A thesis statement summarizes the main argument of the essay in two or three sentences. It is placed at the end of the introduction. It instantly tells the reader what the essay is going to be about.
We all know that writing a thesis statement is one of the most difficult parts of an essay.
There are so many people telling you what your thesis should be, and it can get confusing to figure out which option will work best for you.
We are here to help!
In this blog, we will go over some steps for creating a strong thesis statement- from brainstorming ideas to narrowing down your options.
You will also find helpful tips on writing an effective thesis according to each essay type.
What is a Thesis Statement?
The thesis statement is a road map for the paper. It is the focal point of the essay or the main message that the writer is trying to convey through the essay.
Where is the thesis statement located?
The thesis statement is placed at the end of the introductory paragraph. It sets the tone for the rest of the essay.
How long is a thesis statement?
A thesis statement should be two to three sentences long. Your thesis statement should be about 20-50 words. Do not add unnecessary words or details to it.
What is the Purpose of a Thesis Statement?
A thesis statement fulfills the following purposes:
- A thesis statement tells an interpretation of the question or subject. It is a clear-cut and straightforward answer to the topic question.
- The thesis statement directly makes an interesting claim but might be disputed if it is an argumentative essay.
- It should convey your stance and understanding of the topic, highlighting your central idea’s main cause or effect.
Characteristics of a Strong Thesis Statement
“What makes a good thesis statement?”
Following are the three main qualities of a strong thesis statement:
- 1. Brief
A good thesis statement is concise and to the point. Use a clear, direct sentence to state your point in one or two sentences—not more than necessary.
- 2. Accurate Content
The thesis of your essay should not be a simple statement that everyone already knows. Rather, it should be a unique interpretation of the topic or your particular opinion.
A good thesis needs to convince the reader that it is true. To do this, state a claim that others might disagree with and then show evidence for it later in the essay so that they will agree with you.
- 3. Cohesive and Coherent
Your thesis statement should mention several aspects that all add up to a coherent whole, expressing one main idea. These concepts will need to be supported and explained in the paper not to confuse your readers or detract from what you are trying to convey.
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How to Write a Thesis Statement Step-by-Step?
“How to create a thesis statement?”
Writing a thesis statement is already complicated, and we won’t make it more complex for you by stating multiple techniques to write it. So instead, here we have only three simple steps or a simple thesis statement formula that you can follow to write your thesis statement.
- 1. State the Topic Questions
“How to start a thesis statement?”n
You should start your thesis statement by mentioning the question that you will answer in the essay. It could be a direct question asked in the topic or you can make one by yourself by analyzing the topic.
“What is an example of a thesis statement?”
For example, if you are writing an argumentative essay about the pros and cons of social media, then the first sentence of your thesis statement should be:
“Has social media benefited or harmed society more?”
If you are thinking, “Can a Thesis Statement Be a Question?” No! not the whole of it. But it can start with a question.
- 2. Answer the Question According to Your Stance
Now you will write your interpretation of the topic or the direct answer to the mentioned question. But don’t unnecessarily elongate it. Instead, write a detailed explanation later in the body paragraphs.
Supposing the same example mentioned above, your answer can be either of these two statements:
“Social media has been more beneficial for the society at large.”
“The ills of social media are far more than its benefits.”
- 3. Give the Reason for Your Stance
The last sentence of the thesis statement tells why you think what you think. You have to tell the reason behind your answer or the stance that you have put up. But again, just write it in a single sentence rather than giving detailed reasoning.
In the example above, the respective reasons for the answers can be:
“This is because social media has connected people all over the world, turning the world into a global village.”
“The reason being its misuse in the form of online trolling and privacy breaches.”
“What does a thesis statement look like?”
So, if you think that social media has more advantages than disadvantages, your thesis statement will be:
“Has social media benefited or harmed society more? Social media has been more beneficial for society at large. This is because social media has connected people all over the world, turning the world into a global village.”
If you have the opposite stance and consider social media to be more harmful to society than advantageous, then your thesis statement should be:
“Has social media benefited or harmed society more? Unfortunately, the ills of social media are far more than its benefits. The reason being its misuse in the form of online trolling and privacy breaches.”
Reading these thesis statements, you instantly get to know what the topic is about, what the writer thinks about the topic, and why he thinks like that.
This is exactly how a thesis statement should be because you know what the essay will be about, and you instantly decide whether you want to read it or not.
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Creating an Essay Specific Thesis Statement
You can write different types of essays based on the topic’s demands. However, to set the right tone for your essay, your thesis statement should also be according to the specific essay type.
Thesis Statement for an Argumentative Essay
The thesis of your argumentative essay will be its strongest point. Thus, the thesis statement should be compact enough to convey your stance strongly.
Take a clear position. Be for or against the topic. Do not dangle in between.
Check out these examples to know the difference between a strong and a week argumentative thesis statement:
“It will be good for the US government to take part in climate change initiatives.”
This is a weak thesis statement as it only mentions the stance and does not support it through any logical reasoning. Moreover, the stance is also not conveyed strongly.
“Should the US Government lead the climate change initiatives? It definitely should! Combating climate change is the need of the hour, and the participation of the US government in such initiatives will help her reemerge as the global leader.”
This is a strong argumentative thesis example that conveys the stance, gives its reason, and is persuasive enough for the reader to agree with it.
Thesis Statement for an Expository Essay
If you are writing an expository essay, your point will explain facts and not give your opinion. Similarly, your thesis statement should say the main point of the essay and mention some key points that you will discuss.
Here are two examples of an expository thesis statement:
“Computers are a significant invention of the 20th century.”
This thesis statement is incomplete. Although it tells that the essay is about the invention of computers, it doesn’t tell how the reader will explain its significance.
“Computers are a significant invention of the 20th century. It has helped us to do multiple tasks in a fraction of seconds.”
This is a comparatively more comprehensive thesis statement that tells about the topic of the essay. As it tells that computers are significant and why the reader thinks that they are significant.
Thesis Statement for an Analytical Essay
In order to write an analytical thesis statement, you need to mention the part of the text that you are going to focus on. You should also say what insight it gives us into the meaning or purpose of the text.
Suppose you write an analytical essay on the novel Jekyll & Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, then two ways to present its thesis statements could be:
“Mr. Hyde represents Dr. Jekyll’s darker side which ultimately wins out against its better self.”
This thesis statement only mentions the main character of the novel. But it is painfully short.
“The strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde explores how one's capacity for evil lies beneath even outwardly civilized men. Through this dark double, author Robert Louis Stevenson seeks to highlight the moral hypocrisy present in society.”
This statement accurately summarizes the novel and its main crux. It also tells the analysis of the writer about the novel.
So, you can alter your thesis statement according to the type of essay or the purpose you are trying to achieve through the thesis statement.
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Tips to Write an Effective Thesis Statement
Read the tips below to write an effective thesis statement easily:
- Be limited to the topic and its particular dimension. It will help you write the thesis statement within the word limit.
- Brainstorm before writing the thesis statement. Once you write it, you can not negate it or deviate from it later in the essay.
- Keep your thesis statement short. Avoid extensive elaborations. An ideal thesis statement should be between 50-70 words.
- Your thesis statement is only a part of the introduction, not the introduction paragraph.
- The thesis statement should effectively convey the context of the essay and your personal point of view.
- Read your thesis statement twice and analyze it from the reader’s perspective. Then revise your thesis if you think it lacks something.
Good Thesis Statement Examples
These sample thesis statements will help you understand them better.
Thesis statement Outline - sample PDF
Thesis Statement Examples for Research Papers - sample PDF
Argumentative Thesis Examples - sample PDF
Thesis Statement Format - sample PDF
Informative Thesis Statement Examples - sample PDF
By now, you should have a better understanding of what thesis statements are and how to write them. You also know some tips for creating an effective one that makes your essay stand out from the rest.
So go ahead and give it a try!
What do you think? Did these pointers help at all?
Let us know.
Remember, our team at MyPerfectPaper.net is always happy to help if you need extra assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the three parts of a thesis statement?
The three parts of a thesis statement are:
- The topic question
- Your stance on the question
- The reason behind your stance
What exactly is a thesis statement?
A thesis statement is composed of two to three sentences. It is written to describe the writer’s stance and tell the readers what the essay will be about.
Why do I need a thesis statement?
You need a thesis statement in the essay to hook your reader to your essay. By reading the thesis statement, your reader will instantly know what you are going to talk about and will decide if they want to read your essay or not. Moreover, it helps you to stay focused throughout the essay.
How can I come up with a thesis statement?
You can come up with a thesis statement by brainstorming your topic. You need to think and decide what stance you are going to take. Then write your stance with a logical reason in two to three sentences.