Have a language expert improve your writing
Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.
- Knowledge Base
- How to Write a Thesis Statement | 4 Steps & Examples
How to Write a Thesis Statement | 4 Steps & Examples
Published on January 11, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on August 15, 2023 by Eoghan Ryan.
A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . It usually comes near the end of your introduction .
Your thesis will look a bit different depending on the type of essay you’re writing. But the thesis statement should always clearly state the main idea you want to get across. Everything else in your essay should relate back to this idea.
You can write your thesis statement by following four simple steps:
- Start with a question
- Write your initial answer
- Develop your answer
- Refine your thesis statement
Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text
Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes
Table of contents
What is a thesis statement, placement of the thesis statement, step 1: start with a question, step 2: write your initial answer, step 3: develop your answer, step 4: refine your thesis statement, types of thesis statements, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about thesis statements.
A thesis statement summarizes the central points of your essay. It is a signpost telling the reader what the essay will argue and why.
The best thesis statements are:
- Concise: A good thesis statement is short and sweet—don’t use more words than necessary. State your point clearly and directly in one or two sentences.
- Contentious: Your thesis shouldn’t be a simple statement of fact that everyone already knows. A good thesis statement is a claim that requires further evidence or analysis to back it up.
- Coherent: Everything mentioned in your thesis statement must be supported and explained in the rest of your paper.
Here's why students love Scribbr's proofreading services
Discover proofreading & editing
The thesis statement generally appears at the end of your essay introduction or research paper introduction .
The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts and among young people more generally is hotly debated. For many who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its many benefits for education: the internet facilitates easier access to information, exposure to different perspectives, and a flexible learning environment for both students and teachers.
You should come up with an initial thesis, sometimes called a working thesis , early in the writing process . As soon as you’ve decided on your essay topic , you need to work out what you want to say about it—a clear thesis will give your essay direction and structure.
You might already have a question in your assignment, but if not, try to come up with your own. What would you like to find out or decide about your topic?
For example, you might ask:
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 .
Now you need to consider why this is your answer and how you will convince your reader to agree with you. As you read more about your topic and begin writing, your answer should get more detailed.
In your essay about the internet and education, the thesis states your position and sketches out the key arguments you’ll use to support it.
The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its many benefits for education because it facilitates easier access to information.
In your essay about braille, the thesis statement summarizes the key historical development that you’ll explain.
The invention of braille in the 19th century transformed the lives of blind people, allowing them to participate more actively in public life.
A strong thesis statement should tell the reader:
- Why you hold this position
- What they’ll learn from your essay
- The key points of your argument or narrative
The final thesis statement doesn’t just state your position, but summarizes your overall argument or the entire topic you’re going to explain. To strengthen a weak thesis statement, it can help to consider the broader context of your topic.
These examples are more specific and show that you’ll explore your topic in depth.
Your thesis statement should match the goals of your essay, which vary depending on the type of essay you’re writing:
- In an argumentative essay , your thesis statement should take a strong position. Your aim in the essay is to convince your reader of this thesis based on evidence and logical reasoning.
- In an expository essay , you’ll aim to explain the facts of a topic or process. Your thesis statement doesn’t have to include a strong opinion in this case, but it should clearly state the central point you want to make, and mention the key elements you’ll explain.
If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!
- Ad hominem fallacy
- Post hoc fallacy
- Appeal to authority fallacy
- False cause fallacy
- Sunk cost fallacy
College essays
- Choosing Essay Topic
- Write a College Essay
- Write a Diversity Essay
- College Essay Format & Structure
- Comparing and Contrasting in an Essay
(AI) Tools
- Grammar Checker
- Paraphrasing Tool
- Text Summarizer
- AI Detector
- Plagiarism Checker
- Citation Generator
A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.
The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:
- It gives your writing direction and focus.
- It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.
Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.
Follow these four steps to come up with a thesis statement :
- Ask a question about your topic .
- Write your initial answer.
- Develop your answer by including reasons.
- Refine your answer, adding more detail and nuance.
The thesis statement should be placed at the end of your essay introduction .
Cite this Scribbr article
If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.
McCombes, S. (2023, August 15). How to Write a Thesis Statement | 4 Steps & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved July 16, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/thesis-statement/
Is this article helpful?
Shona McCombes
Other students also liked, how to write an essay introduction | 4 steps & examples, how to write topic sentences | 4 steps, examples & purpose, academic paragraph structure | step-by-step guide & examples, get unlimited documents corrected.
✔ Free APA citation check included ✔ Unlimited document corrections ✔ Specialized in correcting academic texts
Developing a Thesis Statement
Many papers you write require developing a thesis statement. In this section you’ll learn what a thesis statement is and how to write one.
Keep in mind that not all papers require thesis statements . If in doubt, please consult your instructor for assistance.
What is a thesis statement?
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 of the introduction ; sometimes, in a long paper, the thesis will be expressed in several sentences or in an entire paragraph.
- Identifies the relationships between the pieces of evidence that you are using to support your argument.
Not all papers require thesis statements! Ask your instructor if you’re in doubt whether you need one.
Identify a topic
Your topic is the subject about which you will write. Your assignment may suggest several ways of looking at a topic; or it may name a fairly general concept that you will explore or analyze in your paper.
Consider what your assignment asks you to do
Inform yourself about your topic, focus on one aspect of your topic, ask yourself whether your topic is worthy of your efforts, generate a topic from an assignment.
Below are some possible topics based on sample assignments.
Sample assignment 1
Analyze Spain’s neutrality in World War II.
Identified topic
Franco’s role in the diplomatic relationships between the Allies and the Axis
This topic avoids generalities such as “Spain” and “World War II,” addressing instead on Franco’s role (a specific aspect of “Spain”) and the diplomatic relations between the Allies and Axis (a specific aspect of World War II).
Sample assignment 2
Analyze one of Homer’s epic similes in the Iliad.
The relationship between the portrayal of warfare and the epic simile about Simoisius at 4.547-64.
This topic focuses on a single simile and relates it to a single aspect of the Iliad ( warfare being a major theme in that work).
Developing a Thesis Statement–Additional information
Your assignment may suggest several ways of looking at a topic, or it may name a fairly general concept that you will explore or analyze in your paper. You’ll want to read your assignment carefully, looking for key terms that you can use to focus your topic.
Sample assignment: Analyze Spain’s neutrality in World War II Key terms: analyze, Spain’s neutrality, World War II
After you’ve identified the key words in your topic, the next step is to read about them in several sources, or generate as much information as possible through an analysis of your topic. Obviously, the more material or knowledge you have, the more possibilities will be available for a strong argument. For the sample assignment above, you’ll want to look at books and articles on World War II in general, and Spain’s neutrality in particular.
As you consider your options, you must decide to focus on one aspect of your topic. This means that you cannot include everything you’ve learned about your topic, nor should you go off in several directions. If you end up covering too many different aspects of a topic, your paper will sprawl and be unconvincing in its argument, and it most likely will not fulfull the assignment requirements.
For the sample assignment above, both Spain’s neutrality and World War II are topics far too broad to explore in a paper. You may instead decide to focus on Franco’s role in the diplomatic relationships between the Allies and the Axis , which narrows down what aspects of Spain’s neutrality and World War II you want to discuss, as well as establishes a specific link between those two aspects.
Before you go too far, however, ask yourself whether your topic is worthy of your efforts. Try to avoid topics that already have too much written about them (i.e., “eating disorders and body image among adolescent women”) or that simply are not important (i.e. “why I like ice cream”). These topics may lead to a thesis that is either dry fact or a weird claim that cannot be supported. A good thesis falls somewhere between the two extremes. To arrive at this point, ask yourself what is new, interesting, contestable, or controversial about your topic.
As you work on your thesis, remember to keep the rest of your paper in mind at all times . Sometimes your thesis needs to evolve as you develop new insights, find new evidence, or take a different approach to your topic.
Derive a main point from topic
Once you have a topic, you will have to decide what the main point of your paper will be. This point, the “controlling idea,” becomes the core of your argument (thesis statement) and it is the unifying idea to which you will relate all your sub-theses. You can then turn this “controlling idea” into a purpose statement about what you intend to do in your paper.
Look for patterns in your evidence
Compose a purpose statement.
Consult the examples below for suggestions on how to look for patterns in your evidence and construct a purpose statement.
- Franco first tried to negotiate with the Axis
- Franco turned to the Allies when he couldn’t get some concessions that he wanted from the Axis
Possible conclusion:
Spain’s neutrality in WWII occurred for an entirely personal reason: Franco’s desire to preserve his own (and Spain’s) power.
Purpose statement
This paper will analyze Franco’s diplomacy during World War II to see how it contributed to Spain’s neutrality.
- The simile compares Simoisius to a tree, which is a peaceful, natural image.
- The tree in the simile is chopped down to make wheels for a chariot, which is an object used in warfare.
At first, the simile seems to take the reader away from the world of warfare, but we end up back in that world by the end.
This paper will analyze the way the simile about Simoisius at 4.547-64 moves in and out of the world of warfare.
Derive purpose statement from topic
To find out what your “controlling idea” is, you have to examine and evaluate your evidence . As you consider your evidence, you may notice patterns emerging, data repeated in more than one source, or facts that favor one view more than another. These patterns or data may then lead you to some conclusions about your topic and suggest that you can successfully argue for one idea better than another.
For instance, you might find out that Franco first tried to negotiate with the Axis, but when he couldn’t get some concessions that he wanted from them, he turned to the Allies. As you read more about Franco’s decisions, you may conclude that Spain’s neutrality in WWII occurred for an entirely personal reason: his desire to preserve his own (and Spain’s) power. Based on this conclusion, you can then write a trial thesis statement to help you decide what material belongs in your paper.
Sometimes you won’t be able to find a focus or identify your “spin” or specific argument immediately. Like some writers, you might begin with a purpose statement just to get yourself going. A purpose statement is one or more sentences that announce your topic and indicate the structure of the paper but do not state the conclusions you have drawn . Thus, you might begin with something like this:
- This paper will look at modern language to see if it reflects male dominance or female oppression.
- I plan to analyze anger and derision in offensive language to see if they represent a challenge of society’s authority.
At some point, you can turn a purpose statement into a thesis statement. As you think and write about your topic, you can restrict, clarify, and refine your argument, crafting your thesis statement to reflect your thinking.
As you work on your thesis, remember to keep the rest of your paper in mind at all times. Sometimes your thesis needs to evolve as you develop new insights, find new evidence, or take a different approach to your topic.
Compose a draft thesis statement
If you are writing a paper that will have an argumentative thesis and are having trouble getting started, the techniques in the table below may help you develop a temporary or “working” thesis statement.
Begin with a purpose statement that you will later turn into a thesis statement.
Assignment: Discuss the history of the Reform Party and explain its influence on the 1990 presidential and Congressional election.
Purpose Statement: This paper briefly sketches the history of the grassroots, conservative, Perot-led Reform Party and analyzes how it influenced the economic and social ideologies of the two mainstream parties.
Question-to-Assertion
If your assignment asks a specific question(s), turn the question(s) into an assertion and give reasons why it is true or reasons for your opinion.
Assignment : What do Aylmer and Rappaccini have to be proud of? Why aren’t they satisfied with these things? How does pride, as demonstrated in “The Birthmark” and “Rappaccini’s Daughter,” lead to unexpected problems?
Beginning thesis statement: Alymer and Rappaccinni are proud of their great knowledge; however, they are also very greedy and are driven to use their knowledge to alter some aspect of nature as a test of their ability. Evil results when they try to “play God.”
Write a sentence that summarizes the main idea of the essay you plan to write.
Main idea: The reason some toys succeed in the market is that they appeal to the consumers’ sense of the ridiculous and their basic desire to laugh at themselves.
Make a list of the ideas that you want to include; consider the ideas and try to group them.
- nature = peaceful
- war matériel = violent (competes with 1?)
- need for time and space to mourn the dead
- war is inescapable (competes with 3?)
Use a formula to arrive at a working thesis statement (you will revise this later).
- although most readers of _______ have argued that _______, closer examination shows that _______.
- _______ uses _______ and _____ to prove that ________.
- phenomenon x is a result of the combination of __________, __________, and _________.
What to keep in mind as you draft an initial thesis statement
Beginning statements obtained through the methods illustrated above can serve as a framework for planning or drafting your paper, but remember they’re not yet the specific, argumentative thesis you want for the final version of your paper. In fact, in its first stages, a thesis statement usually is ill-formed or rough and serves only as a planning tool.
As you write, you may discover evidence that does not fit your temporary or “working” thesis. Or you may reach deeper insights about your topic as you do more research, and you will find that your thesis statement has to be more complicated to match the evidence that you want to use.
You must be willing to reject or omit some evidence in order to keep your paper cohesive and your reader focused. Or you may have to revise your thesis to match the evidence and insights that you want to discuss. Read your draft carefully, noting the conclusions you have drawn and the major ideas which support or prove those conclusions. These will be the elements of your final thesis statement.
Sometimes you will not be able to identify these elements in your early drafts, but as you consider how your argument is developing and how your evidence supports your main idea, ask yourself, “ What is the main point that I want to prove/discuss? ” and “ How will I convince the reader that this is true? ” When you can answer these questions, then you can begin to refine the thesis statement.
Refine and polish the thesis statement
To get to your final thesis, you’ll need to refine your draft thesis so that it’s specific and arguable.
- Ask if your draft thesis addresses the assignment
- Question each part of your draft thesis
- Clarify vague phrases and assertions
- Investigate alternatives to your draft thesis
Consult the example below for suggestions on how to refine your draft thesis statement.
Sample Assignment
Choose an activity and define it as a symbol of American culture. Your essay should cause the reader to think critically about the society which produces and enjoys that activity.
- Ask The phenomenon of drive-in facilities is an interesting symbol of american culture, and these facilities demonstrate significant characteristics of our society.This statement does not fulfill the assignment because it does not require the reader to think critically about society.
Drive-ins are an interesting symbol of American culture because they represent Americans’ significant creativity and business ingenuity.
Among the types of drive-in facilities familiar during the twentieth century, drive-in movie theaters best represent American creativity, not merely because they were the forerunner of later drive-ins and drive-throughs, but because of their impact on our culture: they changed our relationship to the automobile, changed the way people experienced movies, and changed movie-going into a family activity.
While drive-in facilities such as those at fast-food establishments, banks, pharmacies, and dry cleaners symbolize America’s economic ingenuity, they also have affected our personal standards.
While drive-in facilities such as those at fast- food restaurants, banks, pharmacies, and dry cleaners symbolize (1) Americans’ business ingenuity, they also have contributed (2) to an increasing homogenization of our culture, (3) a willingness to depersonalize relationships with others, and (4) a tendency to sacrifice quality for convenience.
This statement is now specific and fulfills all parts of the assignment. This version, like any good thesis, is not self-evident; its points, 1-4, will have to be proven with evidence in the body of the paper. The numbers in this statement indicate the order in which the points will be presented. Depending on the length of the paper, there could be one paragraph for each numbered item or there could be blocks of paragraph for even pages for each one.
Complete the final thesis statement
The bottom line.
As you move through the process of crafting a thesis, you’ll need to remember four things:
- Context matters! Think about your course materials and lectures. Try to relate your thesis to the ideas your instructor is discussing.
- As you go through the process described in this section, always keep your assignment in mind . You will be more successful when your thesis (and paper) responds to the assignment than if it argues a semi-related idea.
- Your thesis statement should be precise, focused, and contestable ; it should predict the sub-theses or blocks of information that you will use to prove your argument.
- Make sure that you keep the rest of your paper in mind at all times. Change your thesis as your paper evolves, because you do not want your thesis to promise more than your paper actually delivers.
In the beginning, the thesis statement was a tool to help you sharpen your focus, limit material and establish the paper’s purpose. When your paper is finished, however, the thesis statement becomes a tool for your reader. It tells the reader what you have learned about your topic and what evidence led you to your conclusion. It keeps the reader on track–well able to understand and appreciate your argument.
Writing Process and Structure
This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
Getting Started with Your Paper
Interpreting Writing Assignments from Your Courses
Generating Ideas for
Creating an Argument
Thesis vs. Purpose Statements
Architecture of Arguments
Working with Sources
Quoting and Paraphrasing Sources
Using Literary Quotations
Citing Sources in Your Paper
Drafting Your Paper
Generating Ideas for Your Paper
Introductions
Paragraphing
Developing Strategic Transitions
Conclusions
Revising Your Paper
Peer Reviews
Reverse Outlines
Revising an Argumentative Paper
Revision Strategies for Longer Projects
Finishing Your Paper
Twelve Common Errors: An Editing Checklist
How to Proofread your Paper
Writing Collaboratively
Collaborative and Group Writing
Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts
Tips and Examples for Writing Thesis Statements
Welcome to the Purdue OWL
This 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.
Tips for Writing Your Thesis Statement
1. Determine what kind of paper you are writing:
- An analytical paper breaks down an issue or an idea into its component parts, evaluates the issue or idea, and presents this breakdown and evaluation to the audience.
- An expository (explanatory) paper explains something to the audience.
- An argumentative paper makes a claim about a topic and justifies this claim with specific evidence. The claim could be an opinion, a policy proposal, an evaluation, a cause-and-effect statement, or an interpretation. The goal of the argumentative paper is to convince the audience that the claim is true based on the evidence provided.
If you are writing a text that does not fall under these three categories (e.g., a narrative), a thesis statement somewhere in the first paragraph could still be helpful to your reader.
2. 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 you have discussed in the paper.
Thesis Statement Examples
Example of an analytical thesis statement:
The paper that follows should:
- Explain the analysis of the college admission process
- Explain the challenge facing admissions counselors
Example of an expository (explanatory) thesis statement:
- Explain how students spend their time studying, attending class, and socializing with peers
Example of an argumentative thesis statement:
- Present an argument and give evidence to support the claim that students should pursue community projects before entering college
Reference management. Clean and simple.
How to write a thesis statement + examples
What is a thesis statement?
Is a thesis statement a question, how do you write a good thesis statement, how do i know if my thesis statement is good, examples of thesis statements, helpful resources on how to write a thesis statement, frequently asked questions about writing a thesis statement, related articles.
A thesis statement is the main argument of your paper or thesis.
The thesis statement is one of the most important elements of any piece of academic writing . It is a brief statement of your paper’s main argument. Essentially, you are stating what you will be writing about.
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 question with new information and not just restate or reiterate it.
Your thesis statement is part of your introduction. Learn more about how to write a good thesis introduction in our introduction guide .
A thesis statement is not a question. A statement must be arguable and provable through evidence and analysis. While your thesis might stem from a research question, it should be in the form of a statement.
Tip: A thesis statement is typically 1-2 sentences. For a longer project like a thesis, the statement may be several sentences or a paragraph.
A good thesis statement needs to do the following:
- Condense the main idea of your thesis into one or two sentences.
- Answer your project’s main research question.
- Clearly state your position in relation to the topic .
- Make an argument that requires support or evidence.
Once you have written down a thesis statement, check if it fulfills the following criteria:
- Your statement needs to be provable by evidence. As an argument, a thesis statement needs to be debatable.
- Your statement needs to be precise. Do not give away too much information in the thesis statement and do not load it with unnecessary information.
- Your statement cannot say that one solution is simply right or simply wrong as a matter of fact. You should draw upon verified facts to persuade the reader of your solution, but you cannot just declare something as right or wrong.
As previously mentioned, your thesis statement should answer a question.
If the question is:
What do you think the City of New York should do to reduce traffic congestion?
A good thesis statement restates the question and answers it:
In this paper, I will argue that the City of New York should focus on providing exclusive lanes for public transport and adaptive traffic signals to reduce traffic congestion by the year 2035.
Here is another example. If the question is:
How can we end poverty?
A good thesis statement should give more than one solution to the problem in question:
In this paper, I will argue that introducing universal basic income can help reduce poverty and positively impact the way we work.
- The Writing Center of the University of North Carolina has a list of questions to ask to see if your thesis is strong .
A thesis statement is part of the introduction of your paper. It is usually found in the first or second paragraph to let the reader know your research purpose from the beginning.
In general, a thesis statement should have one or two sentences. But the length really depends on the overall length of your project. Take a look at our guide about the length of thesis statements for more insight on this topic.
Here is a list of Thesis Statement Examples that will help you understand better how to write them.
Every good essay should include a thesis statement as part of its introduction, no matter the academic level. Of course, if you are a high school student you are not expected to have the same type of thesis as a PhD student.
Here is a great YouTube tutorial showing How To Write An Essay: Thesis Statements .
- Skip to Content
- Skip to Main Navigation
- Skip to Search
Indiana University Bloomington Indiana University Bloomington IU Bloomington
- Mission, Vision, and Inclusive Language Statement
- Locations & Hours
- Undergraduate Employment
- Graduate Employment
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Newsletter Archive
- Support WTS
- Schedule an Appointment
- Online Tutoring
- Before your Appointment
- WTS Policies
- Group Tutoring
- Students Referred by Instructors
- Paid External Editing Services
- Writing Guides
- Scholarly Write-in
- Dissertation Writing Groups
- Journal Article Writing Groups
- Early Career Graduate Student Writing Workshop
- Workshops for Graduate Students
- Teaching Resources
- Syllabus Information
- Course-specific Tutoring
- Nominate a Peer Tutor
- Tutoring Feedback
- Schedule Appointment
- Campus Writing Program
Writing Tutorial Services
How to write a thesis statement, what is a thesis statement.
Almost all of us—even if we don’t do it consciously—look early in an essay for a one- or two-sentence condensation of the argument or analysis that is to follow. We refer to that condensation as a thesis statement.
Why Should Your Essay Contain a Thesis Statement?
- to test your ideas by distilling them into a sentence or two
- to better organize and develop your argument
- to provide your reader with a “guide” to your argument
In general, your thesis statement will accomplish these goals if you think of the thesis as the answer to the question your paper explores.
How Can You Write a Good Thesis Statement?
Here are some helpful hints to get you started. You can either scroll down or select a link to a specific topic.
How to Generate a Thesis Statement if the Topic is Assigned How to Generate a Thesis Statement if the Topic is not Assigned How to Tell a Strong Thesis Statement from a Weak One
How to Generate a Thesis Statement if the Topic is Assigned
Almost all assignments, no matter how complicated, can be reduced to a single question. Your first step, then, is to distill the assignment into a specific question. For example, if your assignment is, “Write a report to the local school board explaining the potential benefits of using computers in a fourth-grade class,” turn the request into a question like, “What are the potential benefits of using computers in a fourth-grade class?” After you’ve chosen the question your essay will answer, compose one or two complete sentences answering that question.
Q: “What are the potential benefits of using computers in a fourth-grade class?” A: “The potential benefits of using computers in a fourth-grade class are . . .”
A: “Using computers in a fourth-grade class promises to improve . . .”
The answer to the question is the thesis statement for the essay.
[ Back to top ]
How to Generate a Thesis Statement if the Topic is not Assigned
Even if your assignment doesn’t ask a specific question, your thesis statement still needs to answer a question about the issue you’d like to explore. In this situation, your job is to figure out what question you’d like to write about.
A good thesis statement will usually include the following four attributes:
- take on a subject upon which reasonable people could disagree
- deal with a subject that can be adequately treated given the nature of the assignment
- express one main idea
- assert your conclusions about a subject
Let’s see how to generate a thesis statement for a social policy paper.
Brainstorm the topic . Let’s say that your class focuses upon the problems posed by changes in the dietary habits of Americans. You find that you are interested in the amount of sugar Americans consume.
You start out with a thesis statement like this:
Sugar consumption.
This fragment isn’t a thesis statement. Instead, it simply indicates a general subject. Furthermore, your reader doesn’t know what you want to say about sugar consumption.
Narrow the topic . Your readings about the topic, however, have led you to the conclusion that elementary school children are consuming far more sugar than is healthy.
You change your thesis to look like this:
Reducing sugar consumption by elementary school children.
This fragment not only announces your subject, but it focuses on one segment of the population: elementary school children. Furthermore, it raises a subject upon which reasonable people could disagree, because while most people might agree that children consume more sugar than they used to, not everyone would agree on what should be done or who should do it. You should note that this fragment is not a thesis statement because your reader doesn’t know your conclusions on the topic.
Take a position on the topic. After reflecting on the topic a little while longer, you decide that what you really want to say about this topic is that something should be done to reduce the amount of sugar these children consume.
You revise your thesis statement to look like this:
More attention should be paid to the food and beverage choices available to elementary school children.
This statement asserts your position, but the terms more attention and food and beverage choices are vague.
Use specific language . You decide to explain what you mean about food and beverage choices , so you write:
Experts estimate that half of elementary school children consume nine times the recommended daily allowance of sugar.
This statement is specific, but it isn’t a thesis. It merely reports a statistic instead of making an assertion.
Make an assertion based on clearly stated support. You finally revise your thesis statement one more time to look like this:
Because half of all American elementary school children consume nine times the recommended daily allowance of sugar, schools should be required to replace the beverages in soda machines with healthy alternatives.
Notice how the thesis answers the question, “What should be done to reduce sugar consumption by children, and who should do it?” When you started thinking about the paper, you may not have had a specific question in mind, but as you became more involved in the topic, your ideas became more specific. Your thesis changed to reflect your new insights.
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:
There are some negative and positive aspects to the Banana Herb Tea Supplement.
This is a weak thesis statement. First, it fails to take a stand. Second, the phrase negative and positive aspects is vague.
Because Banana Herb Tea Supplement promotes rapid weight loss that results in the loss of muscle and lean body mass, it poses a potential danger to customers.
This is a strong thesis because it takes a stand, and because it's specific.
2. A strong thesis statement justifies discussion.
Your thesis should indicate the point of the discussion. If your assignment is to write a paper on kinship systems, using your own family as an example, you might come up with either of these two thesis statements:
My family is an extended family.
This is a weak thesis because it merely states an observation. Your reader won’t be able to tell the point of the statement, and will probably stop reading.
While most American families would view consanguineal marriage as a threat to the nuclear family structure, many Iranian families, like my own, believe that these marriages help reinforce kinship ties in an extended family.
This is a strong thesis because it shows how your experience contradicts a widely-accepted view. A good strategy for creating a strong thesis is to show that the topic is controversial. Readers will be interested in reading the rest of the essay to see how you support your point.
3. A strong thesis statement expresses one main idea.
Readers need to be able to see that your paper has one main point. If your thesis statement expresses more than one idea, then you might confuse your readers about the subject of your paper. For example:
Companies need to exploit the marketing potential of the Internet, and Web 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 Web pages. To revise the thesis, the relationship between the two ideas needs to become more clear. One way to revise the thesis would be to write:
Because the Internet is filled with tremendous marketing potential, companies should exploit this potential by using Web pages that offer both advertising and customer support.
This is a strong thesis because it shows that the two ideas are related. Hint: a great many clear and engaging thesis statements contain words like because , since , so , although , unless , and however .
4. A strong thesis statement is specific.
A thesis statement should show exactly what your paper will be about, and will help you keep your paper to a manageable topic. For example, if you're writing a seven-to-ten page paper on hunger, you might say:
World hunger has many causes and effects.
This is a weak thesis statement for two major reasons. First, world hunger can’t be discussed thoroughly in seven to ten pages. Second, many causes and effects is vague. You should be able to identify specific causes and effects. A revised thesis might look like this:
Hunger persists in Glandelinia because jobs are scarce and farming in the infertile soil is rarely profitable.
This is a strong thesis statement because it narrows the subject to a more specific and manageable topic, and it also identifies the specific causes for the existence of hunger.
Produced by Writing Tutorial Services, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Writing Tutorial Services social media channels
While Sandel argues that pursuing perfection through genetic engineering would decrease our sense of humility, he claims that the sense of solidarity we would lose is also important.
This thesis summarizes several points in Sandel’s argument, but it does not make a claim about how we should understand his argument. A reader who read Sandel’s argument would not also need to read an essay based on this descriptive thesis.
Broad thesis (arguable, but difficult to support with evidence)
Michael Sandel’s arguments about genetic engineering do not take into consideration all the relevant issues.
This is an arguable claim because it would be possible to argue against it by saying that Michael Sandel’s arguments do take all of the relevant issues into consideration. But the claim is too broad. Because the thesis does not specify which “issues” it is focused on—or why it matters if they are considered—readers won’t know what the rest of the essay will argue, and the writer won’t know what to focus on. If there is a particular issue that Sandel does not address, then a more specific version of the thesis would include that issue—hand an explanation of why it is important.
Arguable thesis with analytical claim
While Sandel argues persuasively that our instinct to “remake” (54) ourselves into something ever more perfect is a problem, his belief that we can always draw a line between what is medically necessary and what makes us simply “better than well” (51) is less convincing.
This is an arguable analytical claim. To argue for this claim, the essay writer will need to show how evidence from the article itself points to this interpretation. It’s also a reasonable scope for a thesis because it can be supported with evidence available in the text and is neither too broad nor too narrow.
Arguable thesis with normative claim
Given Sandel’s argument against genetic enhancement, we should not allow parents to decide on using Human Growth Hormone for their children.
This thesis tells us what we should do about a particular issue discussed in Sandel’s article, but it does not tell us how we should understand Sandel’s argument.
Questions to ask about your thesis
- Is the thesis truly arguable? Does it speak to a genuine dilemma in the source, or would most readers automatically agree with it?
- Is the thesis too obvious? Again, would most or all readers agree with it without needing to see your argument?
- Is the thesis complex enough to require a whole essay's worth of argument?
- Is the thesis supportable with evidence from the text rather than with generalizations or outside research?
- Would anyone want to read a paper in which this thesis was developed? That is, can you explain what this paper is adding to our understanding of a problem, question, or topic?
- picture_as_pdf Thesis
Writing Process: Prewriting
Working thesis statement, defining “thesis statement”.
A thesis statement:
- tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion.
- directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself. The subject, or topic, of an essay might be World War II or Moby Dick ; a thesis must then offer a way to understand the war or the novel.
- makes a claim that others might dispute.
- is usually a single sentence somewhere in your first paragraph that presents your argument to the reader. The rest of the paper (the body of the essay) gathers and organizes evidence that will persuade the reader of the logic of your interpretation.
If your assignment asks you to take a position or develop a claim about a subject, you may need to convey that position or claim in a thesis statement near the beginning of your draft. The assignment may not explicitly state that you need a thesis statement because your instructor may assume you will include one.
When in doubt, ask your instructor if the assignment requires a thesis statement. When an assignment asks you to analyze, to interpret, to compare and contrast, to demonstrate cause and effect, or to take a stand on an issue, it is likely that you are being asked to develop a thesis and to support it persuasively.
Writing a thesis statement
A thesis is the result of a lengthy thinking process. Formulating a thesis is not the first thing you do after reading an essay assignment. Before you develop an argument on any topic, you have to collect and organize evidence, look for possible relationships between known facts (such as surprising contrasts or similarities), and think about the significance of these relationships. Once you do this thinking, you will probably have a working thesis statement : a basic or main idea, an argument that you think you can support with evidence but that may need adjustment along the way.
Ensuring a thesis is strong
- Re-reading the question prompt after constructing a working thesis can help you fix an argument that misses the focus of the question.
- If your thesis simply states facts that no one would, or even could, disagree with, it’s possible that you are simply providing a summary, rather than making an argument.
- Thesis statements that are too vague often do not have a strong argument. If your thesis contains words like “good” or “successful,” see if you could be more specific: why is something “good”; what specifically makes something “successful”?
- If a reader’s first response is, “So what?” then you need to clarify, to forge a relationship, or to connect to a larger issue.
- If your thesis and the body of your essay do not seem to go together, one of them has to change. It’s o.k. to change your working thesis to reflect things you have figured out in the course of writing your paper. Remember, always reassess and revise your writing as necessary.
- If a reader’s first response is “how?” or “why?” your thesis may be too open-ended and lack guidance for the reader. See what you can add to give the reader a better take on your position right from the beginning.
Suppose you are taking a course on 19th-century America, and the instructor hands out the following essay assignment: Compare and contrast the reasons why the North and South fought the Civil War .
The North and South fought the Civil War for many reasons, some of which were the same and some different.
While both sides fought the Civil War over the issue of slavery, the North fought for moral reasons while the South fought to preserve its own institutions.
Show Answer
While both Northerners and Southerners believed they fought against tyranny and oppression, Northerners focused on the oppression of slaves while Southerners defended their own right to self-government.
- Revision and Adaptation. Provided by : Lumen Learning. License : CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike
- Thesis. Provided by : Academic Writing. Located at : http://academicwriting.wikidot.com/thesis . License : CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike
- Examples. Provided by : Academic Writing. Located at : http://academicwriting.wikidot.com/examples . License : CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike
- Image of coffee cups. Authored by : Richard Giles. Located at : https://flic.kr/p/rTYETx . License : CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike
- Image of Lego weightlifter. Authored by : Pascal. Located at : https://flic.kr/p/92yK3e . License : Public Domain: No Known Copyright
Working Thesis Statement
Ai generator.
Navigating the academic waters often starts with a working thesis – a preliminary statement guiding your research direction. As the bedrock of your argument, it’s vital to get it right from the outset. Whether you’re a budding researcher or an established academic, our comprehensive guide brimming with thesis Statement examples and pro-tips will illuminate the process of crafting an impactful working thesis. Dive in and set the tone for a compelling research journey!
What is a Working Thesis Statement?
A working thesis statement is a temporary or initial statement that reflects a writer’s argument or focus in the early stages of essay or research paper writing. It is considered “working” because it can undergo transformations as the writer delves deeper into research, gathers more information, and refines their perspective. Essentially, it serves as a starting point and may evolve as the research progresses and the writer gains a clearer understanding of the subject. In addition, you should review our problem thesis statement .
What is an example of a Working thesis statement?
Example: “Social media platforms have a significant impact on teenagers’ mental health.” As the writer proceeds with the research, this statement might be refined to specify the type of impact or narrow down which social media platforms are most influential.”
100 Working Thesis Statement Examples
Size: 235 KB
Starting your research with a working thesis can guide your exploration and analysis. These provisional statements allow you to focus on different angles and will likely be revised as you dive deeper. The following are 100 working thesis statement examples to kickstart your brainstorming and research.
- “Eating organic foods leads to better health.”
- “Online learning has as much educational value as traditional classroom settings.”
- “Video games have both negative and positive effects on the cognitive development of children.”
- “Globalization has reshaped cultural identities worldwide.”
- “Artificial intelligence will redefine the job market in the next decade.”
- “Meditation has quantifiable benefits for mental health.”
- “Climate change has accelerated due to industrial practices.”
- “Remote work will become the norm for many industries post-pandemic.”
- “Music therapy can be an effective treatment for certain mental disorders.”
- “The gig economy has both pros and cons for the workforce.”
- “Childhood exposure to multiple languages enhances cognitive abilities.”
- “Modern architecture is influenced significantly by environmental considerations.”
- “E-sports will soon rival traditional sports in viewership and revenue.”
- “The feminist movement has evolved significantly in the 21st century.”
- “Consumer behavior has been largely influenced by social media marketing.”
- “The rise of streaming platforms is reshaping the music industry.”
- “Mental health issues among teenagers have risen with the proliferation of smartphones.”
- “Urban farming can be a sustainable solution for food deserts.”
- “The future of transportation will be dominated by electric vehicles.”
- “Renewable energy sources are now more economically viable than fossil fuels.”
- “Telemedicine will revolutionize healthcare access in remote areas.”
- “Digital currencies will change the dynamics of global trade.”
- “Coral reefs are under imminent threat due to ocean acidification.”
- “Space tourism will become a reality within this decade.”
- “Virtual reality will transform education and training methodologies.”
- “Bioplastics are a potential solution to the plastic waste crisis.”
- “Plant-based diets can significantly reduce carbon footprints.”
- “Mental health should be integrated into school curriculums.”
- “Urban planning needs to prioritize pedestrian-friendly designs.”
- “Modern parenting styles differ significantly from those of the previous generation.”
- “Personalized learning will redefine educational outcomes.”
- “Augmented reality will have varied applications beyond gaming.”
- “Online privacy concerns will dictate future tech regulations.”
- “Gene editing can revolutionize medical treatments but poses ethical dilemmas.”
- “Ancient civilizations had advanced knowledge of astronomy.”
- “Colonial histories have long-term impacts on national identities.”
- “Alternative medicine practices need more rigorous scientific validation.”
- “Artificial sweeteners may have unforeseen health implications.”
- “Stress in modern societies originates from multiple sources.”
- “The modern art movement is heavily influenced by global events.”
- “Subscription models are becoming predominant in various industries.”
- “Dietary choices are more influenced by cultural factors than health considerations.”
- “Intermittent fasting has potential benefits beyond weight loss.”
- “Personalized marketing will reshape consumer behaviors.”
- “The sharing economy is transforming traditional business models.”
- “Blockchain technology has applications beyond cryptocurrencies.”
- “Animal-assisted therapies have notable success in various treatments.”
- “The future of print media is in niche and localized publications.”
- “Microfinance can be a tool for economic upliftment in developing countries.”
- “Modern cinema is increasingly addressing global issues.”
- “Digital detox is becoming necessary for mental well-being.”
- “Resilience training should be a component of employee wellness programs.”
- “Local tourism will see a boost in the post-pandemic world.”
- “Public transportation systems need to adapt to post-COVID realities.”
- “Elderly populations are facing increased isolation in the digital age.”
- “Upcycling is becoming a significant trend in the fashion industry.”
- “Holistic education emphasizes more than just academic achievement.”
- “Water scarcity will be a leading global issue in the coming years.”
- “The role of influencers is evolving in the digital marketing landscape.”
- “The circadian rhythm has a profound effect on productivity.”
- “Migratory patterns of animals are being altered by climate change.”
- “Alternative protein sources will dominate future diets.”
- “Nano-technology has the potential to revolutionize medicine.”
- “Cultural appropriation in fashion needs a deeper understanding and sensitivity.”
- “Digital literacy is becoming as essential as traditional literacy.”
- “Robotics in surgery can enhance precision but requires ethical considerations.”
- “The tradition of oral storytelling is being revived through modern platforms.”
- “The notion of work-life balance is evolving with the rise of digital nomadism.”
- “The digital divide can exacerbate educational inequalities.”
- “Biodiversity conservation is crucial for ecosystem stability.”
- “Personal branding is becoming essential in the modern job market.”
- “Ethical consumerism can drive corporate responsibility.”
- “Mindfulness practices can enhance workplace productivity.”
- “The dynamics of international politics are shifting with the rise of regional powers.”
- “Food preservation techniques are evolving with technology.”
- “Historical fiction plays a role in shaping perceptions of the past.”
- “Indigenous knowledge systems can complement modern science.”
- “Commuter culture has significant environmental and health impacts.”
- “Craftsmanship is finding its value in the age of mass production.”
- “The role of museums is evolving to be more interactive and inclusive.”
- “Edutainment platforms are making learning more accessible and enjoyable.”
- “Youth activism is reshaping global policy discussions.”
- “Multi-disciplinary approaches are the future of academic research.”
- “Ecotourism can benefit local communities and conservation efforts.”
- “Freelancing is challenging traditional employment norms.”
- “Nature-based solutions can mitigate urban environmental challenges.”
- “The gaming industry is becoming a leader in technological innovation.”
- “Epigenetics is unlocking the mysteries of gene expression.”
- “Digital archiving is essential for preserving cultural heritages.”
- “Remote and flexible working models can have societal benefits.”
- “Self-care routines are integral to holistic health.”
- “Digital nomad visas are reshaping immigration policies.”
- “Adaptive learning technologies cater to individual student needs.”
- “Eco-friendly packaging is more than just a marketing trend.”
- “Quantum computing holds the key to future tech innovations.”
- “Multi-generational households have socio-economic benefits.”
- “The revival of traditional arts can boost local economies.”
- “Precision agriculture can optimize yields and reduce resource wastage.”
- “Local languages are gaining prominence in digital content creation.”
- “Human-centered design is the future of product innovation.”
Each of these working thesis statements can be further refined based on specific research, perspectives, and findings as one delves deeper into their chosen topic.
Working Thesis Statement Examples for Research Paper
Research papers demand precision, clarity, and a strong foundation. A working thesis statement for such a paper typically suggests a hypothesis or a primary point that will later be validated or disproved through evidence.
- “Genetically modified foods present more benefits than potential harm.”
- “Ocean acidification significantly impacts marine biodiversity.”
- “Quantum computing will revolutionize data encryption methods.”
- “Renewable energy solutions are more cost-effective than conventional fossil fuels.”
- “The gut-brain connection plays a crucial role in mental health.”
- “Childhood vaccinations have no proven links to autism.”
- “Microplastics in water sources influence human health outcomes.”
- “Historical art movements reflect the socio-political events of their times.”
- “AI-driven diagnostic tools can predict diseases more accurately.”
- “The frequency of extreme weather events correlates with global warming.”
Working from Home Thesis Statement Examples
The concept of working from home has grown exponentially in recent years. Thesis statements on this topic can explore the various facets, benefits, challenges, and implications of this trend.
- “Working from home enhances employee productivity levels.”
- “Remote work culture can lead to professional isolation and mental health challenges.”
- “Flexible work schedules cater to global clientele more effectively.”
- “Home-based work can reduce urban traffic congestion.”
- “Technological infrastructure dictates the efficiency of remote work.”
- “Work-life balance can be skewed in a prolonged work-from-home setup.”
- “Virtual collaboration tools are reshaping corporate communication.”
- “Remote work could impact urban real estate demands.”
- “Cybersecurity challenges increase in decentralized work environments.”
- “Training and orientation programs must evolve for remote work success.”
Working Thesis Statement Examples for Argumentative Essay
An argumentative essay thesis statement that takes a strong position, which will then be supported or countered with evidence and arguments.
- “Universities should make attendance optional for students.”
- “Plant-based diets are more environmentally sustainable.”
- “Compulsory military service strengthens national unity.”
- “Social media platforms should be held accountable for user-generated content.”
- “Single-gender schools do not offer educational benefits over co-ed institutions.”
- “Animal testing for cosmetics should be banned globally.”
- “Nuclear energy is essential for a carbon-free future.”
- “Euthanasia should be legalized under strict conditions.”
- “Organic farming can sustain global food demands.”
- “Mandatory voting ensures true democratic representation.”
Working Thesis Statement Examples for Speech
For speeches, a working thesis should be compelling and captivating, giving audiences an idea of what to expect and why they should listen.
- “Space exploration benefits humanity in unforeseen ways.”
- “Digital detox weekends can rejuvenate the mind.”
- “Public libraries remain essential in the digital age.”
- “Sports foster essential life skills beyond physical fitness.”
- “Mental health education should be integrated into school systems.”
- “Consumerism drives ecological degradation.”
- “Local tourism promotes cultural preservation.”
- “Continuous learning is the key to professional success.”
- “Ethical fashion is not a trend but a necessity.”
- “The future of mobility is electric.”
Working Thesis Statement Examples for Essay
Essays can cover a broad spectrum of subjects, and the thesis will set the tone and direction of the content.
- “Urban green spaces contribute to societal well-being.”
- “Bilingualism offers cognitive and cultural advantages.”
- “Digital privacy is a modern-day human right.”
- “Classical literature provides insights into contemporary issues.”
- “Embracing failures can lead to unexpected successes.”
- “Community engagement is pivotal for sustainable development.”
- “Ancient medical practices have relevance in modern treatments.”
- “Creativity thrives under limitations.”
- “Cultural festivals foster global unity.”
- “Technology reshapes human interactions.”
Working Thesis Statement Examples for Technology Topics
In the rapidly evolving world of technology, a thesis statement can pinpoint specific trends, challenges, innovations, or implications.
- “Augmented reality will revolutionize retail experiences.”
- “Blockchain technology extends beyond the realm of finance.”
- “Cybersecurity threats challenge global geopolitical dynamics.”
- “5G technology will redefine connectivity standards.”
- “Machine learning algorithms can perpetuate societal biases.”
- “Quantum encryption may render current security protocols obsolete.”
- “E-waste is the environmental challenge of the digital era.”
- “Telehealth bridges the accessibility gap in medical services.”
- “Smart cities prioritize sustainability and urban well-being.”
- “Bioinformatics accelerates personalized medical treatments.”
Working Thesis Statement Examples for Film Analysis
Analyzing films requires a deep dive into themes, motifs, cinematography, character development, and cultural contexts. A thesis provides a lens through which the film will be reviewed.
- “Hitchcock’s ‘Vertigo’ explores the intricacies of obsession and identity.”
- “Cinematography in ‘Blade Runner 2049’ reflects the dystopian themes of the narrative.”
- “Disney’s ‘Mulan’ navigates the terrain of gender roles and societal expectations.”
- “Satire in ‘Get Out’ addresses racial dynamics in contemporary society.”
- “Sound design in ‘A Quiet Place’ intensifies the narrative’s suspense.”
- “The nonlinear storyline of ‘Pulp Fiction’ challenges traditional narrative structures.”
- “‘The Shape of Water’ delves into themes of love and otherness.”
- “Cultural representations in ‘Coco’ underline the significance of family and traditions.”
- “‘The Revenant’ showcases the rawness of human survival instincts.”
- “Character development in ‘The Godfather’ mirrors societal power dynamics.
How do you start a working thesis statement?
Starting a working thesis statement is about identifying the primary point or argument you wish to convey in your paper. It often begins with understanding your topic, conducting preliminary research, and formulating an initial perspective. Here are the steps to get you started:
- Understand Your Assignment: Read the guidelines provided for your essay or research paper. Understand the requirements and what is expected of you.
- Choose a Specific Topic: A narrow, focused topic helps in forming a more precise thesis.
- Conduct Preliminary Research: Before making your statement, get a general overview of your topic through initial research.
- Ask Questions: Ponder over your topic. For instance, if you’re writing about “climate change,” you might ask, “What are the major contributors to climate change in urban areas?”
- Draft a Provisional Statement: Write down your initial perspective based on your understanding. This doesn’t need to be perfect; it’s just a starting point.
How to Write a Working Thesis Statement? – Step by Step Guide
- Start with a Question: Often, assignments come in the form of questions. For example, “How did the civil rights movement of the 1960s affect racial dynamics in the US?” Your thesis will be the answer to this question.
- Be Specific: Avoid vague words and make sure your statement can’t be interpreted in multiple ways. For instance, instead of saying “Pollution is harmful,” you might say, “Industrial waste contributes significantly to ocean pollution.”
- Stay Relevant: Ensure that your statement aligns with the content of your essay or research.
- State an Argument: A thesis should not be a mere observation. It should present an arguable point which can be supported or opposed.
- One Sentence: Try to condense your statement into one clear sentence. However, if necessary, it can be two sentences.
- Refine and Revise: As you continue your research, keep refining your thesis. It’s called a “working” thesis for a reason – it’s subject to change.
- Seek Feedback: Before finalizing, it’s beneficial to get feedback from peers, instructors, or mentors. They can offer a fresh perspective.
Tips for Writing a Working Thesis Statement
- Keep It Debatable: A good thesis will always have an opposing side. If there’s no counter-argument to your statement, it might be too straightforward or a fact.
- Avoid First-Person Pronouns: Phrases like “I believe” or “I think” make your statement seem more like an opinion than an arguable point.
- Stay Clear of Generic Statements: Avoid clichés and general observations. Make sure your thesis offers a fresh and precise perspective on the topic.
- Position Strategically: Place your thesis statement at the end of the introduction. It acts as a gateway to the rest of your work.
- Ensure It’s Provable: Be sure that you can provide evidence to support your claim. If your statement is based on personal beliefs or values, it might not be suitable as a thesis.
- Use Online Tools: There are online thesis generators that can help you refine your statement. They aren’t foolproof, but they can provide a good starting point.
Remember, a working thesis is called “working” because it can evolve. As you delve deeper into your research or writing, you might find more compelling ways to frame your argument. Always be open to revision – that’s the essence of great academic writing!
Text prompt
- Instructive
- Professional
10 Examples of Public speaking
20 Examples of Gas lighting
- Thesis Formulation
- Understanding the Assignment
- Need a Topic?
- Evaluating Sources
- Brainstorming Strategies
- Drafting Strategies
Formulating a Thesis
Other resources on thesis formation, writing activity for thesis formation.
- Introductions
- Conclusions
- Show Don't Tell
- Expand Your Draft
- Flow & Lexical Coherence
- Revision Checklist
- Introduction to Style and Grammar
- Apostrophes
- Article Usage for ESL Learners
- Capitalization
- Clarity: Get Rid of Nominalizations
- Cohesion: Does my Paragraph Flow?
- Commas and Colons
- Conciseness
- Confusing Words
- Parallel Structure
- Passive Voice
- Quotation Marks
- Run-on Sentences
- Subject-Verb Agreement
- Writing Mechanics
- Other Styles
- Art History This link opens in a new window
- Programming Lab Reports
- Scientific Lab Reports
- Screenwriting
- Publication Opportunities
- Meet with a Tutor This link opens in a new window
Academic Resource Center Hours :
Monday-Thursday: 8:00 AM-6:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Phone Number : 310-338-2847
Email : [email protected]
www.lmu.edu/arc
We are located in Daum Hall on the 2nd floor!
Introduction
In an argumentative paper, your thesis statement expresses what it is that you want to prove and, ultimately, what you will support with the main arguments in your body paragraphs. Any good thesis statement will:
- have a clearly established topic ,
- make a claim that answers a question about that topic,
- have a reason that supports the claim, and
- be specific .
The general model of your thesis statement will look something like this:
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your essay. It usually comes at the end of the introduction.
A good thesis has two parts. It should tell what you plan to argue, and it should "telegraph" how you plan to argue—that is, what particular support for your claim is going where in your essay.
Developing a Thesis Statement Many papers you write require developing a thesis statement. In this section you'll learn what a thesis statement is and how to write one.
Thesis Statements. A thesis is the main claim you are making in an argument, similar to the hypothesis in a scientific experiment. It is what you are trying to prove or persuade your audience to believe or do. It's helpful to develop a working thesis to guide your composition process. "Working" is the operative word here; your ideas are ...
This handout describes what a thesis statement is, how thesis statements work in your writing, and how you can discover or refine one for your draft.
This resource provides tips for creating a thesis statement and examples of different types of thesis statements.
For a Writer When drafting your own paper, a thesis statement can help clarify your focus and help organize your paper. Your claim should be referred to throughout the paper, and your points can help structure the body paragraphs. In this manner, a thesis statement acts as a planning tool to organize your ideas. Keep in mind that while drafting your paper, your claim or supporting points can ...
How do you write a good thesis statement? Learn all you need to know about thesis statements in our guide with examples.
How to Generate a Thesis Statement if the Topic is not Assigned Even if your assignment doesn't ask a specific question, your thesis statement still needs to answer a question about the issue you'd like to explore. In this situation, your job is to figure out what question you'd like to write about.
Thesis. Your thesis is the central claim in your essay—your main insight or idea about your source or topic. Your thesis should appear early in an academic essay, followed by a logically constructed argument that supports this central claim. A strong thesis is arguable, which means a thoughtful reader could disagree with it and therefore ...
Writing a thesis statement A thesis is the result of a lengthy thinking process. Formulating a thesis is not the first thing you do after reading an essay assignment. Before you develop an argument on any topic, you have to collect and organize evidence, look for possible relationships between known facts (such as surprising contrasts or similarities), and think about the significance of these ...
Writing a thesis statement A thesis is the result of a lengthy thinking process. Formulating a thesis is not the first thing you do after reading an essay assignment. Before you develop an argument on any topic, you have to collect and organize evidence, look for possible relationships between known facts (such as surprising contrasts or similarities), and think about the significance of these ...
A thesis is the result of a lengthy thinking process. Formulating a thesis is not the first thing you do after reading an essay assignment. Before you develop an argument on any topic, you have to collect and organize evidence, look for possible relationships between known facts (such as surprising contrasts or similarities), and think about the significance of these relationships. Once you do ...
Learn how to craft a strong thesis statement and formulate a compelling research question for your academic paper. This comprehensive guide offers step-by-step strategies to help you choose a relevant topic, refine your focus, and ensure your research is both impactful and feasible.
Master the art of writing working thesis statements! Follow our step-by-step guide and expert tips to develop impactful arguments that drive your essays and research papers.
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.
A. A working thesis is similar to a final thesis: It is a statement that asserts one specific topic of argument or analysis as a focus and sets the tone or position you are taking on that topic. A working thesis also states the broad details of support you are using to justify your position. These details appear in the same order in your thesis statement as they will arise in the body of your ...
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 ...
How to Write a Thesis Statement in 4 Steps. If you produce a solid thesis statement to kick off an argumentative essay or piece of academic writing, you instantly frame the objective for yourself as a writer and for your audience as readers.
CREATING A WORKING THESIS STATEMENT Every piece of writing requires a central idea and a demonstrated path from point A to point B. To stay on topic and give your writing a direction, you must develop a thesis. Thesis statements clarify the main idea/point/argument of your piece. Typically the final sentence(s) of your introduction, the thesis, generally informs the audience of the "argument ...
Before you formulate a thesis statement, you'll need to start with an idea. Most of the time, you'll be given a topic to write about. Other times, you'll need to come up with your own idea, which can be the most challenging part of the research process. You can find ideas for topics in a number of places. Here's a list to help you get started: Textbooks - Great for an overview of ...
the working thesis - your stand on the research question After you come up with a viable research question on your topic, it's time to formulate the working thesis. What does a working thesis say and do?
Now, a working thesis is more or less a temporary thesis you devise in the beginning of the research process in order to set some direction in your research. However, as I wrote in the beginning of this chapter, you should remember: Your working thesis is temporary and should change as you research, write, and learn more about your topic.
Step 2: Formulate your question: Pose a question as related to the topic selected. Asking something that interests you will help in formulating the thesis statement. Step 3: Formulate your rough answer: Provide a tentative answer to your question. This serves you as the working thesis.
From Research Question to Working Thesis Statement . Do you need to do any preliminary research to fill in the blanks in the form? Alternating writing and research is a normal part of the research paper process. Do you have a position on this topic? Adding that to the formula above should give you a solid working
distribution of your open-access thesis or dissertation. You will be eligible for a royalty based on sales of the full text of your work in all formulas. Please contact [email protected] with any questions or to set up your account to collect royalties. Do not upload your document until . . .
The senior thesis experience is a transformative journey that marks the culmination of an undergraduate academic career. The thesis process requires students to delve into the depths of their chosen field, applying years of accumulated knowledge and skills to produce a substantial piece of original research.