The thesis statement should highlight the topic, the claim, and the major points which you are going to use in your academic paper to support the claim.
Make a claim about a chosen topic/question and try to justify this main argument by using reasons and credible evidence. Decide which type of thesis you plan to use. The main argument could be an opinion, analysis, or proposal. The writer should offer something some people can disagree with. Persuade the audience of your truth throughout the paper.
The main aim of an expository thesis statement is to explain and discuss the facts of a topic.
To avoid this problem and work with coherent structure, one must know how to write a good thesis statement. This post will break down the statements purpose as well as fundamental elements necessary to create an effective thesis.
Elements of a Thesis Statement
In your thesis you should provide an interpretation of a subject, not the subject itself.
The length of a thesis statement should not be too long. As a thesis statement is a concise summary of a main claim, it should consist of a single, complete sentence. Some circumstances may require two to three sentences, depending on the length of the entire paper. Example: a five-paragraph essay should only have a single-sentence thesis. The writer should summarize the idea of the paper. If one is writing a twenty-page research paper, the statement will likely require several sentences as there will be more information to cover.
B: A strict gun regulations policy will not reduce nationwide violence since guns are still obtainable illegally, and humans, not weapons, are the catalysts of brutality.
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.
Thesis title
What constitutes ‘good writing’ for GCSE students of English?
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.’
The prescribed length of the essay also defines what you need to do with your thesis statement.
What exactly is a thesis statement?
What your thesis statement includes is determined by three things:
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.
Beyond that, these three essay types all require different additions.
A thesis can be found in many places—a debate speech, a lawyer’s closing argument, even an advertisement. But the most common place for a thesis statement (and probably why you’re reading this article) is in an essay.
You may have heard of something called a “thesis.” It’s what seniors commonly refer to as their final paper before graduation. That’s not what we’re talking about here. That type of thesis is a long, well-written paper that takes years to piece together.
One thing I find that is helpful for students is having a clear template. While students rarely end up with a thesis that follows this exact wording, the following template creates a good starting point:
In this thesis, I have made a claim about the theme in Narnia followed by my reasoning. The broader scope of this thesis allows me to write about each of the series’ seven novels. I am no longer limited in how many body paragraphs I can logically use.
What is a “thesis statement” anyway?
To make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, you must procure the ingredients, find a knife, and spread the condiments.
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are the best type of sandwich because they are versatile, easy to make, and taste good.
C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia series is one of the richest works of the 20th century because it offers an escape from reality, teaches readers to have faith even when they don’t understand, and contains a host of vibrant characters.
Now comes the good stuff: the breakdown of how to write a good thesis statement for an informational essay and then for an argumentative essay (Yes, there are different types of thesis statements: check them all out here). While the approach is similar for each, they require slightly different statements.
The basic building blocks of an informational essay also apply when it comes to an argumentative essay. However, an argumentative essay requires that you take a position on an issue or prompt.
- State the topic or present your argument.
- Summarize the main idea of each of your details and/or body paragraphs.
- Keep your statement to one to two sentences.
Introduction: My hero is Amelia Earhart, because she was very brave, did things many women of her time did not do, and was a hard worker.
Body paragraph 1: Details about how Amelia Earhart was brave
Body paragraph 2: Details about how she did things many women of her time did not do
Body paragraph 3: Details about how she was a hard worker
Conclusion: It is clear that Amelia Earhart was a brave woman who accomplished many things that women of her time did not do, and always worked hard. These are the reasons why she is my hero.
Informational essay thesis statements
These general guidelines work for other thesis statements, with some minor differences.
The objective of an informational essay is to inform your audience about a specific topic. Sometimes, your essay will be in response to a specific question. Other times, you will be given a subject to write about more generally.
In order to create a good thesis statement for an argumentative essay, you have to be as specific as possible about your position and your evidence. Let’s take a look at the first prompt as an example:
Advantages: Much more specific. Lays out the structure of your paper by listing your main points. Be aware that you have now told the reader: "These are my three points and this is the order I intend to present them." You have committed to a structure. So don’t confuse the reader by starting with historical significance. Make sure you follow the path you have laid out. There is no simple rule to follow as for when you should use an open vs. a closed thesis. One rule of thumb is to keep in mind the complexity of your topic. A more complex subject may require a more sophisticated kind of thesis statement.
If the paper has more than one main idea the reader might be confused about the paper’s subject.
This statement is specific, clear and thoughtful. Though some might disagree with your stance, your readers will know what to expect in your paper. Now it’s up to you to defend your thesis with good evidence and persuasive writing!
- Bad: - Companies should maximize the marketing potential of the Internet, and Facebook pages can provide both advertising and customer support. This is a weak thesis statement because the reader can’t decide whether the paper is about marketing on the Internet or Facebook pages.
- Better / Strong: - Because the Internet is filled with an abundance of marketing potential, companies should exploit this potential by using Facebook pages that offer both advertising and customer support. This is a strong thesis because the two ideas are related to each other to make one main idea.
• Closed Thesis Statement: A thesis that tells the reader both your position and the reasons you feel that way.
Thesis is known as the claim or argument. Everything in a persuasive essay relates to the thesis, either as evidence, explanation, elaboration or rebuttal of alternative claims. Think of the thesis as the spine of your paper. Just as all the parts of your body are connected to the spine, and without the spine your body could not stand, so too in your essay all parts must be connected to the thesis, and without the thesis the essay cannot stand. Parts that are not connected must be revised so that they do connect, or else eliminated.
The thesis is the point your paper is trying to prove. Here are some essential points to keep in mind about the thesis, starting with a definition.
Even if your assignment does not ask a question, you will still need to answer a question about the issue you would like to explore.
First, let's get one thing out of the way. A thesis statement is not always the last sentence in the first paragraph! Often it is, but sometimes it isn't. So, just pointing to the last sentence of the introductory paragraph is not a surefire way to identify a thesis statement.