwhelming at the start, generally the narrower the thesis the more effective your argument will be. Your thesis or claim must be supported by evidence. The broader your claim is, the more evidence you will need to convince readers that your position is right. Example of a thesis that is too broad: There are several reasons this statement is too broad to argue. First, what is included in the category "drugs"? Is the author talking about illegal drug use, recreational drug use (which might include alcohol and cigarettes), or all uses of medication in general? Second, in what ways are drugs detrimental? Is drug use causing deaths (and is the author equating deaths from overdoses and deaths from drug related violence)? Is drug use changing the moral climate or causing the economy to decline? Finally, what does the author mean by "society"? Is the author referring only to America or to the global population? Does the author make any distinction between the effects on children and adults? There are just too many questions that the claim leaves open. The author could not cover all of the topics listed above, yet the generality of the claim leaves all of these possibilities open to debate. Example of a narrow or focused thesis: In this example the topic of drugs has been narrowed down to illegal drugs and the detriment has been narrowed down to gang violence. This is a much more manageable topic. We could narrow each debatable thesis from the previous examples in the following way: Narrowed debatable thesis 1: This thesis narrows the scope of the argument by specifying not just the amount of money used but also how the money could actually help to control pollution. Narrowed debatable thesis 2: This thesis narrows the scope of the argument by specifying not just what the focus of a national anti-pollution campaign should be but also why this is the appropriate focus. Qualifiers such as " typically ," " generally ," " usually ," or " on average " also help to limit the scope of your claim by allowing for the almost inevitable exception to the rule. Types of claimsClaims typically fall into one of four categories. Thinking about how you want to approach your topic, or, in other words, what type of claim you want to make, is one way to focus your thesis on one particular aspect of your broader topic. Claims of fact or definition: These claims argue about what the definition of something is or whether something is a settled fact. Example: Claims of cause and effect: These claims argue that one person, thing, or event caused another thing or event to occur. Example: Claims about value: These are claims made of what something is worth, whether we value it or not, how we would rate or categorize something. Example: Claims about solutions or policies: These are claims that argue for or against a certain solution or policy approach to a problem. Example: Which type of claim is right for your argument? Which type of thesis or claim you use for your argument will depend on your position and knowledge of the topic, your audience, and the context of your paper. You might want to think about where you imagine your audience to be on this topic and pinpoint where you think the biggest difference in viewpoints might be. Even if you start with one type of claim you probably will be using several within the paper. Regardless of the type of claim you choose to utilize it is key to identify the controversy or debate you are addressing and to define your position early on in the paper. Recent Posts- Why Is Your CV Getting Rejected and How to Avoid It
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How to write a thesis statement (with examples)Since 2006, oxbridge essays has been the uk’s leading paid essay-writing and dissertation service. We have helped 10,000s of undergraduate, Masters and PhD students to maximise their grades in essays, dissertations, model-exam answers, applications and other materials. If you would like a free chat about your project with one of our UK staff, then please just reach out on one of the methods below. What exactly is a thesis statement?What if I told you that one sentence in your essay or thesis could be the difference between a First and a Fail? It may sound absurd – perhaps even unfair – but it’s true. I refer, of course, to the thesis statement. A thesis statement is your entire essay if it were condensed into a single sentence. If your essay title is a question, then your thesis statement is the one-sentence answer. It tends to arrive near the end of the first paragraph of a thesis. Let’s take a look at an example from a Master of Education degree thesis: Thesis title What constitutes ‘good writing’ for GCSE students of English? Thesis statement The examination rubric by which GCSE English writing performance is assessed, influenced by a long history of variable ‘tastes’, may now be said to describe ‘good writing’ as that which is grammatically accurate, sophisticated, and suited to purpose, genre and audience. (The thesis statement would be located in paragraph 1, after a brief overview of the subject). Why is a thesis statement important?As I mentioned, the way your thesis statement is written can be the difference between a First and a Fail. But how? To answer that, let’s think about what ‘thesis’ means. From the Greek thésis, meaning ‘proposition’, your thesis is your main argument. It is the position you have to support and defend for the remainder of your essay. Without something clear to defend, the fortress you build will crumble and the army you deploy will run about like headless chickens. In essence: without a clear thesis statement, you don’t have an essay. “Establishing a clear thesis at the start of your essay is crucial for both you and your examiner. For your examiner, it’s evidence that you have answered the question. For you, it can function as an essay plan.” For both of you, it’s a litmus test for the quality of the argument: if you can’t fit your essay’s arguments into a sentence, they are too diffuse; and if you can’t stick to your thesis statement’s focus throughout your essay, you are not focused. A precisely focused and well-grounded essay is more worthy of a First Class grade than one with a scattergun approach. What should a thesis statement include?What your thesis statement includes is determined by three things: 1. The subject and topic of the essay. 2. The purpose of the essay. 3. The length of the essay. Let’s examine each of those in more detail to see how they can help us refine our thesis statement. The subject and topic of the essayLook at this real-life title from an undergraduate Sports Science essay: What are the key differences between training recommendations for maximising muscular strength and maximising muscular hypertrophy? The first task is, of course, to determine the subject of the essay. In this example, that would be ‘training recommendations for maximising muscular strength and training recommendations for maximising muscular hypertrophy’. Knowing that means that I know I will need to deploy my knowledge about those two similar but distinct areas. It also means that I should be using the specialist terminology relevant to the field, such as load, isotonic and volume. Next, I need to determine the topic. Here it would be ‘the key differences’ between training recommendations for those two goals. That phrase ‘key differences’ is likely to be at the heart of my thesis statement, to show that I’m on track. With that in mind, my thesis statement might look like this: Whilst both training outcomes require resistance training centred upon isotonic contractions, it is likely that the absolute load requirements may need to be higher for strength purposes, whilst the total training volume may need to be higher for hypertrophy purposes. It is by no means a complete essay, but it states clearly what the ‘short answer’ to the question is, whilst paving the way for the ‘long answer’ to follow. But what if the essay isn’t just looking for the facts organised into a specific order? What if the essay is asking for analysis? Or an argument? The purpose of the essayDifferent essay purposes require different thesis statements. Fortunately, there are only three main essay purposes, and they’re pretty easy to recognise: 1. The expository essay: This is an essay type that asks for the key facts on a subject to be laid out, with explanations. The Sports Science question above is an example of this. It asks for the WHAT and HOW of something. 2. The analytical essay: This essay type asks you not only to lay out the facts, but also to analyse and deconstruct them to better understand them. It is typical in subjects such as English Literature and Fine Art. It asks for the WHY of something. 3. The argumentative essay: This type of essay asks you to use the facts available, to analyse them for value, and then to provide a point of view about the subject. It moves more quickly through the WHAT, HOW and WHY of a topic through to: WHY DOES IT MATTER? All of the above essay types need a thesis statement that includes a proposition (a statement which answers the question or addresses the title). Beyond that, these three essay types all require different additions. For the expository essay , you need to add an overview of the details of the conclusion. Let’s look at an example: Expository essay title: What are the key differences between training recommendations for maximising muscular strength and maximising muscular hypertrophy? (BSc in Sports Science) Expository thesis statement: Whilst both training outcomes require resistance training centred upon isotonic contractions, it is likely that the absolute load requirements may need to be higher for strength purposes, whilst the total training volume may need to be higher for hypertrophy purposes. (The basic conclusion is that both approaches need isotonic resistance training; the details are teased out in bold.) For the analytical essay , you need to add an overview of the analysis performed. Here’s an example: Analytical essay title: Why did England and Wales vote to leave the European Union? (BA in Politics) Analytical thesis statement: A close consideration of the voter demographics, the populist nature of political messages leading up to the referendum, and the history of Britain’s status in the EU, will demonstrate that Brexit was primarily motivated by the machinations of the Right. (The basic conclusion is that Brexit was influenced by politicians; the analytical approach is in bold.) For the argumentative essay , you need to add an overview of your reasoning. Another example: Argumentative essay title: To what extent do you consider the authorship of Shakespeare’s plays to be in question? (BA in English Literature) Argumentative thesis statement: Shakespeare’s authorship of his plays is beyond question, given both the entirely unconvincing nature of any counter-theories and the relatively unstable conception of the playwright’s identity as it stands. (The basic conclusion is that Shakespeare did write his plays; the reasoning is in bold.) As you can see from these examples, the purpose of the essay gives a very clear demand for something beyond a simple answer. But, there’s more! The length of the essayThe prescribed length of the essay also defines what you need to do with your thesis statement. Your thesis statement is a microcosm : a miniature, compressed version of your whole essay. So, it makes sense that the length of the actual essay is going to impact upon the content of the thesis statement. If, for example, your essay is expected to be 800 words long and on the subject of Eve in the Bible, then it would be overly ambitious for your thesis statement to say: ‘through comprehensive study of the Bible and extant criticism’. For an 800 essay, more precision will be necessary. It would be better for your thesis statement to say: ‘with due awareness of the complexity of the issue, focusing on feminist readings of Genesis .’ “Matching the scope given in your thesis statement to the depth you provide in your essay is a very effective way to ensure precision.” Contrastingly, if your essay is expected to be 80,000 words long (a PhD thesis, for example), on the subject of stop-motion animation, it would be rather unambitious to suggest that the essay will ‘provide a visual analysis of Wallace and Gromit: The Wrong Trousers’, only. For a PhD, we would expect more content to be covered, and multiple approaches to analysis to be considered. Indeed, matching the scope given in your thesis statement to the depth you provide in your essay is a very effective way to ensure precision. So, to summarise, how do I write a thesis statement?It’s a simple, three-part process: 1. Identify the question in the title (or make a question from the statement). 2. Answer that question in as few words as possible. 3. Complete the sentence by providing an overview of the foundation behind your answer. Easy, right? It can be! That said, there are plenty of traps that essayists can fall into with this part of the essay. Let’s look at some of these pitfalls and how to avoid them. Pitalls to AvoidPitfall #1: amateurish style. This is common throughout academic essays written by beginners. It’s not just the thesis statement that falls foul of sounding amateurish. There are plenty of ways this happens, which are beyond the scope of this argument, but the following example is a prime example: In this essay, I will explore the various pieces of evidence before concluding. This is amateurish for a few reasons. Firstly, it doesn’t actually say anything. You could otherwise word it, ‘I will write an essay which answers the question’ – a rather wasted sentence. The next, and more forgivable issue is the use of the first-person. We want to get a sense that an individual wrote this essay, but we never want to hear them mentioned! Make sense? No? Sorry. This should instead read more like: This essay considers evidence from X in light of Y which ultimately reveals Z at the heart of the issue. (It focuses on the specifics, X, Y, and Z, and is devoid of any mention of its author.) Pitfall #2: empty phrasingThis is similar to amateurish style. However, empty phrasing is not just amateur-sounding; it’s manipulative-sounding. Using phrases such as “in order to” instead of, simply, “to” – or “due to the fact that” instead of just “as” – look like attempts to fill up the word count with waffle rather than content. The same goes for phrases that can be substituted for one word: ‘it is evident that’ can (and should) become ‘evidently’. Watch this thesis statement from a GCSE essay on Music go from hideous to tolerable: Beethoven was unable to hear his work, due to the fact that he was deaf, so it is evident that he musically conceptualised the notes in order to compose. (Wordy!) Beethoven was unable to hear his work, as he was deaf, so it is evident that he musically conceptualised the notes to compose. (Slightly less wordy.) Beethoven’s deafness made him unable to hear his work, so evidently he musically conceptualised the notes to compose. (About as concise as such a complex sentence will get…) Do not mistake wordiness for sophistication. Your ideas should be sophisticated; your writing should be clear. Pitfall #3: non-standard grammarFor an examiner, the English language is not just a vehicle for your ideas. It should be, but the academic process always involves the assessment of your expression. So, to satisfy our examiners’ prescriptive tastes, we need to adhere to the basic tenets of Standard English. Take a look at the following thesis statement example from an A Level Sociology essay: Considering the status of BAME in Internet culture, the demonstrably racist treatment at the hands of the police, and the energy behind the BLM protests, concluding that there is hope for the future. This sentence has no finite main verb, so it is technically not a sentence. To become a grammatical sentence, we would need to make ‘concluding’ finite: ‘it can be concluded’, or ‘we conclude’. The writer got lost in this example because the sentence was so long! Long sentences can also lead to a failure to make subject and verb agree, like in the next thesis statement example from a school Geography essay: The most populous municipalities of Spain, Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, and Zaragoza, does not rank in the top ten most dense populations of the country, with the exception of Barcelona. Because the subject ‘municipalities’ is separated from the verb ‘does’ by eight words, it is easy to forget that they do not agree. It should, of course, be ‘do, not ‘does’. Final wordsThe thesis statement, as I said at the start, can be the difference between a First and a Fail. So, take your time with it. Write it carefully. Then redraft and refine it several times, until it’s as good as you can make it. The payoff is a slick, coherent thesis statement that paves the way to a great essay that really impresses your examiner. Top 10 tips for writing a dissertation methodologyAdvice for successfully writing a dissertation, how to structure your dissertation in 2024, writing services. - Essay Plans
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Step 2: Write your initial answer. After some initial research, you can formulate a tentative answer to this question. At this stage it can be simple, and it should guide the research process and writing process. The internet has had more of a positive than a negative effect on education.
The general model of your thesis statement will look something like this: Topic + Claim + Reason = Thesis. (is) (because) Deciding on a Topic. Ideally, you should write about something that you care about or at least that you have an opinion about. But let's be honest, we don't find interest in every subject we come across.
How to Tell a Strong Thesis Statement from a Weak One 1. A strong thesis statement takes some sort of stand. Remember that your thesis needs to show your conclusions about a subject. For example, if you are writing a paper for a class on fitness, you might be asked to choose a popular weight-loss product to evaluate. Here are two thesis statements:
A thesis statement is a sentence in a paper or essay (in the opening paragraph) that introduces the main topic to the reader. As one of the first things your reader sees, your thesis statement is one of the most important sentences in your entire paper—but also one of the hardest to write! In this article, we explain how to write a thesis ...
It is a brief statement of your paper's main argument. Essentially, you are stating what you will be writing about. Organize your papers in one place. Try Paperpile. No credit card needed. Get 30 days free. 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 ...
Your thesis statement should be specific—it should cover only what you will discuss in your paper and should be supported with specific evidence. 3. The thesis statement usually appears at the end of the first paragraph of a paper. 4. Your topic may change as you write, so you may need to revise your thesis statement to reflect exactly what ...
A thesis statement . . . Makes an argumentative assertion about a topic; it states the conclusions that you have reached about your topic. Makes a promise to the reader about the scope, purpose, and direction of your paper. Is focused and specific enough to be "proven" within the boundaries of your paper. Is generally located near the end ...
A thesis statement clearly states the main idea or concept of an essay. Keys to formulating a thesis statement: Focus on one main idea or concept; Choose a clear stance on the issue; Make it interesting to your audience; It may be helpful to divide your thesis statement into two Parts: Main topic (what?) and Comment (what about it?)
A thesis statement is a summary of your main argument, your point of view - it is the main point you will make and the claim that you will try and prove throughout the rest of your assignment. Much of academic assignment writing is required to be persuasive. This means that you are expected to take a position and present an argument in order ...
Step 4: Revise and refine your thesis statement before you start writing. Read through your thesis statement several times before you begin to compose your full essay. You need to make sure the statement is ironclad, since it is the foundation of the entire paper. Edit it or have a peer review it for you to make sure everything makes sense and ...
A thesis statement has two purposes: (1) to educate a group of people (the audience) on a subject within the chosen topic, and (2) to inspire further reactions and spur conversation. Thesis statements are not written in stone. ... Here is a second example illustrating the formulation of another thesis statement. First, read this sentence that ...
A thesis statement is a very specific argument that guides your paper. Generally, a thesis statement consists of two parts: A clearly identifiable topic or subject matter. A succinct summary of what you have to say about that topic. For your reader, a thesis functions like the case a lawyer has to make to the judge and jury in a courtroom.
You need a good thesis statement for your essay but are having trouble getting started. You may have heard that your thesis needs to be specific and arguable, but still wonder what this really means. Let's look at some examples. Imagine you're writing about John Hughes's film Sixteen Candles (1984). You take a first pass at writing a thesis: Sixteen Candles is a romantic comedy about ...
The thesis of an argument essay could look something like the following: Self-driving cars are too dangerous and should be banned from the roadways. The exploration of outer space is a waste of money; instead, funds should go toward solving issues on Earth, such as poverty, hunger, global warming, and traffic congestion.
Consider using analytical frameworks or theoretical models to guide the formulation of your thesis statement and research question. These frameworks can provide structure and clarity to your research. Tip 5: Align with Research Objectives. Ensure that your thesis statement and research question align with your overall research objectives and goals.
is Statements - Defining, Developing, and EvaluatingAn effective thesis statement functions as a directional signpost, providing clarity and focused direction. for the reader on a particular ...
r & Communications LabCrafting a thesis statementSimone A. Fried, TF Sp. ing 2021The thesis statement is perhaps the most important sentence in your paper. It states your argume. t unambiguously and creates expectations for what you will discuss in what follows. Your audience will decide. her to read the rest of the paper based on how ...
Table of contents. Start with a question — then make the answer your thesis. Tailor your thesis to the type of paper you're writing. Ensure your thesis is provable. Good Theses Examples: Bad Theses Examples: Get the sound right. Know where to place a thesis statement. Limit a thesis statement to one or two sentences in length.
A thesis statement is an original, supportable hypothesis or assertion about a topic. The thesis targets a specific point or aspect of the law, articulates a problem, and ideally attempts to resolve it. In short, your thesis statement embodies your argument. Your thesis statement develops from the topic you select.
The thesis statement or main claim must be debatable. An argumentative or persuasive piece of writing must begin with a debatable thesis or claim. In other words, the thesis must be something that people could reasonably have differing opinions on. If your thesis is something that is generally agreed upon or accepted as fact then there is no ...
Figure 7.1.7 7.1. 7. Summarize for your reader another scholar's argument about your topic, primary source, or case study and tell your reader why this claim is interesting. Now explain how you will extend this scholar's argument to explore an issue or case study that the scholar doesn't address fully. 4.
What your thesis statement includes is determined by three things: 1. The subject and topic of the essay. 2. The purpose of the essay. 3. The length of the essay. Let's examine each of those in more detail to see how they can help us refine our thesis statement.