Writing a Thesis Statement

What is a Thesis Statement?

Imagine this: you get an instruction manual, but it does not tell you what you're building. Confusing, right? Similarly, we use a thesis statement in writing to let readers know what they will be reading about, just like an instruction manual!

A thesis statement tells the reader what the essay will be about and provides a claim or argument. A thesis statement tends to be either one or two sentences, although it may be longer in more complex writing. Your thesis statement should also state reasons that support your claim. For example, suppose you claim that broccoli is the best vegetable. In that case, you should provide some reasons why you hold that opinion: Broccoli is the best vegetable in the world because it has lots of fiber, a good color, and health benefits. Your thesis should be specific and clear. 

Where Should it Go?

Writers can place thesis statements anywhere in writing, from the beginning to the conclusion, but many writers make them the last sentence of their introduction paragraph. This placement is typical because it introduces the writer's topic and claim and acts as a seamless transition to the rest of your essay.

If you choose to place your thesis statement at the end of your introduction paragraph, consider prefacing this sentence with a hook and background information. A hook is a sentence or two that grabs the reader’s attention. For example, “Have you ever seen a human who can bend their spine backward?” is an example of a successful hook in the form of a rhetorical question. This question grabs the reader’s attention because humans cannot bend their spines backward, sparking their interest. Your introduction should also include some background information, which gives the reader context they may need to understand the following writing. If your essay explains the technology used in scoliosis treatment, you could define scoliosis and current medical techniques. 

Important Tips!

Remember these important tips when writing your thesis statement:

• Although thesis statements are usually the last sentence of an introduction paragraph, they don't need to be. Feel free to experiment with placement!

• Narrative writing does not need a thesis statement, as one would give away the plot before the story began.

• Your thesis statement should be specific. It should cover what the essay is written on and provide some supporting evidence that the writer can expand on.

• Your thesis statement must reflect what you write about in your essay. So, once you have finished the writing process, go back to your introduction to make sure it includes what you talked about in your paper. If the content of your paper and thesis statement don't coincide, make any needed revisions.

• The body paragraphs of your essay should support, explain, or argue for your thesis statement. If you're writing the most straightforward type of essay, you can write one body paragraph per supporting detail that you include in your thesis. If you're writing something more complex, experiment with how many paragraphs you use to discuss supporting points in your thesis, evidence, and the significance of these claims.

Determine what kind of paper you are writing

When writing an essay, it is essential to understand the purpose of your writing. Determining its goal will help to keep your ideas organized. Most papers that require a thesis statement fall into three categories:

• In an analytical essay, the writer breaks down or analyzes a topic, evaluates the idea, and presents a viewpoint to the audience.

• In an expository or explanatory essay, the author explains a topic to the reader.

• In an argumentative essay, the writer creates a claim on a topic and provides evidence that supports it. The goal of an argumentative essay is to convince your audience to agree with your viewpoint or take action. The supporting evidence you provide in your paper will determine whether or not your claim will be convincing.  

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Examples

When writing a thesis for an essay, make sure your thesis coincides with your writing's overall purpose. Make sure to provide reasons that you will expand upon in your body paragraphs. Some successful examples of this are detailed below.

Example of an analytical thesis statement:

“Upon analyzing medical school acceptance rates, researchers found that students with high GPAs and test scores have the highest admissions rates, concerning applicants with lower "stats" but impressive clinical experiences and extracurricular activities.”

• In this example, the thesis:

• ✅ Analyzes a topic

• ✅ Provides supporting evidence

• ✅ Evaluates significance of the topic

The essay should include:

• An analysis of the medical school acceptance process

• The viewpoint of the writer on test scores and GPAs in terms of admission

• Optional: testimonials of medical school applicants or students with “lower "stats" but impressive clinical experiences and extracurricular activities”

Example of an argumentative thesis statement:

“Students should not have to do homework because it encourages cheating at home, takes away from free time, and doesn't help students retain information.”

• In this example the thesis:

• ✅ States a claim

• ✅ Provides evidence to support the argument

The essay should include:

• The opinions of those who support AND are against no homework policies

• Body paragraphs that elaborate on the supporting evidence

Example of an expository thesis statement:

“The life of a child is split up into four phases: infancy, toddler, and adolescence.”

• In this example the thesis:

• ✅ States a topic that will be explained

• ✅ Provides points that will explained 

The essay should include:

• An explanation of childhood

• An explanation of the stages of childhood 

What Should I Take From This?

Now that you know the basics of writing a thesis statement, feel free to write your own and experiment with structure. The sky's the limit!

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