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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
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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.
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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 .
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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!
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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 .
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Implied Thesis: How to Write It to Ace Your Writing Process
An implied thesis is a creative outlet for the writer’s ideas through supporting points. Learn in detail about it and how to write one.
If you’re a researcher or a graduate student, you must’ve come across this simple yet crucial term, thesis. It is very important for your career as it summarizes your research work and presents it in a way that the readers can understand and evaluate your findings.
But, writing a thesis can be a tedious task and many may find difficulty in it. To resolve that, we help you understand the thesis and its types while throwing light on the implied thesis and the steps to write it.
What is a Thesis?
A thesis is a composed report or a research paper that presents the researcher’s unique exploration, investigation, or discoveries on a particular subject or question. Typically, a thesis is written by a graduate student as part of their degree program, such as a master’s or doctoral degree.
A thesis typically has several chapters, including an introduction outlining the research question, a literature review summarizing previous work on the subject, a methodology section describing the research methods employed, a results section describing the research’s findings, and a conclusion explaining the thesis’ key points and emphasizing any implications.
A thesis is written in order to advance the field of study, showcase the researcher’s expertise, and show their capacity for independent study. A committee of professors or subject-matter experts will frequently review the thesis to give feedback and determine whether they meet the requirements of the degree program or not.
Explicit vs Implicit Thesis
Diving deeper into the topic, a thesis usually has two ways of writing: Explicit and Implicit. Both of them have a huge role in deciding how the content is going to be as you cannot use them at random. It depends on the topic that you choose.
An explicit thesis is a short, to-the-point statement that expresses a writer’s main argument or point in an essay or other piece of writing. This kind of thesis statement, which is usually found at the end of the introduction, leaves no room for interpretation.
An implied thesis, on the other hand, is one that is not explicitly stated in the writing but is rather hinted at or suggested by the language, the supporting details, and other elements. The main point or argument of the work must be inferred by the reader from the context, the writer’s language, and the writer’s use of examples.
An implied thesis statement can sometimes be more powerful than an explicit one, especially when the writer wants to draw the reader in and get them to consider the text critically. An explicit thesis statement may be more clear-cut and simpler for readers to understand. A writer may have more freedom to develop their argument throughout the essay if there is an implied thesis rather than an explicit one. However, the writer’s objectives, the audience, and the context of the writing will ultimately determine whether to use an explicit or implied thesis.
Why is an Implied Thesis Important?
An implied thesis is important because it helps in the reader’s understanding of the writer’s intended meaning or goal in their writing.
It also helps in tying together the concepts discussed in a piece of writing, improving its clarity and reader-friendliness. Additionally, it helps the reader in understanding the viewpoint and goals of the writer, which is beneficial when evaluating the accuracy and weight of the arguments presented.
Additionally, an implied thesis can encourage the reader to engage with the text more critically because in order to fully understand the writer’s intended meaning, the reader must actively interpret and draw conclusions from the writing. This can lead to a deeper level of analysis and understanding of the text, which can be beneficial in academic and professional contexts.
6 Steps to Develop an Implied Thesis
- Identify the main point : Clearly define the main argument or point you wish to make in your writing. This statement, which summarizes the main idea you wish to convey, should be direct and brief.
- Consider the objective : Consider the objective of your writing. Are you attempting to inform, entertain, or convince your reader? You can create an implied thesis statement that effectively conveys your message if you know your purpose.
- Examine your structure : Take into account the structure of your writing. How do you present your ideas? Are there any recurring patterns or themes? This can assist you in determining the main argument or point you are trying to make.
- Look for keywords and phrases : Look for keywords and phrases that you use repeatedly. This can provide clues as to what you are trying to communicate.
- Consider your tone : Analyze the tone of your writing. Are you being serious or humorous? Sarcastic or sincere? Understanding your tone can help you interpret your intended meaning.
- Draw conclusions : Based on your analysis of your main point, purpose, structure, keywords, phrases, and tone, draw a conclusion about your implied thesis statement. This should be a clear and concise statement that summarizes the main argument or point you are making in your writing.
Keep in mind that an implied thesis statement might not be as clear as one that is stated explicitly. The reader might need to apply some critical analysis and interpretation to it. As a result, it’s essential to structure your writing so that it clearly communicates your main idea and strengthens your underlying thesis statement.
To conclude, a well-crafted thesis statement is important because it helps to guide the writer’s focus and provides a clear direction for the essay, making it easier for the reader to follow and understand the writer’s argument.
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About Sowjanya Pedada
Sowjanya is a passionate writer and an avid reader. She holds MBA in Agribusiness Management and now is working as a content writer. She loves to play with words and hopes to make a difference in the world through her writings. Apart from writing, she is interested in reading fiction novels and doing craftwork. She also loves to travel and explore different cuisines and spend time with her family and friends.
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Developing an Implied Thesis Statement and Topic Sentences
Learning Objectives: |
LESSON Different types of writing require different types of thesis statements A brief statement that identifies a writer's thoughts, opinions, or conclusions about a topic. Thesis statements bring unity to a piece of writing, giving it a focus and a purpose. You can use three questions to help form a thesis statement: What is my topic? What am I trying to say about that topic? Why is this important to me or my reader? . Most academic essays A formal writing that the author composes using research, a strong thesis, and supporting details in order to advance an idea or demonstrate understanding of a topic. require the writer to include a stated thesis statement A thesis statement that has been explicitly written in an article, essay, or other reading. while other pieces, such as personal narratives A story or account of events that is written or told. , allow the writer to use an implied thesis statement An indirect overall argument, idea, or belief that a writer uses as the basis of an essay or dissertation but is never stated directly in the writing. , one that is not directly stated but one that the reader can infer To reach a conclusion based on context and your own knowledge. from reading. Both types of thesis statements tell the reader the author A person who wrote a text. 's topic The subject of a reading. and purpose The reason the writer is writing about a topic. It is what the writer wants the reader to know, feel, or do after reading the work. for writing about it.
Both an implied and stated thesis in an academic essay may sound like this: Preparing a weekly schedule helps students to be successful because it allows them to structure their class and work schedules, plan ahead for busy periods, and build in some free time for themselves . Both types of thesis statements provide direction for the remainder of the essay. The difference is that as a stated thesis, the statement actually appears in the introduction The first paragraph of an essay. It must engage the reader, set the tone, provide background information, and present the thesis. of the essay. An implied thesis statement, on the other hand, does not appear in the essay at all.
The introductory paragraph The first paragraph of an essay. It must engage the reader, set the tone, provide background information, and present the thesis. written for a narrative using the above thesis as an implied thesis statement may sound like this:
My first week in college taught me many things about my new, busy schedule. I got caught up in socializing and missed a few important assignments. I also thought I could work more at my part-time job like I had during high school. I soon learned, however, that I needed to schedule my activities better in order to be successful.
An opening paragraph A selection of a writing that is made up of sentences formed around one main point. Paragraphs are set apart by a new line and sometimes indentation. like this one in a narrative does not come out and state the author's exact thesis. It does, however, provide similar direction for the reader, resulting in an implied thesis.
A narrative is a story that has a purpose for being told. In other words, when a writer chooses a topic for a narrative, he or she must have a reason for writing about it. For example, if you wanted to write about a significant event in your life by telling a story about how you got your first job, you would need to think about your audience reading the narrative and ask yourself, "What do I want my readers to take away from this story?"
Using a variety of starting strategies such as brainstorming A prewriting technique where the author lists multiple ideas as he or she thinks of them, not considering one more than another until all ideas are captured. The objective is to create one great idea, or many ideas, on which to base a writing. , listing ideas, freewriting A prewriting technique where the author begins writing without regard to spelling or grammar about ideas, topics, or even characters, descriptions of events, and settings. Often the writer will freewrite for a set period of time. The objective is to develop a storyline through the writing process itself. , clustering A prewriting technique where the author creates an informal visual layout of possible ideas, grouping them together. The objective is to create visual clusters of information on which to base a writing. , or webbing A prewriting technique where the author creates an informal visual layout of possible ideas and then draws lines to connect them into a type of "web." The objective is to see connections between events and characters. can help you to begin thinking about a topic. Then, you can ask yourself questions about your topic using the five "Ws and the H – who, what, where, when, why, and how" to gather more ideas to write about. From there, you can begin the writing process by writing one paragraph about your topic, including a clear topic sentence A group of words, phrases, or clauses that expresses a complete thought. A complete sentence has these characteristics: a capitalized first word, a subject and a predicate, and end punctuation, such as a period (.), question mark (?), or exclamation mark (!). . That paragraph should reveal the main points The most important idea in a paragraph. Main points support the main idea of a reading. you would like to expand on in multiple paragraphs. The topic sentence in the paragraph can be used as your implied thesis statement for a narrative essay.
To write an implied thesis statement in response to a narrative prompt Instructions for a writing assignment given by an instructor. , follow these steps:
Step 1: Brainstorm.
Brainstorm possible ideas from your life experience that could potentially answer or respond to the prompt.
Step 2: Choose a topic and write a paragraph.
Choose one of the topics and write a brief paragraph explaining how that particular topic applies to the prompt.
Step 3: Write an implied thesis statement.
Using the topic sentence of the paragraph as a guide, write an implied thesis statement that explains why the details of the paragraph are important.
Step 4: Develop the topic sentences.
Begin outlining A preliminary plan for a piece of a writing, often in the form of a list. It should include a topic, audience, purpose, thesis statement, and main and supporting points. the essay by developing topic sentences A sentence that contains the controlling idea for an entire paragraph and is typically the first sentence of the paragraph. from the supporting details in the paragraph. This ensures that the implied thesis works as the guiding idea for the narrative.
There are many approaches to writing a narrative essay, but using the steps above can help you respond effectively to a typical narrative prompt in a college class.
Sometimes it works better for writers to write an implied thesis statement instead of a stated one because of the nature of the content The text in a writing that includes facts, thoughts, and ideas. The information that forms the body of the work. . For example, a report including large amounts of data that seeks to persuade the reader to draw a certain conclusion would be more likely to include a stated thesis. However, a narrative essay that explains certain events in a person's life is more likely to include an implied thesis statement because the writer wants to engage the reader in a different way. College students are often asked to write narrative essays to make connections between their personal experiences and the content they are studying, and an implied thesis statement helps to organize narratives in the same way a stated thesis statement organizes other essays.
Let's examine the process of developing a narrative essay that includes an implied thesis statement.
Prompt from instructor: Write about an important life lesson you have learned.
First, create a list of possible narrative essay topics from the prompt given by the instructor.
- A little kindness goes a long way.
- Being patient can bring rewards.
- I am a role model in everything I do.
Next, choose one of the ideas related to a life lesson to be your topic.
Topic: How I learned to be a role model in everything I do.
Now, begin to create the implied thesis using this topic. To do this, write a short paragraph describing how you will tell this narrative and what you learned or are trying to explain to the reader.
Narrative: I will tell the story of when I worked at the daycare center last summer. When I worked as a childcare assistant, I learned the children were watching me and would mimic my actions. This taught me to be careful of what I said and did because I learned that children act like those around them.
Now, write the implied thesis statement: "My experience at the daycare center taught me to always be a good role model because children are always watching."
From here, develop topic sentences that support the implied thesis statement for the paragraphs of the essay.
- Paragraph 1, Introduction, Topic Sentence:
"I learned many lessons when I worked at the community daycare center."
- Paragraph 2, Topic Sentence:
"My first day on the job was the most important of them all."
- Paragraph 3, Topic Sentence:
"Little Johnny taught me what it meant to be a bad role model for children."
- Paragraph 4, Topic Sentence:
"I changed my actions and saw immediate results with the children."
- Paragraph 5, Conclusion, Topic Sentence:
"I’ve worked at the daycare center for three summers now and continue to learn lessons from the children each year."
From here, a draft of the narrative essay can be created using the topic sentences.
Now, follow the process to choose a topic, write an implied thesis statement, and develop topic sentences that support the implied thesis statement for a potential narrative essay.
List three potential narrative topics from the following prompt:
Write about an important life lesson that you have learned.
Potential narrative topics
- Learning how to benefit from your failures creates success.
Patience leads to perfection.
- Real happiness comes not from things, but from giving and receiving love.
Step 2: Choose a topic and write a paragraph .
From the list created in Step 1, choose one as your topic.
Write a three- to four-sentence paragraph about the topic.
I learned how to play the piano, but it took many years to develop this skill. I had to be patient to sit down and practice daily. I also had to be patient with myself to realize I would learn how to play the piano in time. Only through repeated practice can a person really perfect a talent. Therefore, patience is essential to perfection.
From the short paragraph above, write an implied thesis statement.
Implied Thesis Statement
I have learned that when developing a skill, patience leads to practice, and practice leads to perfection.
Develop topic sentences that would be used in a narrative essay to support the implied thesis statement.
Paragraph 1, Introduction, Topic Sentence
It took many years for me to learn how to play the piano when I was young.
Paragraph 2, Topic Sentence
I had to be patient and practice every day, even when there seemed to be better things to do.
Paragraph 3, Topic Sentence
I also had to be patient with myself because I wanted to learn faster and become a modern-day Beethoven.
Paragraph 4, Conclusion, Topic Sentence
Repeated practice is how all perfection is achieved, even the perfection of genius.
How can an implied thesis statement be just as effective as a stated thesis?
Sample Answer
Like a stated thesis, an implied thesis will include the topic and purpose of the piece of writing and will help the writer structure his or her supporting details.
Why do implied thesis statements work well in a narrative essay?
Narratives are about something personal that is happening to the writer. Sometimes it is more effective for a writer to draw the reader into the narrative. Doing so can create a stronger connection between the writer and the passage and can help the reader find the meaning by becoming personally connected with the piece.
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Reading: Thesis
Explicit versus implicit thesis statements.
The following video defines the key terms explicit and implicit, as they relate to thesis statements and other ideas present in what you read. It also introduces the excellent idea of the reading voice and the thinking voice that strong readers use as they work through a text.
To help keep you on your toes, the author of this video challenges you to find her spelling mistake in one of her cards along the way!
According to author Pavel Zemliansky,
Arguments then, can be explicit and implicit, or implied. Explicit arguments contain noticeable and definable thesis statements and lots of specific proofs. Implicit arguments, on the other hand, work by weaving together facts and narratives, logic and emotion, personal experiences and statistics. Unlike explicit arguments, implicit ones do not have a one-sentence thesis statement. Instead, authors of implicit arguments use evidence of many different kinds in effective and creative ways to build and convey their point of view to their audience. Research is essential for creative effective arguments of both kinds.
Even if what you’re reading is an informative text, rather than an argumentative one, it might still rely on an implicit thesis statement. It might ask you to piece together the overall purpose of the text based on a series of content along the way.
- Video: Explicit Versus Implicit Thesis Statements. Provided by : Lumen Learning. License : CC BY: Attribution
- Research Writing and Argument. Authored by : Pavel Zemliansky. Provided by : https://learn.saylor.org/mod/page/view.php?id=7163. Project : Methods of Discovery: A Guide to Research Writing. License : CC BY: Attribution
- explicit v implicit. Authored by : Michele Armentrout. Located at : https://youtu.be/eHjRogrFZ28 . License : All Rights Reserved . License Terms : Standard YouTube License
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How to Write a Strong Thesis Statement: 4 Steps + Examples
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What is the purpose of a thesis statement, writing a good thesis statement: 4 steps, common pitfalls to avoid, where to get your essay edited for free.
When you set out to write an essay, there has to be some kind of point to it, right? Otherwise, your essay would just be a big jumble of word salad that makes absolutely no sense. An essay needs a central point that ties into everything else. That main point is called a thesis statement, and it’s the core of any essay or research paper.
You may hear about Master degree candidates writing a thesis, and that is an entire paper–not to be confused with the thesis statement, which is typically one sentence that contains your paper’s focus.
Read on to learn more about thesis statements and how to write them. We’ve also included some solid examples for you to reference.
Typically the last sentence of your introductory paragraph, the thesis statement serves as the roadmap for your essay. When your reader gets to the thesis statement, they should have a clear outline of your main point, as well as the information you’ll be presenting in order to either prove or support your point.
The thesis statement should not be confused for a topic sentence , which is the first sentence of every paragraph in your essay. If you need help writing topic sentences, numerous resources are available. Topic sentences should go along with your thesis statement, though.
Since the thesis statement is the most important sentence of your entire essay or paper, it’s imperative that you get this part right. Otherwise, your paper will not have a good flow and will seem disjointed. That’s why it’s vital not to rush through developing one. It’s a methodical process with steps that you need to follow in order to create the best thesis statement possible.
Step 1: Decide what kind of paper you’re writing
When you’re assigned an essay, there are several different types you may get. Argumentative essays are designed to get the reader to agree with you on a topic. Informative or expository essays present information to the reader. Analytical essays offer up a point and then expand on it by analyzing relevant information. Thesis statements can look and sound different based on the type of paper you’re writing. For example:
- Argumentative: The United States needs a viable third political party to decrease bipartisanship, increase options, and help reduce corruption in government.
- Informative: The Libertarian party has thrown off elections before by gaining enough support in states to get on the ballot and by taking away crucial votes from candidates.
- Analytical: An analysis of past presidential elections shows that while third party votes may have been the minority, they did affect the outcome of the elections in 2020, 2016, and beyond.
Step 2: Figure out what point you want to make
Once you know what type of paper you’re writing, you then need to figure out the point you want to make with your thesis statement, and subsequently, your paper. In other words, you need to decide to answer a question about something, such as:
- What impact did reality TV have on American society?
- How has the musical Hamilton affected perception of American history?
- Why do I want to major in [chosen major here]?
If you have an argumentative essay, then you will be writing about an opinion. To make it easier, you may want to choose an opinion that you feel passionate about so that you’re writing about something that interests you. For example, if you have an interest in preserving the environment, you may want to choose a topic that relates to that.
If you’re writing your college essay and they ask why you want to attend that school, you may want to have a main point and back it up with information, something along the lines of:
“Attending Harvard University would benefit me both academically and professionally, as it would give me a strong knowledge base upon which to build my career, develop my network, and hopefully give me an advantage in my chosen field.”
Step 3: Determine what information you’ll use to back up your point
Once you have the point you want to make, you need to figure out how you plan to back it up throughout the rest of your essay. Without this information, it will be hard to either prove or argue the main point of your thesis statement. If you decide to write about the Hamilton example, you may decide to address any falsehoods that the writer put into the musical, such as:
“The musical Hamilton, while accurate in many ways, leaves out key parts of American history, presents a nationalist view of founding fathers, and downplays the racism of the times.”
Once you’ve written your initial working thesis statement, you’ll then need to get information to back that up. For example, the musical completely leaves out Benjamin Franklin, portrays the founding fathers in a nationalist way that is too complimentary, and shows Hamilton as a staunch abolitionist despite the fact that his family likely did own slaves.
Step 4: Revise and refine your thesis statement before you start writing
Read through your thesis statement several times before you begin to compose your full essay. You need to make sure the statement is ironclad, since it is the foundation of the entire paper. Edit it or have a peer review it for you to make sure everything makes sense and that you feel like you can truly write a paper on the topic. Once you’ve done that, you can then begin writing your paper.
When writing a thesis statement, there are some common pitfalls you should avoid so that your paper can be as solid as possible. Make sure you always edit the thesis statement before you do anything else. You also want to ensure that the thesis statement is clear and concise. Don’t make your reader hunt for your point. Finally, put your thesis statement at the end of the first paragraph and have your introduction flow toward that statement. Your reader will expect to find your statement in its traditional spot.
If you’re having trouble getting started, or need some guidance on your essay, there are tools available that can help you. CollegeVine offers a free peer essay review tool where one of your peers can read through your essay and provide you with valuable feedback. Getting essay feedback from a peer can help you wow your instructor or college admissions officer with an impactful essay that effectively illustrates your point.
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Tips and Examples for Writing Thesis Statements
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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
Thesis: Definition and Examples in Composition
Glossary of Grammatical and Rhetorical Terms
- An Introduction to Punctuation
- Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
- M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
- B.A., English, State University of New York
A thesis ( THEE-ses ) is the main (or controlling) idea of an essay , report , speech , or research paper , sometimes written as a single declarative sentence known as a thesis statement . A thesis may be implied rather than stated directly. Plural: theses . It's also known as a thesis statement, thesis sentence, controlling idea.
In the classical rhetorical exercises known as the progymnasmata , the thesis is an exercise that requires a student to argue a case for one side or the other.
Etymology From the Greek, "to put"
Examples and Observations (Definition #1)
- "My thesis is simple: in the next century mankind must harness the nuclear genie if our energy needs are to be met and our security preserved." (John B. Ritch, "Nuclear Green," Prospect Magazine , March 1999)
- "We watch baseball: it's what we have always imagined life should be like. We play softball. It's sloppy--the way life really is." (from the introduction to Watching Baseball, Playing Softball)
- "Through Mansfield's skillful handling of point of view, characterization, and plot development, Miss Brill comes across as a convincing character who evokes our sympathy." (thesis statement in Miss Brill's Fragile Fantasy )
- "Suppose there were no critics to tell us how to react to a picture, a play, or a new composition of music. Suppose we wandered innocent as the dawn into an art exhibition of unsigned paintings. By what standards, by what values would we decide whether they were good or bad, talented or untalented, success or failures? How can we ever know that what we think is right?" (Marya Mannes, "How Do You Know It's Good?")
- "I think people are disturbed by the discovery that no longer is a small town autonomous--it is a creature of the state and of the Federal Government. We have accepted money for our schools, our libraries, our hospitals, our winter roads. Now we face the inevitable consequence: the benefactor wants to call the turns." (E.B. White, "Letter from the East")
- "It is possible to stop most drug addiction in the United States within a very short time. Simply make all drugs available and sell them at cost." (Gore Vidal, "Drugs")
- The Two Parts of an Effective Thesis "An effective thesis is generally composed of two parts: a topic and the writer's attitude or opinion about or reaction to that topic." (William J. Kelly, Strategy and Structure . Allyn and Bacon, 1996)
- Drafting and Revising a Thesis "It's a good idea to formulate a thesis early in the writing process , perhaps by jotting it on scratch paper, by putting it at the head of a rough outline , or by attempting to write an introductory paragraph that includes the thesis. Your tentative thesis will probably be less graceful than the thesis you include in the final version of your essay. Here, for example, is one student's early effort: Although they both play percussion instruments, drummers and percussionists are very different. The thesis that appeared in the final draft of the student's paper was more polished: Two types of musicians play percussion instruments--drummers and percussionists--and they are as different as Quiet Riot and the New York Philharmonic. Don't worry too soon about the exact wording of your thesis, however, because your main point may change as you refine your ideas." (Diana Hacker, The Bedford Handbook , 6th ed. Bedford/St. Martin's, 2002)
- A Good Thesis - "A good thesis tells the audience exactly what you want them to know, understand, and remember when your speech is done. Write it as a simple, declarative sentence (or two) that restates the speech purpose and states the main points that support the purpose. Although you may formulate a thesis statement early in the speech development process, you may revise and reword it as you research your topic.' (Sherwyn P. Morreale, Brian H. Spitzberg, and J. Kevin Barge, Human Communication: Motivation, Knowledge, and Skills , 2nd ed. Thomson Higher Education, 2007) - "An effective thesis statement singles out some aspect of a subject for attention and clearly defines your approach to it." (David Blakesley and Jeffrey L. Hoogeveen, Writing: A Manual for the Digital Age . Wadsworth, 2011)
Examples and Observations (Definition #2)
" Thesis . This advanced exercise [one of the progymnasmata] asks the student to write an answer to a 'general question' ( quaestio infina )--that is, a question not involving individuals. . . . Quintilian . . . notes that a general question can be made into a persuasive subject if names are added (II.4.25). That is, a Thesis would pose a general question such as 'Should a man marry?' or 'Should one fortify a city?' (A Special Question on the other hand would be 'Should Marcus marry Livia?' or 'Should Athens spend money to build a defensive wall?')" (James J. Murphy, A Short History of Writing Instruction: From Ancient Greece to Modern America , 2nd ed. Lawrence Erlbaum, 2001)
- 100 Persuasive Essay Topics
- Examples of Great Introductory Paragraphs
- What Is Composition? Definition, Types, and Examples
- Conciseness for Better Composition
- How to Write a Good Thesis Statement
- Definition and Examples of Progymnasmata in Rhetoric
- How to Start a Book Report
- Evaluate This Student Essay: Why I Hate Mathematics
- The Difference Between Revising and Editing
- Reported Speech
- The Art of the Freshman Essay: Still Boring From Within?
- Stop Procrastinating to Complete Your Dissertation
- Confirmation in Speech and Rhetoric
- Directness in Speech and Writing
- literary present (verbs)
- Dialogue Guide Definition and Examples
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- Thesis Statement
Thesis Statements: How to Identify and Write Them
![thesis stated or implied Thesis Statements: How to Identify and Write Them](https://img.oercommons.org/780x780/oercommons/media/courseware/lesson/image/Essays_lh6NoAx.png)
Students read about and watch videos about how to identify and write thesis statements.
Then, students complete two exercises where they identify and write thesis statements.
*Conditions of Use: While the content on each page is licensed under an Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike license, some pages contain content and/or references with other types of licenses or copyrights. Please look at the bottom of each page to view this information.
Learning Objectives
By the end of these readings and exercises, students will be able to:
- define the term thesis statement
- read about two recommended thesis statement models
- practice identifying thesis statements in other texts
- write your own effective thesis statements
![thesis stated or implied detective](https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2015/10/30/12/14/search-1013910_960_720.jpg)
Attributions:
- The banner image is licensed under Adobe Stock .
- The untitled image of a detective by Peggy_Marco is licensed under Pixabay .
What is a thesis statement?
The thesis statement is the key to most academic writing. The purpose of academic writing is to offer your own insights, analyses, and ideas—to show not only that you understand the concepts you’re studying, but also that you have thought about those concepts in your own way and agreed or disagreed, or developed your own unique ideas as a result of your analysis. The thesis statement is the one sentence that encapsulates the result of your thinking, as it offers your main insight or argument in condensed form.
We often use the word “argument” in English courses, but we do not mean it in the traditional sense of a verbal fight with someone else. Instead, you “argue” by taking a position on an issue and supporting it with evidence. Because you’ve taken a position about your topic, someone else may be in a position to disagree (or argue) with the stance you have taken. Think about how a lawyer presents an argument or states their case in a courtroom—similarly, you want to build a case around the main idea of your essay. For example, in 1848, when Elizabeth Cady Stanton drafted “The Declaration of Sentiments,” she was thinking about how to convince New York State policymakers to change the laws to allow women to vote. Stanton was making an argument.
Some consider all writing a form of argument—or at least of persuasion. After all, even if you’re writing a letter or an informative essay, you’re implicitly trying to persuade your audience to care about what you’re saying. Your thesis statement represents the main idea—or point—about a topic or issue that you make in an argument. For example, let’s say that your topic is social media. A thesis statement about social media could look like one of the following sentences:
- Social media harms the self-esteem of American pre-teen girls.
- Social media can help connect researchers when they use hashtags to curate their work.
- Social media tools are not tools for social movements, they are marketing tools.
Please take a look at this video which explains the basic definition of a thesis statement further (we will be building upon these ideas through the rest of the readings and exercises):
Attributions:
- The content about thesis statements has been modified from English Composition 1 by Lumen Learning and Audrey Fisch et al. and appears under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.
- The video "Purdue OWL: Thesis Statements" by the Purdue University Online Writing Lab appears under a YouTube license .
The Two-Story Model (basic)
First, we will cover the two-story thesis statement model. This is the most basic model, but that doesn't mean it's bad or that you shouldn't use it. If you have a hard time with thesis statements or if you just want to keep things simple, this model is perfect for you. Think of it like a two-story building with two layers.
A basic thesis sentence has two main parts:
- Topic: What you’re writing about
- Angle: What your main idea is about that topic, or your claim
Examples:
When you read all of the thesis statement examples, can you see areas where the writer could be more specific with their angle? The more specific you are with your topic and your claims, the more focused your essay will be for your reader.
Thesis: A regular exercise regime leads to multiple benefits, both physical and emotional.
- Topic: Regular exercise regime
- Angle: Leads to multiple benefits
Thesis: Adult college students have different experiences than typical, younger college students.
- Topic: Adult college students
- Angle: Have different experiences
Thesis: The economics of television have made the viewing experience challenging for many viewers because shows are not offered regularly, similar programming occurs at the same time, and commercials are rampant.
- Topic: Television viewing
- Angle: Challenging because shows shifted, similar programming, and commercials
Please watch how Dr. Cielle Amundson demonstrates the two-story thesis statement model in this video:
- The video "Thesis Statement Definition" by Dr. Cielle Amundson appears under a YouTube license .
The Three-Story Model (advanced)
Now, it's time to challenge yourself. The three-story model is like a building with three stories. Adding multiple levels to your thesis statement makes it more specific and sophisticated. Though you'll be trying your hand with this model in the activity later on, throughout our course, you are free to choose either the two-story or three-story thesis statement model. Still, it's good to know what the three-story model entails.
A thesis statement can have three parts:
- Relevance : Why your argument is meaningful
Conceptualizing the Three-Story Model:
A helpful metaphor based on this passage by Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.:
There are one-story intellects, two-story intellects, and three-story intellects with skylights. All fact collectors who have no aim beyond their facts are one-story men. Two-story men compare, reason, generalize using the labor of fact collectors as their own. Three-story men idealize, imagine, predict—their best illumination comes from above the skylight.
One-story theses state inarguable facts. Two-story theses bring in an arguable (interpretive or analytical) point. Three-story theses nest that point within its larger, compelling implications.
The biggest benefit of the three-story metaphor is that it describes a process for building a thesis. To build the first story, you first have to get familiar with the complex, relevant facts surrounding the problem or question. You have to be able to describe the situation thoroughly and accurately. Then, with that first story built, you can layer on the second story by formulating the insightful, arguable point that animates the analysis. That’s often the most effortful part: brainstorming, elaborating and comparing alternative ideas, finalizing your point. With that specified, you can frame up the third story by articulating why the point you make matters beyond its particular topic or case.
Though the three-story thesis statement model appears a little bit differently in this video, you can still see how it follows the patterns mentioned within this section:
- The content about thesis statements has been modified from Writing in College by Amy Guptill from Milne Publishing and appears under an Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) license.
- The video "How to Write a STRONG Thesis Statement" by Scribbr appears under a YouTube license .
Identifying Thesis Statements
You’ll remember that the first step of the reading process, previewing , allows you to get a big-picture view of the document you’re reading. This way, you can begin to understand the structure of the overall text. The most important step of understanding an essay or a book is to find the thesis statement.
Pinpointing a Thesis Statement
A thesis consists of a specific topic and an angle on the topic. All of the other ideas in the text support and develop the thesis. The thesis statement is often found in the introduction, sometimes after an initial “hook” or interesting story; sometimes, however, the thesis is not explicitly stated until the end of an essay. Sometimes it is not stated at all. In those instances, there is an implied thesis statement. You can generally extract the thesis statement by looking for a few key sentences and ideas.
Most readers expect to see the point of your argument (the thesis statement) within the first few paragraphs. This does not mean that it has to be placed there every time. Some writers place it at the very end, slowly building up to it throughout their work, to explain a point after the fact. Others don’t bother with one at all but feel that their thesis is “implied” anyway. Beginning writers, however, should avoid the implied thesis unless certain of the audience. Almost every professor will expect to see a clearly discernible thesis sentence in the introduction.
Shared Characteristics of Thesis Statements:
- present the main idea
- are one sentence
- tell the reader what to expect
- summarize the essay topic
- present an argument
- are written in the third person (does not include the “I” pronoun)
The following “How to Identify a Thesis Statement” video offers advice for locating a text’s thesis statement. It asks you to write one or two sentences that summarize the text. When you write that summary, without looking at the text itself, you’ve most likely paraphrased the thesis statement.
You can view the transcript for “How to Identify the Thesis Statement” here (download).
Try it!
Try to check your thesis statement identification skills with this interactive exercise from the Excelsior University Online Writing Lab.
- The video "How to Identidy the Thesis Statement" by Martha Ann Kennedy appears under a YouTube license .
- The "Judging Thesis Statements" exercise from the Purdue University Online Writing Lab appears under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.
Writing Your Own Thesis Statements
A thesis statement is a single sentence (or sometimes two) that provides the answers to these questions clearly and concisely. Ask yourself, “What is my paper about, exactly?” Answering this question will help you develop a precise and directed thesis, not only for your reader, but for you as well.
Key Elements of an Effective Thesis Statement:
- A good thesis is non-obvious. High school teachers needed to make sure that you and all your classmates mastered the basic form of the academic essay. Thus, they were mostly concerned that you had a clear and consistent thesis, even if it was something obvious like “sustainability is important.” A thesis statement like that has a wide-enough scope to incorporate several supporting points and concurring evidence, enabling the writer to demonstrate his or her mastery of the five-paragraph form. Good enough! When they can, high school teachers nudge students to develop arguments that are less obvious and more engaging. College instructors, though, fully expect you to produce something more developed.
- A good thesis is arguable . In everyday life, “arguable” is often used as a synonym for “doubtful.” For a thesis, though, “arguable” means that it’s worth arguing: it’s something with which a reasonable person might disagree. This arguability criterion dovetails with the non-obvious one: it shows that the author has deeply explored a problem and arrived at an argument that legitimately needs 3, 5, 10, or 20 pages to explain and justify. In that way, a good thesis sets an ambitious agenda for a paper. A thesis like “sustainability is important” isn’t at all difficult to argue for, and the reader would have little intrinsic motivation to read the rest of the paper. However, an arguable thesis like “sustainability policies will inevitably fail if they do not incorporate social justice,” brings up some healthy skepticism. Thus, the arguable thesis makes the reader want to keep reading.
- A good thesis is well specified. Some student writers fear that they’re giving away the game if they specify their thesis up front; they think that a purposefully vague thesis might be more intriguing to the reader. However, consider movie trailers: they always include the most exciting and poignant moments from the film to attract an audience. In academic papers, too, a well specified thesis indicates that the author has thought rigorously about an issue and done thorough research, which makes the reader want to keep reading. Don’t just say that a particular policy is effective or fair; say what makes it is so. If you want to argue that a particular claim is dubious or incomplete, say why in your thesis.
- A good thesis includes implications. Suppose your assignment is to write a paper about some aspect of the history of linen production and trade, a topic that may seem exceedingly arcane. And suppose you have constructed a well supported and creative argument that linen was so widely traded in the ancient Mediterranean that it actually served as a kind of currency. 2 That’s a strong, insightful, arguable, well specified thesis. But which of these thesis statements do you find more engaging?
How Can You Write Your Thesis Statements?
A good basic structure for a thesis statement is “they say, I say.” What is the prevailing view, and how does your position differ from it? However, avoid limiting the scope of your writing with an either/or thesis under the assumption that your view must be strictly contrary to their view.
- focus on one, interesting idea
- choose the two-story or three-story model
- be as specific as possible
- write clearly
- have evidence to support it (for later on)
Thesis Statement Examples:
- Although many readers believe Romeo and Juliet to be a tale about the ill fate of two star-crossed lovers, it can also be read as an allegory concerning a playwright and his audience.
- The “War on Drugs” has not only failed to reduce the frequency of drug-related crimes in America but actually enhanced the popular image of dope peddlers by romanticizing them as desperate rebels fighting for a cause.
- The bulk of modern copyright law was conceived in the age of commercial printing, long before the Internet made it so easy for the public to compose and distribute its own texts. Therefore, these laws should be reviewed and revised to better accommodate modern readers and writers.
- The usual moral justification for capital punishment is that it deters crime by frightening would-be criminals. However, the statistics tell a different story.
- If students really want to improve their writing, they must read often, practice writing, and receive quality feedback from their peers.
- Plato’s dialectical method has much to offer those engaged in online writing, which is far more conversational in nature than print.
You can gather more thesis statement tips and tricks from this video titled "How to Create a Thesis Statement" from the Florida SouthWestern State College Academic Support Centers:
- The video "How to Create a Thesis Statement" by the Florida SouthWestern State College Academic Support Centers appears under a YouTube license .
Additional, Optional Resources
![thesis stated or implied stack of books](https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/01/31/00/09/books-2022464_960_720.png)
If you feel like you might need more support with thesis statements, please check out these helpful resources for some extra, optional instruction:
- "Checklist for a Thesis Statement" from the Excelsior University Online Writing Lab which appears under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.
- "Developing Your Thesis" from Hamiliton College which appears under a copyright.
- "Parts of a Thesis Sentence and Common Problems" from the Excelsior University Online Writing Lab which appears under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.
- "Tips and Examples for Writing Thesis Statements" from the Purdue University Writing Lab which appears under a copyright.
- "Writing Thesis Statements & Hypotheses" by Hope Matis from Clarkson University which appears under a copyright.
- The content about these resources has been modified from English Composition 1 by Lumen Learning and Audrey Fisch et al. and appears under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.
- The content about these resources has been modified from Writing in College by Amy Guptill from Milne Publishing and appears under an Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) license.
- The untitled image of the books by OpenClipart-Vectors is licensed under Pixabay .
Exercise #1: Identify Thesis Statements
Throughout the readings, we have been learning what an effective thesis statement is and what it is not. Before we even get to writing our own thesis statements, let's look for real-world examples. It's your turn to locate and identify thesis statements!
![thesis stated or implied map with an X indicating a location](https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2016/03/31/18/40/map-1294547_960_720.png)
Objectives/Goals
By completeting this exercise students will be able to:
- identify the main ideas within a text
- summarize the main ideas within a text
- choose one sentence from the text which you believe is the thesis statement
- argue why you believe that's the true thesis statement of the text
Instructions
- Any print or online text (probably something around a page in length) will be fine for this exercise.
- If you have trouble finding a text, I recommend looking at this collection from 88 Open Essays – A Reader for Students of Composition & Rhetoric by Sarah Wangler and Tina Ulrich.
- Write the title of the text that you selected and the full name(s) of the author (this is called the full citation).
- Provide a hyperlink for that text.
- Write one paragraph (5+ sentences) summarizing the main points of the text.
- Write one more argumentative paragraph (5+ sentences) where you discuss which sentence (make sure it appears within quotation marks, but don't worry about in-text citations for now) you think is the author's thesis statement and why.
Submitting the Assignment
You will be submitting Exercise #1: Identify Thesis Statements within Canvas in our weekly module.
Please check the assignment page for deadlines and Canvas Guides to help you in case you have trouble submitting your document.
- "88 Open Essays - A Reader for Students of Composition & Rhetoric" by Sarah Wangler and Tina Ulrich from LibreTexts appears under an Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) license.
Exercise #2: Write Your Own Thesis Statements
Now that you've had some practice with locating and identifying thesis statements, you are ready to write some practice thesis statements yourself.
![thesis stated or implied writing supplies/tools](https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2018/03/10/18/03/laptop-3214756_960_720.png)
- write a two-story thesis statement
- write a three-story thesis statement
- reflect on your thesis statement skills
- Using the same text from Exercise #1, write a two-story thesis statement in response to that text.
- Using the same text from Exercise #1, write a three-story thesis statement in response to that text.
- Is it easy for you to identify thesis statements in other texts? Why or why not?
- What methods do you use to identify/locate thesis statements?
- In the past, how have you felt when you needed to write a thesis statement?
- How did you feel about writing your own thesis statements in Exercise #2?
- Which thesis statement writing strategies were the most beneficial to you? Why?
- What challenges did you face when you were writing you thesis statement for Exercise #2?
You will be submitting Exercise #2: Write Your Own Thesis Statements within Canvas in our weekly module.
- The untitled image of the writing supplies by ptra is licensed under Pixabay .
Version History
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IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Implying Your Thesis. Not all research papers will require an explicitly stated thesis. Some research papers in some fields will simply require a strong focus. You can maintain a strong focus in your essay without an explicitly stated thesis by thinking about an implied thesis for your research paper. With an implied thesis, your point is never ...
According to author Pavel Zemliansky, Arguments then, can be explicit and implicit, or implied. Explicit arguments contain noticeable and definable thesis statements and lots of specific proofs. Implicit arguments, on the other hand, work by weaving together facts and narratives, logic and emotion, personal experiences and statistics.
tutorial discussion about thesis statements: implied versus explicitly stated by kate guthrie caruso, instructor of writing, literature and creative writing
Step 2: Write your initial answer. 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. The internet has had more of a positive than a negative effect on education.
In those instances, there is an implied thesis statement, in which you can generally extract the thesis statement by looking for a few key sentences and ideas. According to author Pavel Zemliansky, Arguments then, can be explicit and implicit, or implied. Explicit arguments contain noticeable and definable thesis statements and lots of specific ...
A thesis statement is a one or two sentence statement that states the main idea of an essay. It is a complete sentence, and it usually falls at the end of the introduction paragraph in an essay. Thesis statements can be direct or implied. Direct thesis statements are the most commonly used in essay writing.
An implied thesis, on the other hand, is one that is not explicitly stated in the writing but is rather hinted at or suggested by the language, the supporting details, and other elements. The main point or argument of the work must be inferred by the reader from the context , the writer's language, and the writer's use of examples.
To write an implied thesis statement in response to a narrative prompt, follow these steps: Step 1: Brainstorm. Brainstorm possible ideas from your life experience that could potentially answer or respond to the prompt. Step 2: Choose a topic and write a paragraph. Choose one of the topics and write a brief paragraph explaining how that ...
In those instances, there is an implied thesis statement, in which you can generally extract the thesis statement by looking for a few key sentences and ideas. Most readers expect to see the point of your argument (the thesis statement) within the first few paragraphs. This does not mean that it has to be placed there every time.
Arguments then, can be explicit and implicit, or implied. Explicit arguments contain noticeable and definable thesis statements and lots of specific proofs. Implicit arguments, on the other hand, work by weaving together facts and narratives, logic and emotion, personal experiences and statistics. Unlike explicit arguments, implicit ones do not ...
Step 4: Revise and refine your thesis statement before you start writing. Read through your thesis statement several times before you begin to compose your full essay. You need to make sure the statement is ironclad, since it is the foundation of the entire paper. Edit it or have a peer review it for you to make sure everything makes sense and ...
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 ...
Strong Thesis Statement. ral idea or main argument of theIt typically appears at the end of the introduction as the last sentence. though it may appear elsewhere).The thesis may be implied or explicitly stated, but it shoul. always be evident to the reader.The thesis may differ in form depending on the type of writing (argumentative, persuasi.
Most kinds of writing—and particularly academic writing—have a thesis, directly stated or implied. Even most of the writing we largely think of as "informational" has a directly stated or implied thesis. Theses also tend to lend a certain organization to written arguments since what you include (or exclude) in a written text is largely ...
A thesis ( THEE-ses ) is the main (or controlling) idea of an essay, report, speech, or research paper, sometimes written as a single declarative sentence known as a thesis statement. A thesis may be implied rather than stated directly. Plural: theses. It's also known as a thesis statement, thesis sentence, controlling idea.
In those instances, there is an implied thesis statement. You can generally extract the thesis statement by looking for a few key sentences and ideas. Most readers expect to see the point of your argument (the thesis statement) within the first few paragraphs. This does not mean that it has to be placed there every time.
Arguments then, can be explicit and implicit, or implied. Explicit arguments contain noticeable and definable thesis statements and lots of specific proofs. ... it might still rely on an implicit thesis statement. It might ask you to piece together the overall purpose of the text based on a series of content along the way. Licenses and ...
In a research study using psychology texts, the main idea was clearly stated in only 58 percent of the sampled paragraphs. Thus, you should be skilled in identifying stated and implied thesis statements. An introductory statement of the thesis is given at the beginning of the paragraph: A concluding statement of the thesis appears at the end of ...
Introduction to writing your thesis statement.
1. Projects the argument of a text 2. One sentence in short papers-its the last sentence of your introduction; tells reader what your argument is. 3. Multi-sentence thesis statements-papers of 15-20 pages or books 3. Composed of a claim + linking word + Reason(s) 4. Either explicitly stated in text or implied
Whether the thesis is stated outright or implied, then, the personal essay will have a governing idea—an idea that is "in charge" of what you decide to include in the essay in terms of content, vocabulary, sentence structure, and tone. In short, the personal essay may not have a thesis statement, but it will have a thesis.