Most college and university students get stuck on how to write a thesis statement. When you create a strong thesis statement to begin an argumentative essay or piece of academic writing, you instantly frame the goal for yourself as a writer and your readers. You will quickly advance your pedigree as an academic writer by following the guide our professionals provide below.
What is a Thesis Statement?
A thesis statement summarizes an academic, expository, or argumentative paper or essay. A top-notch thesis statement serves as a road map for the piece of writing a thesis statement that follows. It expresses the main point of a paper in one or two sentences, and the rest of the paper serves to reinforce that point.
A thesis statement is usually found in the first paragraph of a short essay. It could be the first sentence of an essay or the last sentence of the first paragraph. Thesis statements in longer research papers and books may be saved for later, but they almost always appear in the first chapter.
Example of Thesis Statements
The characteristics of an excellent thesis statement differ depending on the writing format. Here are some examples of how a thesis statement might appear in a piece of writing:
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Thesis statement for a narrative essay
“In his lifetime, Alistair Crowley was better known as a mountaineer who made expeditions to the Himalayas and the Karakoram.”
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Thesis statement for an argumentative essay
“Unless we significantly limit climate change over the next two decades, human civilization will collapse.”
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Thesis statement for an analytical essay
“Edith Wharton’s life was a study in contradictions, which shaped her into the timeless author she is today.”
Structure of a thesis statement
The logical flow of information we use when writing an argument is called essay structure. When broken down, essay writing is a relatively simple process.
1. Introduction
- State your main point (thesis)
- Describe the key 2 or 3 ideas (themes) to support your main point
- Explain how these ideas logically fit together.
2. Paragraph body
- Present a specific idea
- Provide evidence to back up your claim.
- Connect this concept to your main point.
- Repeat the steps in ‘2—body Paragraph’ for the other ideas that support your main point.
3. Conclusion
- Restate your argument
- Make a concluding statement
When essay writing is broken down into a process, it becomes simple and systematic.
How to Create a Powerful Thesis Statement
A strong thesis statement directs the writing process. Follow the steps below to learn how to write a strong thesis statement for argumentative, expository, and analytical essays.
1. Before you begin writing, brainstorm
A powerful or provocative thesis statement will be useless if it is difficult to defend. It is crucial to imagine the body paragraphs you could write to support your thesis statement when writing it. Consider counterarguments and ensure that you can defend your thesis in the face of them.
2. Respond to a specific question
Consider your thesis to be the answer to a critical question. Your thesis statement should help potential readers understand why they should read your essay and what they will learn from it.
3. Keep it brief
Most powerful thesis statements can be expressed in a single complete sentence. A multi-sentence thesis statement may be appropriate, but avoid delving too deeply into your argument. That is the purpose of the remainder of your multi-page paper.
4. Consider the hub-and-spoke model
Consider your thesis to be the central hub of your entire essay. Your body paragraphs are spokes that branch out from the thesis, and your topic sentences are the screws that hold each spoke together. Like the hub of a wheel, your thesis must be central to your paper’s content, the home base to which that content returns. If your thesis isn’t strong enough to play this role, revise it or find one that is.
Thesis Statement Types: Informative and Persuasive
There are different types of thesis statements, just as there are various types of essays. The thesis should be relevant to the essay. For instance, you should write an informative thesis (rather than argumentative) in an informative essay. In this essay, you want to state your intentions and guide the reader to the conclusion that you reach.
Example 1:
It is easy to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, gather the necessary ingredients, get a knife, and spread the condiments. This thesis helps the reader to understand the topic and structure of their essay.
The thesis statement in most other types of essays, whether compare/contrast, argumentative or narrative, takes a position and argues it. In other words, your thesis is considered persuasive unless its sole purpose is to inform. A persuasive thesis usually includes an opinion and the reasons why your opinion is correct.
Example 2:
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are the best because they are versatile, simple to make, and delicious.
You can see that I state my opinion (the best type of sandwich) in this persuasive thesis statement, which indicates that I have chosen a stance. Following that, I explain why my viewpoint is correct for several important reasons. This type of persuasive thesis can be used in any essay that contains the writer’s opinion, such as compare/contrast essays, narrative essays, and so on.
Thesis Statement Outline
You can use two basic styles, just as there are two types of thesis statements (informative and persuasive).
The first method employs a list of two or more points. This thesis style is ideal for a brief essay with only two or three body paragraphs. This five-paragraph essay format is standard in middle and high school assignments.
Example 1:
C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia series is one of the richest works of the twentieth century because it provides an escape from reality, teaches readers to have faith even when they don’t understand, and contains many colorful characters.
In the preceding persuasive thesis, you can see my thoughts on Narnia, followed by three compelling reasons. This thesis is ideal for starting a neat five-paragraph essay.
As essay length increases, five-paragraph essays become increasingly rare in college. Can you imagine a six-page paper with only five paragraphs? A more versatile thesis statement is required for a more extended essay. Instead of listing two or three distinct points, a thesis can include a single overarching point to which all body paragraphs relate.
Example 2:
The central theme of Lewis’ Narnia series is good vs. evil, as evidenced by each book’s main characters’ struggles. In this thesis, I made a claim about Narnia’s theme, followed by my reasoning. Because of the thesis’s broader scope, I can write about each series of seven novels. I am no longer limited in the number of body paragraphs I can use logically.
How To Write a Good Thesis Statement
When writing a thesis, you must consider the format and other factors such as length, position in the essay, and the strength of the argument.
1. How long is a thesis statement
A thesis statement can be short or long, based on how many points are mentioned. However, it is usually only one short sentence. It usually has at least two clauses, one independent (the opinion) and one dependent (the reasons). In most scenarios, you should aim for a single sentence at least two lines long or about 30 to 40 words.
2. Position
A thesis statement should always appear at the beginning of an essay. This is because it is a sentence that informs the reader of what the writer will discuss. Teachers will have different preferences for where the thesis should be placed, but a good rule of thumb is within the introduction paragraph’s last two or three sentences.
3. Strength
Finally, for a persuasive thesis to be effective, it must be debatable. This means that the statement is not apparent and that not everyone agrees on its truth.
Example of weak thesis:
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are simple to make because only three ingredients are required. Different individuals would agree that PB&J is one of the most straightforward sandwiches in the American lunch repertoire.
A more substantial thesis would be:
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are entertaining to eat because they constantly slide around. This is more debatable because many believe a PB&J is messy or slimy rather than enjoyable.
Conclusion
A thesis statement requires more thought than many other parts of an essay. A thesis statement can be made up of an entire argument in a few words, and it is worthwhile to spend the extra time crafting this sentence. It can direct your research and argument, resulting in a tight, focused essay that makes readers think.
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