How to Write a Thesis Statement
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-write-a-thesis-statement(With Tips and Examples) By Indeed Editorial Team February 23, 2021
What is a thesis statement?
When writing a paper, crafting the thesis statement can seem like a secondary concern. However, your thesis is the most important element of your paper. It serves as the focus of your paper and is an incentive for your audience to continue reading.
Why are thesis statements important?
Thesis statements are found in the introductory paragraph of an essay and they serve to communicate the central theme of your paper, why it's important and introduce the arguments you will make to support this claim.
In other words, the primary purpose of a thesis statement is to present the essay's topic to the reader, introduce the audience to your position on the subject and provide a guide for the arguments you intend to make to support this belief or idea. Though the thesis statement is extremely useful for the reader, it also offers some benefits to the author, such as:
It can help you organize your argument so you can develop your points more clearly and effectively. It can help you test the significance and clarity of your points. Thesis statement categories When writing an essay, there are different styles to choose from that are based on content and intent. The same is true with thesis statements. There are two main categories: informative and persuasive. You will want to choose the style that best reflects the purpose of your paper.
Informative Rather than argue a point, an informative essay and thesis aim to inform the reader about a subject or process. These types of thesis statements should present the intentions of the essay and provide a guide to the eventual conclusion you will reach.
Persuasive A majority of essays are designed to take a position on a subject and then argue on behalf of this stance. This is found in narrative, argumentative and compare/contrast essays in which an opinion is stated and then the evidence is provided to prove its accuracy.
Types of thesis statements There are also two types of thesis statements that can be created regardless of the style of the essay.
One style uses two or more points and is perfect for shorter essays that contain only a few body paragraphs.
The second type lists a single, overarching point. This type of thesis is extremely versatile and is perfect for longer essays that span several pages instead of paragraphs.
Steps to create an effective and informative thesis statement:
Determine the kind of paper you need to write Before you can begin writing your thesis or paper, you must decide which style of essay will be most effective for your specific needs. Here are a few of the options:
Analytical Analytical papers deconstruct an idea or an issue into its separate components, assess the topic and then communicate the assessment and breakdown to the readers.
Expository This type of essay strives to explain something, whether it be an event, issue or process, to its readers.
Persuasive Persuasive essays make a claim about a subject and then spend the rest of the paper arguing the accuracy of this claim by providing supporting evidence. The claim can be an interpretation, a statement that establishes cause-and-effect, an evaluation, an opinion or a policy proposal.
Narrative This type of paper tells a story. Though narratives typically refrain from arguing a point, a thesis statement could still be beneficial to guide the audience.
What to do
Incorporate your main points and specific evidence Your thesis statement will need to introduce the topic that will be discussed throughout your paper as well as the evidence that you will use to support your points. Instead of writing in generalities, use specifics.
Place your thesis in the right spot A thesis is usually found near the middle or end of the first paragraph. This paragraph is referred to as an introductory paragraph and is meant to prepare the reader for the rest of the paper.
Revisit and revise your thesis As you're writing, you may find that your focus needs to shift. Remember that this is okay and that it is natural to discover new things as you're writing. Just be sure to revisit your thesis frequently. You'll need to revise it to give an accurate idea of the points discussed in your paper.
Tips for writing a good thesis statement
Here are some tips that will help guide you as you draft your thesis statement:
When writing a persuasive thesis, make sure that your statement is arguable. In other words, obvious statements will be ineffective.
Choose something that someone will disagree with.
Avoid the oversimplification of complex issues. Though the length will vary depending on the number of points made throughout your essay, a thesis statement is typically only one to two sentences. Meaning it should be clear and concise.
Your thesis should inform the reader why they should care. It is a tool to entice and encourage them to read the rest of the paper. Formulate a draft of your thesis before writing your paper and then use it to guide your research. This will ensure that you stay on topic, resulting in an essay that is focused and effective.
Though a thesis can be a guiding force while writing your paper, it is fluid. If you discover something that will benefit your argument, alter your thesis to incorporate it.
Avoid simply announcing your topic. Instead, make your angle clear. Utilize active verbs and concrete subjects.
FAQs regarding thesis statements:
How do you identify a thesis statement?
There are several methods you can use to identify a thesis statement. The first and most efficient way is to read through the first two paragraphs of the essay to search for one to two sentences that establish a point and provide evidence for that claim.
If you are unable to determine the thesis statement by using this method, you can read through the entire piece and then summarize the main points. By doing this, you have essentially created a thesis statement of your own. Afterward, compare your summary to the first few paragraphs and search for similarities. You will likely be able to identify the thesis statement through this comparison.
What is the main purpose of a thesis statement?
The primary purpose of a thesis statement is to provide an outline for both you and your reader. By detailing what you intend to accomplish with the paper and the reasons that you will provide to substantiate these claims, you are allowing them to prepare for the rest of the piece. Additionally, a thesis can act as a guiding force as you write your essay.
How long should a thesis statement be?
Thesis statements are typically only a sentence or two long and are found near the middle or end of the introductory paragraph.
Do all essays need a thesis?
Though some types of writing don't benefit from incorporating a thesis statement (such as creative writing pieces), most papers and essays require one. This is especially true when writing pieces that are of substantial length because it is easy for both reader and writer to get lost in the details, forgetting the purpose of the piece.
Examples Here are some examples of effective and ineffective thesis statements:
Bad example "In this paper, I will explain the importance of limiting sugar consumption in children."
Good example "On average, American school children consume nine times the recommended daily allowance of sugar, creating an epidemic of childhood obesity that is completely avoidable. Schools should be encouraging healthier choices by replacing soda machines with accessible and healthier alternatives."
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