A thesis statement is one or two sentences that summarize the point, argument, or claim made by an essay, research paper, or any other kind of academic writing. It appears in the introduction section, ideally at the end. The thesis statement makes or breaks your academic writing. Every idea or explanation you put across comes back to this statement. Choosing a good thesis statement is, therefore, a crucial stage in writing your paper.
This post examines how to write a thesis statement, including the main parts of a thesis statement, the rules of writing a thesis statement, and tips and tricks for writing a good thesis statement. Let’s dive in.
Understanding a Thesis Statement? What Is It?
We’ve already established that a thesis statement is a summary of the claim, argument, or point you’re trying to make with your paper. It’s what your essay, research paper, or thesis is all about. But what is the purpose of a thesis statement? A thesis statement fulfills the following aims:
- It roughly tells the reader the main idea of the paper
- It reveals the agenda of your academic writing
- It answers the research or essay question
- It provides direction to the reader, acting as the roadmap for the paper
- It gives the reader a focus point
- It generates interest in the essay/research paper topic
- It expresses the writer’s position on the paper’s topic
The above aims are also regarded as the golden rules of a thesis statement. You fulfill those, and you have a good thesis statement. A good thesis statement encourages the reader and, more so, your supervisor to keep reading. It’s your one chance to hook the reader or lose their attention altogether. So, what makes a good thesis statement?
Characteristics of a Good Thesis Statement
A good thesis statement is:
Arguable/Debatable
Your thesis statement shouldn’t be a statement of fact. It should leave room for argument, debate, or further analysis. For example, “Processed foods cause gut problems” is a statement of fact. A good thesis statement would be, “Studies have shown a strong correlation between eating processed foods and chronic gut inflammation. Does this mean that doing away with processed food items can reverse gut problems?”
Concise
Please don’t beat around the bush with your thesis statement. Let it be a clear argument that can be supported with evidence in a concise manner. Broad generalizations will not hook the reader. It should also be short and to the point, ideally one or two sentences.
Logical
A good thesis statement should persuade your reader to embrace your perspective through logical reasoning. It should be convincing, and the ideas should make sense without so much thought. In short, it should be straightforward for the reader to see the connection between your argument and the supporting evidence.
Relevant
The worst thing you can do when writing a thesis statement is to go off-topic. Make sure that the statement is directly related to the essay topic or research question. Ask yourself whether the statement answers the question or argument raised by your chosen topic. Is the thesis statement making a meaningful contribution to the rest of the essay, discussion, conclusion, or recommendations? If not, create a new statement.
How to Write a Thesis Statement- Tips and Tricks
A thesis statement consists of three parts. These are
- The topic
- The assertion/claim/declaration/
- Reasons to justify the claim/assertion
A 3-point thesis statement provides the perfect roadmap for the reader, preparing them for what to expect in your paper. So, how do you write a 3-point thesis statement? Follow the steps below to write a good thesis statement:
Select a Good Topic
If the essay or research is provided, you need to structure your thesis to connect with the said topic. If it’s not provided, choose a topic that’s good yet easy. Easy in the sense that you can formulate a clear and concise claim based on existing data and other supporting evidence.
Make your Claim/Assertion
This is the part where most students go astray. Formulating a claim should be based on available relevant information on the topic and not personal opinions or stand. Identify a clear relationship between your idea and readily available information. For instance, if you claim that electric cars aren’t solving the climate crisis, there should be available data supporting this claim. Your assertion determines the flow of the paper. Imagine claiming electric cars aren’t solving the climate crisis only for your essay points or literature review to prove the opposite. Not good, right?
Provide Reasons to Back Up Your Claim
Why do you have a particular opinion or stand on a topic? What relevant data or reasons back up your claim? For instance, using the above example of electric cars, why are you convinced that these cars haven’t solved the climate crisis? What evidence is available to support your claims and arguments? Provide a summary of the reasons backing up your assertion.
An Example of a Thesis Statement
Suppose your essay topic addresses the fact that electric cars haven’t solved the climate crisis, the main reason being that electric car production still produces emissions, especially when making batteries. Therefore, while the electric car emits zero emissions during driving, the emissions produced in its manufacture contribute to the climate crisis.
Here is a good thesis statement for such a topic: “While electric vehicles have cut emissions during operation, their manufacturing process contributes a significant level amount to overall emissions, especially in the production of lithium-ion batteries. This shows that electric cars haven’t fully solved the climate crisis.”
A bad thesis statement would be a statement of the fact. For example, “Electric cars haven’t solved the climate crisis.”
Wrapping Up
Unlike the name suggests, a thesis statement is not a simple statement for your essay or research paper. It is the roadmap that tells the reader if your paper is worth their time. It is the one or two sentences at the end of your introduction that state the topic, your argument or assertion, and supporting reasons that seek to persuade the reader to see your perspective. A good thesis statement should be debatable, logical, concise, and relevant. If you need professional help polishing your thesis statement, Paperial has the best expert writers at your service. Get in touch with us, or simply order a thesis statement from us.
