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25 Thesis Statement Examples

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A thesis statement is needed in an essay or dissertation . There are multiple types of thesis statements – but generally we can divide them into expository and argumentative. An expository statement is a statement of fact (common in expository essays and process essays) while an argumentative statement is a statement of opinion (common in argumentative essays and dissertations). Below are examples of each.

Strong Thesis Statement Examples

1. School Uniforms

“Mandatory school uniforms should be implemented in educational institutions as they promote a sense of equality, reduce distractions, and foster a focused and professional learning environment.”

Best For: Argumentative Essay or Debate

Read More: School Uniforms Pros and Cons

2. Nature vs Nurture

“This essay will explore how both genetic inheritance and environmental factors equally contribute to shaping human behavior and personality.”

Best For: Compare and Contrast Essay

Read More: Nature vs Nurture Debate

3. American Dream

“The American Dream, a symbol of opportunity and success, is increasingly elusive in today’s socio-economic landscape, revealing deeper inequalities in society.”

Best For: Persuasive Essay

Read More: What is the American Dream?

4. Social Media

“Social media has revolutionized communication and societal interactions, but it also presents significant challenges related to privacy, mental health, and misinformation.”

Best For: Expository Essay

Read More: The Pros and Cons of Social Media

5. Globalization

“Globalization has created a world more interconnected than ever before, yet it also amplifies economic disparities and cultural homogenization.”

Read More: Globalization Pros and Cons

6. Urbanization

“Urbanization drives economic growth and social development, but it also poses unique challenges in sustainability and quality of life.”

Read More: Learn about Urbanization

7. Immigration

“Immigration enriches receiving countries culturally and economically, outweighing any perceived social or economic burdens.”

Read More: Immigration Pros and Cons

8. Cultural Identity

“In a globalized world, maintaining distinct cultural identities is crucial for preserving cultural diversity and fostering global understanding, despite the challenges of assimilation and homogenization.”

Best For: Argumentative Essay

Read More: Learn about Cultural Identity

9. Technology

“Medical technologies in care institutions in Toronto has increased subjcetive outcomes for patients with chronic pain.”

Best For: Research Paper

10. Capitalism vs Socialism

“The debate between capitalism and socialism centers on balancing economic freedom and inequality, each presenting distinct approaches to resource distribution and social welfare.”

11. Cultural Heritage

“The preservation of cultural heritage is essential, not only for cultural identity but also for educating future generations, outweighing the arguments for modernization and commercialization.”

12. Pseudoscience

“Pseudoscience, characterized by a lack of empirical support, continues to influence public perception and decision-making, often at the expense of scientific credibility.”

Read More: Examples of Pseudoscience

13. Free Will

“The concept of free will is largely an illusion, with human behavior and decisions predominantly determined by biological and environmental factors.”

Read More: Do we have Free Will?

14. Gender Roles

“Traditional gender roles are outdated and harmful, restricting individual freedoms and perpetuating gender inequalities in modern society.”

Read More: What are Traditional Gender Roles?

15. Work-Life Ballance

“The trend to online and distance work in the 2020s led to improved subjective feelings of work-life balance but simultaneously increased self-reported loneliness.”

Read More: Work-Life Balance Examples

16. Universal Healthcare

“Universal healthcare is a fundamental human right and the most effective system for ensuring health equity and societal well-being, outweighing concerns about government involvement and costs.”

Read More: The Pros and Cons of Universal Healthcare

17. Minimum Wage

“The implementation of a fair minimum wage is vital for reducing economic inequality, yet it is often contentious due to its potential impact on businesses and employment rates.”

Read More: The Pros and Cons of Raising the Minimum Wage

18. Homework

“The homework provided throughout this semester has enabled me to achieve greater self-reflection, identify gaps in my knowledge, and reinforce those gaps through spaced repetition.”

Best For: Reflective Essay

Read More: Reasons Homework Should be Banned

19. Charter Schools

“Charter schools offer alternatives to traditional public education, promising innovation and choice but also raising questions about accountability and educational equity.”

Read More: The Pros and Cons of Charter Schools

20. Effects of the Internet

“The Internet has drastically reshaped human communication, access to information, and societal dynamics, generally with a net positive effect on society.”

Read More: The Pros and Cons of the Internet

21. Affirmative Action

“Affirmative action is essential for rectifying historical injustices and achieving true meritocracy in education and employment, contrary to claims of reverse discrimination.”

Best For: Essay

Read More: Affirmative Action Pros and Cons

22. Soft Skills

“Soft skills, such as communication and empathy, are increasingly recognized as essential for success in the modern workforce, and therefore should be a strong focus at school and university level.”

Read More: Soft Skills Examples

23. Moral Panic

“Moral panic, often fueled by media and cultural anxieties, can lead to exaggerated societal responses that sometimes overlook rational analysis and evidence.”

Read More: Moral Panic Examples

24. Freedom of the Press

“Freedom of the press is critical for democracy and informed citizenship, yet it faces challenges from censorship, media bias, and the proliferation of misinformation.”

Read More: Freedom of the Press Examples

25. Mass Media

“Mass media shapes public opinion and cultural norms, but its concentration of ownership and commercial interests raise concerns about bias and the quality of information.”

Best For: Critical Analysis

Read More: Mass Media Examples

Checklist: How to use your Thesis Statement

✅ Position: If your statement is for an argumentative or persuasive essay, or a dissertation, ensure it takes a clear stance on the topic. ✅ Specificity: It addresses a specific aspect of the topic, providing focus for the essay. ✅ Conciseness: Typically, a thesis statement is one to two sentences long. It should be concise, clear, and easily identifiable. ✅ Direction: The thesis statement guides the direction of the essay, providing a roadmap for the argument, narrative, or explanation. ✅ Evidence-based: While the thesis statement itself doesn’t include evidence, it sets up an argument that can be supported with evidence in the body of the essay. ✅ Placement: Generally, the thesis statement is placed at the end of the introduction of an essay.

Try These AI Prompts – Thesis Statement Generator!

One way to brainstorm thesis statements is to get AI to brainstorm some for you! Try this AI prompt:

💡 AI PROMPT FOR EXPOSITORY THESIS STATEMENT I am writing an essay on [TOPIC] and these are the instructions my teacher gave me: [INSTUCTIONS]. I want you to create an expository thesis statement that doesn’t argue a position, but demonstrates depth of knowledge about the topic.

💡 AI PROMPT FOR ARGUMENTATIVE THESIS STATEMENT I am writing an essay on [TOPIC] and these are the instructions my teacher gave me: [INSTRUCTIONS]. I want you to create an argumentative thesis statement that clearly takes a position on this issue.

💡 AI PROMPT FOR COMPARE AND CONTRAST THESIS STATEMENT I am writing a compare and contrast essay that compares [Concept 1] and [Concept2]. Give me 5 potential single-sentence thesis statements that remain objective.

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ Free Social Skills Worksheets
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 10 Reasons you’re Perpetually Single
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 20 Montessori Toddler Bedrooms (Design Inspiration)
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 21 Montessori Homeschool Setups

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The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is a sentence in a paper or essay (in the opening paragraph) that introduces the main topic to the reader. As one of the first things your reader sees, your thesis statement is one of the most important sentences in your entire paper—but also one of the hardest to write! 

In this article, we explain how to write a thesis statement in the best way possible. We look at what to include and the steps to take for writing your own, along with plenty of thesis statement examples to guide you. 

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Table of contents

What is a thesis statement, how to write a thesis statement: basics, what to include in a thesis statement (with examples), how to write a thesis statement in 3 steps.

The goal of a thesis statement is to let your reader know what your paper or essay is about. It helps your reader understand the greater context and scope of your topic, plus it lets your readers know what to expect from the rest of the work. 

A secondary benefit of a thesis statement is that it makes it easier to search for papers on a particular topic, especially in the realm of academic writing like research papers and thesis papers (which are sometimes known as dissertations when written for doctoral degrees). For example, if you’re writing a paper of your own, you’ll want to look up other papers to use as evidence and sources . You can simply scan the thesis statements of several papers to see which match your topic and could be worthwhile sources to cite. 

Before we get into details, here are the basic steps for how to write a thesis statement: 

• Develop the best topic to cover in your paper
• Phrase your topic as a question-and-answer
• Add some polish

We ’ ll describe each of those steps in more detail below, but we wanted to share a quick guide. Also, we ’ ll provide some thesis statement examples and talk about how to write a thesis statement for different kinds of essays: persuasive, compare-and-contrast, expository, and argumentative essays.

The thesis statement is located at the beginning of a paper, in the opening paragraph, making it an essential way to start an essay . A thesis statement isn’t necessarily the first sentence in an essay; typically you’ll want to hook the reader in an engaging way in the opening sentence before inserting your central idea or argument later in the first paragraph. A thesis statement is often confused with a topic sentence , the first sentence in a paragraph, because they both introduce the central idea of what follows. You can think of thesis statements as the topic sentence of your entire paper.  

Thesis statements are a necessary part of paper and essay writing , but different formats have different rules and best practices. Below, we break down how to write a thesis statement for the most common types of papers. 

How to write a thesis statement for expository and argumentative essays

Expository and argumentative essays are some of the most common types of academic papers. Because they don’t have a formal abstract like research papers, they rely on their thesis statements to provide an overview of what’s discussed. 

Thesis statements for argumentative and expository essays should use strong and decisive language; don’t be wishy-washy or uncertain. You want to take a stand right in the opening so that your readers understand what your paper is trying to show. 

Moreover, thesis statements for these essays should be specific, with some minor details to hint at the rest of the paper. It’s not enough to merely make your point; you also want to provide some basic evidence or background context to paint a full picture. 

If your paper dives into different subtopics or categories, try to fit them into the thesis statement if you can. You don’t have to get into details here, but it’s nice to mention the different sections at the top so that the reader knows what to expect. 

Thesis statement examples

Despite the taboo, insects make an excellent food source and could stem humanity’s looming food shortage, based on both their protein output and the sustainability of farming them. 

The backlash to rock ’n’ roll music in the ’50s by religious groups and traditionalists actually boosted the genre’s popularity instead of diminishing it as intended.

How to write a thesis statement for persuasive essays

Similar to argumentative essays, persuasive essays follow many of the same guidelines for their thesis statements: decisive language, specific details, and mentions of subtopics. 

However, the main difference is that, while the thesis statements for argumentative and expository essays state facts, the thesis statements for persuasive essays state clear opinions . Still, the format is the same, and the opinions are often treated like facts, including conclusive language and citing evidence to support your claims. 

Furthermore, unlike with other essays, it’s appropriate to make emotional connections in a thesis statement in persuasive essays. This can actually be a clever strategy to start your essay off on a more personal, impactful note. 

Advertising should not be allowed in public schools because it’s a distraction from studies and may lead to misguided priorities among the school board, to say nothing of the materialist culture it promotes. 

Exotic pets provide the same love and companionship as conventional pets, so the laws regulating which animals can and cannot be kept as pets should be more relaxed.

How to write a thesis statement for compare-and-contrast essays

Thesis statements for compare-and-contrast essays are tricky because you have at least two topics to touch on instead of just one. The same general guidelines apply (decisive language, details, etc.), but you need to give equal attention to both your topics—otherwise, your essay will seem biased from the start. 

As always, your thesis statement should reflect what’s written in the rest of your essay. If your essay spends more time comparing than contrasting, your thesis statement should focus more on similarities than differences. 

It sometimes helps to give specific examples as well, but keep them simple and brief. Save the finer details for the body of your essay. 

Sean Connery and Daniel Craig are the two most popular actors to portray James Bond, but both have their own distinct and at times contradictory interpretations of the character. 

Now that you know what you’re aiming for, it’s time to sit down and write your own thesis statement. To keep you on track, here are three easy steps to guide you. 

1 Brainstorm the best topic for your essay

You can’t write a thesis statement until you know what your paper is about, so your first step is choosing a topic. 

If the topic is already assigned, great ! That’s all for this step. If not, consider the tips below for choosing the topic that’s best for you:

• Pick a topic that you’re passionate about. Even if you don’t know much about it, it’ll be easier to learn about it while writing if you’re genuinely interested. 
• Narrow down your topic to something specific; otherwise, your paper will be too broad and perhaps too long. Just make sure it’s not too specific, or you won’t have enough to write about. Try to find a happy medium. 
• Check beforehand that there are enough strong, credible sources to use for research. You don’t want to run out of referential material halfway through. 

Once you’ve chosen a topic—and the angle or stance you want to take—then it’s time to put the idea for your thesis sentence into words. 

2 Phrase your topic as a question and then answer it

It’s not always easy to fit your entire thesis into just one sentence, let alone one that’s written clearly and eloquently. Here’s a quick technique to help you get started. 

First, phrase your topic as a question. For example, if you want to write about Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy, ask yourself, “What influences did Gandhi have on society after his death?” 

If you already know the answer, write it down—that’s a good start for your thesis statement. If you don’t know the answer, do some preliminary research to find out; you can certainly use what you discover as evidence and sources in your essay’s body paragraphs . 

3 Add some polish

Chances are, your first attempt at a thesis statement won’t be perfect. To get it to its best, try revising , editing , and adding what’s missing. 

Remember the core traits for thesis statements we mentioned above: decisive language, a happy medium of specific but not too specific details, and mention of subtopics. If you’re struggling to contain everything in a single sentence, feel free to move the secondary information to the following sentence. The thesis statement itself should only have what’s most necessary. 

If you’re in doubt, read your thesis statement to a friend and ask them what they think your paper is about. If they answer correctly, your thesis statement does its job. 

Next comes the hard part—writing the rest! While the bulk of the writing lies ahead, at least you’ve nailed down your central idea. To plot out your supporting argument, follow our advice on essay structure and let your ideas flow. 

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

Thesis Statements

What this handout is about.

This handout describes what a thesis statement is, how thesis statements work in your writing, and how you can craft or refine one for your draft.

Introduction

Writing in college often takes the form of persuasion—convincing others that you have an interesting, logical point of view on the subject you are studying. Persuasion is a skill you practice regularly in your daily life. You persuade your roommate to clean up, your parents to let you borrow the car, your friend to vote for your favorite candidate or policy. In college, course assignments often ask you to make a persuasive case in writing. You are asked to convince your reader of your point of view. This form of persuasion, often called academic argument, follows a predictable pattern in writing. After a brief introduction of your topic, you state your point of view on the topic directly and often in one sentence. This sentence is the thesis statement, and it serves as a summary of the argument you’ll make in the rest of your paper.

What is a thesis statement?

A thesis statement:

• tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion.
• is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper.
• 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 near the beginning of your paper (most often, at the end of the 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. (Check out our handout on understanding assignments for more information.)

How do I create a thesis?

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” that presents a basic or main idea and an argument that you think you can support with evidence. Both the argument and your thesis are likely to need adjustment along the way.

Writers use all kinds of techniques to stimulate their thinking and to help them clarify relationships or comprehend the broader significance of a topic and arrive at a thesis statement. For more ideas on how to get started, see our handout on brainstorming .

How do I know if my thesis is strong?

If there’s time, run it by your instructor or make an appointment at the Writing Center to get some feedback. Even if you do not have time to get advice elsewhere, you can do some thesis evaluation of your own. When reviewing your first draft and its working thesis, ask yourself the following :

• Do I answer the question? Re-reading the question prompt after constructing a working thesis can help you fix an argument that misses the focus of the question. If the prompt isn’t phrased as a question, try to rephrase it. For example, “Discuss the effect of X on Y” can be rephrased as “What is the effect of X on Y?”
• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? 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.
• Is my thesis statement specific enough? 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”?
• Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? If a reader’s first response is likely to  be “So what?” then you need to clarify, to forge a relationship, or to connect to a larger issue.
• Does my essay support my thesis specifically and without wandering? If your thesis and the body of your essay do not seem to go together, one of them has to change. It’s okay 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.
• Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? 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 contemporary communication, and the instructor hands out the following essay assignment: “Discuss the impact of social media on public awareness.” Looking back at your notes, you might start with this working thesis:

Social media impacts public awareness in both positive and negative ways.

You can use the questions above to help you revise this general statement into a stronger thesis.

• Do I answer the question? You can analyze this if you rephrase “discuss the impact” as “what is the impact?” This way, you can see that you’ve answered the question only very generally with the vague “positive and negative ways.”
• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? Not likely. Only people who maintain that social media has a solely positive or solely negative impact could disagree.
• Is my thesis statement specific enough? No. What are the positive effects? What are the negative effects?
• Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? No. Why are they positive? How are they positive? What are their causes? Why are they negative? How are they negative? What are their causes?
• Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? No. Why should anyone care about the positive and/or negative impact of social media?

After thinking about your answers to these questions, you decide to focus on the one impact you feel strongly about and have strong evidence for:

Because not every voice on social media is reliable, people have become much more critical consumers of information, and thus, more informed voters.

This version is a much stronger thesis! It answers the question, takes a specific position that others can challenge, and it gives a sense of why it matters.

Let’s try another. Suppose your literature professor hands out the following assignment in a class on the American novel: Write an analysis of some aspect of Mark Twain’s novel Huckleberry Finn. “This will be easy,” you think. “I loved Huckleberry Finn!” You grab a pad of paper and write:

Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn is a great American novel.

You begin to analyze your thesis:

• Do I answer the question? No. The prompt asks you to analyze some aspect of the novel. Your working thesis is a statement of general appreciation for the entire novel.

Think about aspects of the novel that are important to its structure or meaning—for example, the role of storytelling, the contrasting scenes between the shore and the river, or the relationships between adults and children. Now you write:

In Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain develops a contrast between life on the river and life on the shore.

• Do I answer the question? Yes!
• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? Not really. This contrast is well-known and accepted.
• Is my thesis statement specific enough? It’s getting there–you have highlighted an important aspect of the novel for investigation. However, it’s still not clear what your analysis will reveal.
• Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? Not yet. Compare scenes from the book and see what you discover. Free write, make lists, jot down Huck’s actions and reactions and anything else that seems interesting.
• Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? What’s the point of this contrast? What does it signify?”

After examining the evidence and considering your own insights, you write:

Through its contrasting river and shore scenes, Twain’s Huckleberry Finn suggests that to find the true expression of American democratic ideals, one must leave “civilized” society and go back to nature.

This final thesis statement presents an interpretation of a literary work based on an analysis of its content. Of course, for the essay itself to be successful, you must now present evidence from the novel that will convince the reader of your interpretation.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Anson, Chris M., and Robert A. Schwegler. 2010. The Longman Handbook for Writers and Readers , 6th ed. New York: Longman.

Lunsford, Andrea A. 2015. The St. Martin’s Handbook , 8th ed. Boston: Bedford/St Martin’s.

Ramage, John D., John C. Bean, and June Johnson. 2018. The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing , 8th ed. New York: Pearson.

Ruszkiewicz, John J., Christy Friend, Daniel Seward, and Maxine Hairston. 2010. The Scott, Foresman Handbook for Writers , 9th ed. Boston: Pearson Education.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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How to Write a Thesis Statement

MSt, Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies (University of Oxford)

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What is a thesis statement?

Your thesis statement says exactly what you’re trying to argue in your essay. It captures all the major elements of your argument — the evidence you’re examining, the specific point you’re making, and why it matters. Your thesis is the engine of the essay, driving your argument forward. All your evidence, and the points you conclude from it, direct back to your thesis statement.

How do you capture an entire argument in one statement? While it can take some editing to hone in on your core argument, and articulate it clearly as a thesis, a great thesis statement sets your essay up for success by laying out exactly what you need to prove.

This guide — which borrows some examples and techniques from Andrea Scott’s Formulating a Thesis , Erik Simpson’s Five Ways of Looking at a Thesis , and Keith Shaw’s Thesis Test — will equip you with the tools to write a strong thesis statement — whether you’re writing your first essay or your dissertation.

The question (before the thesis)

A good essay starts not with a statement, but with a question. Asking a good question can be more important than the argument itself: it defines the scope of the essay, its place within the scholarship/field of study, and hints at its significance. Write your question explicitly, to define for your readers and yourself the problem/puzzle/contradiction that motivates your essay.

Your thesis statement is the answer to the question you pose. Before writing your thesis, you need to figure out the question you want to answer. 

• Is there a tension or contradiction that needs explaining?
• Are there conflicting views on your topic? How would you reconcile them?
• Do the standard views of this topic need to be reconsidered?
• Is there something that seems insignificant or tangential that is actually important?
• Is there an approach to this topic that hasn’t yet been explored?
• Is there a gap in the scholarship that needs to be filled?

Coming up with an interesting, arguable question ensures that you will have an interesting, arguable thesis. 

Key qualities of a thesis statement (The Thesis Test)

How can you tell that the thesis you’ve written is a strong one? Check your thesis against these qualities of a good thesis statement:

A good thesis is:

• INTERESTING

Let’s break down what we mean by each of these qualities.

1. The thesis is ARGUABLE

The thesis statement is, above all, an argument. Does your thesis make a claim that a reasonable person could argue against?

Take these examples: 

• Romeo and Juliet is a powerful story of failed love.
• By telling a powerful story of failed love, Romeo and Juliet demonstrates the destructive effects of family pride.
• By comparing versions of the “balcony scene” in three film adaptations of Romeo and Juliet , we can see how the choice of setting for the adaptations affects how “true love” is presented in these movies.

The first example is not an arguable statement; it’s self-evident from reading the play, and a personable person can’t argue against it.

The second example is slightly better because it starts to get more specific, but it still essentially summarizes the main point of the play. Its argument is essentially the moral of the story.

The third example is finally an arguable thesis: it could be argued against, and it requires careful analysis of evidence in order to prove its point.

Sometimes, statements might seem arguable because they require careful attention to the text. For example, you might write:

By examining the cultural influences on the twins in Pleasantville, we can see that David’s nostalgia for the 1950s is motivated by effective media strategies and his loneliness; on the other hand, his sister, Jennifer, does not feel nostalgic for the 1950s because of her strong friendships and feminist values.

This statement looks like it might be a good thesis. It says something that might not be immediately clear on a first watch of the movie and shows that you’ve paid close attention to the text to find evidence for these points. However, this thesis statement ultimately falls short: this essay would only provide a deeper look at what is motivating each of the characters. It wouldn’t actually make a larger point based on these observations or an original argument. 

Let’s compare this example to an arguable thesis statement: 

By looking closely at the issues of race and gender in Pleasantville, we can see that although the film attempts to expose and critique the inequities of the 1950s, its lack of diversity, troubling resolution, incomplete support of feminism, and idolization of the white man play directly into “whitewashing” and patriarchal tendencies.

This essay would include a close reading of the film in service of a larger point. The writer is doing more than providing a plot summary or pointing out details; they are analyzing the text in order to make an original argument.

2. The thesis is MANAGEABLE

Not all thesis statements are created equal. Does your thesis make a claim that can be reasonably proven with the evidence at hand and within the scope of your paper? Part of making your thesis arguable requires making it manageable with the evidence you have.

A book-length dissertation can make a larger, riskier claim than a short essay on Wuthering Heights . There is only so much you can argue when you only have five pages or when you’re drawing all your conclusions from one study. Don’t sell yourself short, but keep in mind your limitations and tailor your thesis to them.

Here are a few examples of theses that go beyond a manageable scope, and how they can be altered to argue within the scope of the evidence:

UNMANAGEABLE: By looking at Henry David Thoreau’s poem “I Am a Parcel of Vain Strivings Tied,” we can see that Transcendentalism is not actually about self-reliance, as the speaker of the poem is saved through outside aid. 

• You can’t make an argument about the core tenets of a philosophical and literary movement only through a close reading of one poem by one of its contributors. 

MANAGEABLE: While Transcendentalism is known for its emphasis on self-reliance, the speaker of Henry David Thoreau’s poem “I Am a Parcel of Vain Strivings Tied” expresses dependence on a “kind hand.” An examination of chance and intention in this poem reveals that the speaker is transformed by a recognition of outside aid. This reading offers a new perspective on what “self-reliance” can look like.

• This reworded thesis emphasizes how this poem does something unexpected without claiming that it totally changes Transcendentalism. Instead, this thesis focuses on what can be proven within the poem and understands the scope of the new perspective it provides.

UNMANAGEABLE: The results of my study — that more members of my neighborhood rated environmental issues as a higher priority than labor issues — shows that middle class voters care more about social issues than economic issues.

• This thesis makes a lot of assumptions without much evidence to back it up. Is your neighborhood representative of middle class voters throughout the country? Did you just ask about environmental versus labor issues? Are both of those actually representative of these broader categories “social” and “economic” issues?

MANAGEABLE: Despite expressing more concern about environmental issues than labor issues, research revealed that more of my neighbors participate in union activities than a recycling program. This study shows a disconnect between values and action in my neighborhood.

• This thesis statement now makes a claim about this neighborhood specifically rather than making sweeping generalizations. 

UNMANAGEABLE: If the Union Army had lost at the Battle of Gettysburg, then the Confederate Army would have taken Pennsylvania and DC and won the Civil War.

• This thesis isn’t arguable or manageable; it makes an argument about a hypothetical situation that can’t really be proven with evidence — certainly not without a lot of it.

MANAGEABLE: In newspaper coverage and speeches made about the Battle of Gettysburg (including Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address), Union media and politicians created the sense that the Battle of Gettysburg had turned the tide of the war long before victory was assured on the battlefield.

• This thesis is still about the importance of the Battle of Gettysburg, but it roots it in specific evidence rather than speculation.

3. The thesis is INTERESTING

Does your thesis address a clear question/puzzle/contradiction? Does it go beyond the obvious? Does it say something original ?

Consider these two different theses:

• Romeo and Juliet is a tale of “star-crossed” lovers. Throughout the play, we see how the cards are stacked against Romeo and Juliet and they are fated to meet a tragic end.

Although we are told from the beginning that it is a tale of "star-crossed lovers," Romeo and Juliet produces its tragedy by calling attention to a series of near-misses, places where the protagonists' downfall could be avoided.

The first example is barely arguable and it is not very interesting. It seems like it’s saying something obvious and self-evident about the play.

The second example, however, says something more strange. It reads against the grain : we think the play is about one thing, but actually (this writer asserts), it’s about the opposite. This makes for a much more interesting thesis, one that offers an unexpected perspective on the play.

Reading against the grain is one technique for articulating an interesting thesis. Here are some other moves:

• There is an inconsistency/contradiction/tension that needs explaining.
• This case study can tell us something about a larger topic/issue.
• Scholars disagree about this, and my argument will show a new perspective or reconcile their thoughts.
• This method/approach has never been applied to this topic.
• It seems like one thing is the case (or we thought it was always this way), but that perspective needs challenging.

4. The thesis is IMPORTANT

Does your thesis have some significance in the context of existing scholarship/the field? Interesting theses are also more likely to be important because they’re saying something original that hasn’t been stated before.

An important thesis usually fills a gap in the existing literature on the topic. What hasn’t been said before? Is there a new approach you’re providing? A new perspective? It can also change the way we think about the topic. How does your particular reading change the way we think about this book or movie or political movement? 

A good thesis has stakes ; it answers the question “so what?” clearly. Let’s look again at our example:

This thesis statement currently has some implied stakes — it changes the way we think about the play. But in order for it to be a strong thesis, it would need another sentence making those stakes explicit.

Your thesis should be manageable, and so should its stakes. A five-page paper on metaphors related to hunger in a certain novel won’t solve food scarcity. But you can still say something worth reading. Have you articulated something in your essay, however small, that hasn’t quite been said before?

5. The thesis is SPECIFIC

Your thesis should say something about your topic specifically — and about something specific within your topic.

A thesis statement says something about the topic you discuss exclusively . If it could apply to various topics, it’s not specific enough. Take these examples:

• Bad: Romeo and Juliet is a powerful story of failed love.
• Not great: By telling a powerful story of failed love, Romeo and Juliet demonstrates the destructive effects of family pride.
• Nearly there: Mercutio might seem like a minor character in Romeo and Juliet , but his language actually tells us something important about how the play works.
• Spot on: Although we are told from the beginning that it is a tale of “star-crossed lovers,” Romeo and Juliet produces its tragedy by calling attention to a series of near-misses, places where the protagonists' downfall could be avoided.

The first example is the worst offender: if you take out “ Romeo and Juliet ” you could slot in so many other texts. The second example is not much better: it gets slightly more specific by discussing family pride, but even so, you could probably think of several other stories that could replace Romeo and Juliet here. 

The third example might seem like it’s specific — it names a specific character and gestures toward the specific evidence it analyzes (his language) — but it ends vaguely. What exactly about the play does Mercutio’s language tell us?

The final example fully passes the test; it says something specific to Romeo and Juliet , includes a specific quote, and requires specific incidents as evidence.

In addition, your thesis should make a lot of information irrelevant . Your thesis should narrow in on a small part of the topic or a motif you’re analyzing. This should ultimately apply to the topic as a whole and have broader implications, but your thesis focuses on specific pieces of evidence that you’ll be examining. Looking at the examples above, the first and second examples ask for evidence from the whole play and invite plot summary. On the other hand, the third example will specifically examine “near-misses” and the fourth will analyze Mercutio’s speeches. 

Magic Thesis Statement (MTS)

The Magic Thesis Statement helps you translate your argument into a well-worded thesis. It serves as a checklist to make sure you have all the necessary elements of a good essay: evidence, original argument, stakes. Most thesis statements that can fit in the MTS also exhibit the characteristics discussed above. 

Try writing your thesis following the MTS:

By looking at [EVIDENCE] through [LENS/SCHOLARLY APPROACH] , we can see [ARGUMENT] [ which most people don’t see ]. This is important because [STAKES] .

Let’s break this down:

By looking at [EVIDENCE] ,

The first blank in the MTS helps identify the precise evidence you’ll be analyzing in your essay. Your thesis should be specific and make a lot of material irrelevant. Focus on what specifically you’ll be analyzing.

• Too broad: “By looking at Shakespeare’s Hamlet ….”
• Getting closer: “By looking at death in Shakespeare’s Hamlet… .”
• That’s better: “By looking at various images of corpses in Shakespeare’s Hamlet….”

through [LENS/SCHOLARLY APPROACH]

This is an optional part of the MTS; not all essays require it. But if you’re examining your evidence through a particularly scholarly approach or lens, it can be particularly helpful. You can also introduce a particular key word that serves as a guiding method here too. Consider these examples: 

• By looking at doubling and doppelgangers in the film Last Night in Soho through Freud’s theory of the uncanny….
• By reading the moors in Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights as a liminal space….

we can see [ARGUMENT] .

This next blank in the MTS invites you to state your specific argument (based on the evidence you’ve examined). 

The phrase “which most people don’t see” should not actually appear in your thesis, but it reminds you that your argument should be original and interesting. Here are some examples of the MTS through this point.

By examining how Jane Eyre and Our Mutual Friend stage trials and transformations, we can see how a trial is needed to change a character’s societal and spiritual status, thus equalizing the novel’s heroes and heroines and sanctioning their final marriages.

By examining Tolstoy’s use of “language of age” at turning points in Prince Andrei’s life, we can see that youth, paradoxically, signals moments when Andrei achieves a more mature understanding of the world.

Lots of developing writers make the mistake of ending here. You’ve stated your evidence and your argument, but you’re not quite finished! At this point in your thesis, ask yourself “so what?”

Why does it matter that a trial is required before marriage? How does the use of “language of youth” at moments when Andrei matures change our reading of War and Peace or of Tolstoy’s understanding of youth?

This is important because [STAKES/“SO WHAT?”] .

The last blank in the MTS asks for the stakes of your argument. What new perspective does your essay offer? Why does your argument matter? What’s the big deal?

Push your argument one step further, explicitly stating what it offers to the conversation or why it’s important. Take this completed version of the example above.

By examining Tolstoy’s use of “language of age” at turning points in Prince Andrei’s life, we can see that youth, paradoxically, signals moments when Andrei achieves a more mature understanding of the world. This reading reveals that, for Andrei and for the novel, youth is not only associated with happiness: it allows for emotional complexity and an ability to discern deeper truths that is lost as the characters age.

The last sentence does so much for the thesis. It shows a deep engagement with the text; rather than simply noticing a pattern, the right is truly making an argument about one of the themes of the novel. 

You are allowed to get creative about how exactly the elements of the MTS appear in your thesis. Take this example:

Although the main plot of The Princess Bride rests on the natural power of true love, an examination of the way that fighting sticks (baseball bats, tree branches, and swords) link the frame story to the romance plot suggests that the grandson is being trained in true love. Rather than presenting true love as natural, the film instead suggests that it is socialized.

This thesis doesn’t exactly read as the MTS, but all the elements are there, and it could be rewritten to fit the MTS:

By looking at the use of fighting sticks (baseball bats, tree branches, and swords) in The Princess Bride, we can see how they link the frame story to the romance plot and suggest that the grandson is being trained in true love. This is important because it reconsiders true love — not as natural, despite the importance of its natural power in the romance, but as socialized.

Location of the thesis statement

The thesis statement appears at the end of the introduction . Use your introduction to hook the reader and orient them to the information they need to understand your argument (what text you’re examining, what key terms you’re using, what scholars you’re in conversation with). Then, lay out your thesis before transitioning into your body paragraphs.

Sometimes, a long thesis statement stands as a paragraph of its own. That’s okay, especially if your thesis has multiple sentences and steps.

Your thesis statement should again appear in your conclusion when you remind the reader of your full claim. It doesn’t need to be copy/pasted and exactly the same as it appeared in the introduction, but all of its elements should be reiterated for the reader.

Examples of strong thesis statements

Read the following examples of strong thesis statements, from essays and book chapters, and see if you can identify the different elements of a strong thesis and of the MTS within them.

Example 1: from “University Gothic, c. 1880–1910” by Minna Vuohelainen in Gothic Britain: Dark Places in the Provinces and Margins of the British Isles :

In this essay, I argue that the universities and university towns of fin-de-siècle Gothic manifest all these seemingly incompatible tendencies: while they are places of opportunity, learning and aspiration, their exclusivity nonetheless renders them inaccessible to outsiders while their privileged residents exist aloof from the real world, indulging in dangerous daydreams and experiments. If the Gothic mode typically undermines modern ideals of rationality and progress, ‘University Gothic’ reveals places of supposed learning not to be places of Enlightenment – encapsulating ‘both reason and visibility’ – at all but instead places of darkness where human beings are ruined.

Example 2: from Chapter 2 of Joshua Bennett’s Being Property Once Myself :

Following Afaa Weaver’s suggestion that “black men are the summary of weight,” I would like to track the way that black masculinity as heaviness, as excess, as adornment, as vanity, as exorbitance moves through Song of Solomon in the bodies of birds, how these animals, rather paradoxically, come to signal a certain boundedness to earth, an unwieldy abundance that limits all possibility of escape or futurity. Alongside Nahum Chandler and others, however, I would like to think imaginatively about what such exorbitance avails to us as a frame for imagining alternative black masculinities and to begin with the premise of abundance rather than absence. Using some of Morrison’s most well-known characters—Milkman Dead; his best friend, Guitar; and his father, Macon Dead II—as central examples, I will close read moments of interspecies interaction with birds in the text in an effort to elucidate the generous approach to thinking black masculinity, and black personhood in a broader sense, that Morrison’s work provides.

Example 3: from “‘White Christmas’: Technologies of the Self in the Digital Age” by Diana Stypinska and Andrea Rossi in Philosophical Reflections on Black Mirror :

By examining the central themes of the three stories of “White Christmas,” we will ask who we become as we enter into a relation with intelligent machines that, to different degrees, substitute, replace, or supplement parts of our “selves.” To be more precise, we will inquire into how, in the name of individual self-enhancement, digital technologies (and especially those based on the externalization and automatization of intellectual, relational, and emotional faculties) may alter the conditions under which we encounter both others and the world. By doing so, we will demonstrate that these interventions tend to produce what we will concernedly call a “subjective stasis” (see Section “Digital Technologies of the Self”). In conclusion, we shall show how the loss of the care of self, others, and the world that this entails exposes us to ubiquitous programs of governmental control.

What are the key elements of a good thesis statement?

A good thesis statement is:

Paige Elizabeth Allen has a Master’s degree in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from the University of Oxford and a Bachelor’s degree in English from Princeton University. Her research interests include monstrosity, the Gothic tradition, illness in literature and culture, and musical theatre. Her dissertation examined sentient haunted houses through the lenses of posthumanism and queer theory.

How to Write a Thesis Statement in 4 Steps with Examples

• July 10, 2024

Dr. Marvin L. Smith

A thesis statement is the cornerstone of any well-crafted essay or  research paper .

This concise, focused sentence captures the central argument or main idea of your work, providing a roadmap for both writer and reader.

Learning how to write a strong thesis statement is key to doing well in school, because it helps you write clearly and get your point across.

Table of Contents

What is a thesis statement?

A thesis statement is a single sentence that clearly expresses the main idea or argument of an academic paper or essay.  

It presents the writer’s position on a topic and outlines the key points that will be discussed in the work.

Usually, you put it near the end of your introduction, and it helps guide the rest of your writing. Think of it like a map that shows the reader where you’re going and what to expect.

Why should your essay contain a thesis statement? 

A thesis statement is super important for a few big reasons:

Helps you stay focused: It keeps your essay from getting too big or messy by narrowing down what you want to say.

Guides your writing: It’s like a map that helps you organize your thoughts and make sense.

Tells readers what to expect: It lets them know what your main point is, so they know what’s coming next.

Shows you’ve thought deeply: Writing a thesis statement shows that you’ve really thought about the topic and have a good argument.

Makes it easy to grade: A clear thesis statement helps your teacher see if you’ve done a good job supporting your main idea.

Keeps your writing clear: It helps you stay on track and avoid writing about things that don’t matter.

Having a strong thesis statement makes your whole essay better and more convincing.

Placement of a thesis statement

You’ll usually find the thesis statement at the end of the first paragraph in an essay. This is a good spot because it lets you introduce the topic and give some background information before telling the reader what you think.

Example of an essay introduction (the thesis statement is colored at the end):

The rise of social media has transformed how we communicate and interact in the 21st century. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have become integral parts of daily life for billions of people worldwide. While some argue that social media has negative effects on mental health and social skills, others praise its ability to connect people across vast distances. Despite ongoing debates, social media’s impact on society is undeniable.  Social media has fundamentally altered the landscape of human interaction, offering unprecedented opportunities for global connection while simultaneously presenting new challenges to privacy and mental well-being.

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4 easy steps to write a good thesis statement

Writing a good thesis statement is an important part of doing well in school writing. By following these four easy steps, you can create a strong argument for your essay that will help you get your point across.

Step 1: Start with a question

Begin by formulating a research question that addresses your topic. This question should be specific, focused, and open to debate. It serves as a starting point for your investigation and helps guide your research process.

Example: “How does social media usage affect teenagers’ mental health?”

Step 2: Write your initial answer

Based on your preliminary research and understanding of the topic, provide a tentative answer to your research question. This initial response forms the foundation of your thesis statement. Don’t worry about perfecting it at this stage; you’ll refine it later.

Example: “Social media usage negatively impacts teenagers’ mental health.”

Step 3: Develop your answer

Expand on your initial answer by considering the main points you’ll discuss in your essay. Add specificity and nuance to your statement, addressing the “how” or “why” of your argument. This step helps you create a more comprehensive and informative thesis.

Example: “Excessive social media usage negatively impacts teenagers’ mental health by increasing anxiety, lowering self-esteem, and disrupting sleep patterns.”

Step 4: Refine your thesis statement

Finally, polish your thesis statement to ensure it’s clear, concise, and arguable. Make sure it accurately reflects the content and scope of your essay. Consider counterarguments and adjust your statement if necessary to make it more nuanced or precise.

Example: “While social media can facilitate social connections, its excessive use among teenagers often leads to negative mental health outcomes, including increased anxiety, lowered self-esteem, and disrupted sleep patterns, highlighting the need for balanced and mindful engagement with these platforms.”

Types of thesis statements 

Thesis statements can look different depending on what kind of essay you’re writing. Knowing the different types of essays can help you write a thesis statement that works well for your specific project.

Here are some common types of thesis statements:

Argumentative thesis:  

An argumentative thesis is when you take a stand on an issue that people might disagree on. It states your opinion and lists the main reasons why you think that way.

Example: “Despite concerns about privacy and addiction, social media has ultimately had a positive impact on society by fostering global communication, promoting social awareness, and providing platforms for marginalized voices.”

Related reading:  How to write an argumentative essay?

Analytical thesis:  

An analytical thesis is when you take a big idea or problem and break it down into smaller pieces to understand it better. You look at what causes it, what happens because of it, or what it really means.

Example: “The success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe can be attributed to three key factors: consistent world-building, character development across multiple films, and a balance between familiar comic book elements and innovative storytelling.”

Expository thesis:  

An explanatory thesis is like a roadmap for your essay. It lists the main points you’ll cover, but doesn’t try to convince the reader of a certain opinion.

Example: “The process of photosynthesis involves three main stages: light-dependent reactions, the Calvin cycle, and carbon fixation.”

Comparative thesis:  

A comparative thesis helps you compare two or more things to see how they are alike or different. It looks at specific ways to compare them, like their features or characteristics.

Example: “While both wind and solar energy offer renewable alternatives to fossil fuels, they differ significantly in terms of initial setup costs, energy production consistency, and environmental impact.”

Related reading:  Research Methods

Thesis statement examples 

Examining well-crafted thesis statements can provide valuable insights into their structure and effectiveness. 

Let’s look at three examples of thesis statements from different subjects in school, like science, history, or literature.

Each one shows what makes a good thesis statement strong and effective.

1. Literature:

“In ‘The Great Gatsby,’ F. Scott Fitzgerald uses the character of Jay Gatsby to critique the hollowness of the American Dream, revealing how the pursuit of wealth and status ultimately leads to moral decay and social isolation.”

This thesis statement clearly identifies the text, author, and main argument. It also outlines the specific aspects (moral decay and social isolation) that will be explored in the essay.

2. Environmental Science:

“While electric vehicles are often touted as a solution to climate change, their overall environmental impact is complex and depends on factors such as electricity source, battery production, and end-of-life disposal, necessitating a more nuanced approach to sustainable transportation.”

This thesis presents a counterargument to a common belief, suggesting a more complex reality. It also hints at the main points of discussion that will follow in the paper.

3. History:

“The fall of the Roman Empire was not caused by a single factor, but rather by a combination of internal political instability, economic decline, and external pressures from invading tribes, illustrating the complex interplay of forces that can lead to the collapse of a major civilization.”

This thesis statement doesn’t just give one reason for something that happened in history. Instead, it says that the event was caused by many different things, and it lists the main reasons that the essay will talk about.

Final Thoughts

Mastering the art of crafting a strong thesis statement is a vital skill for any writer. It not only sharpens your critical thinking but also enhances the clarity and impact of your writing.

Remember, a well-constructed thesis statement serves as both a compass for your writing process and a beacon for your readers.

As you continue to practice and refine this skill, you’ll find that your essays become more focused, persuasive, and engaging. Embrace the challenge of distilling complex ideas into concise, powerful statements, and watch your academic writing flourish.

Frequently asked questions 

How to write a thesis statement in an essay.

To write a thesis statement in an essay, follow these steps:

• Identify your topic and take a position on it
• Clearly state your main argument or claim
• Outline the key points you’ll use to support your argument
• Ensure it’s specific, debatable, and focused
• Place it at the end of your introductory paragraph

What is an example of a thesis statement?

Example: “Despite initial economic challenges, renewable energy sources like solar and wind power offer long-term environmental and financial benefits that outweigh those of fossil fuels, making them crucial for sustainable development.”

Is a thesis statement 1 sentence?

While a thesis statement is often one sentence, it can sometimes be two sentences if the topic is complex or requires additional context. The key is to keep it concise and focused, regardless of length.

What is the main idea/thesis statement of the essay?

The main idea or thesis statement of an essay is the central argument or claim that the entire essay aims to prove or explore. It serves as a roadmap for the reader, outlining the key points that will be discussed and the overall purpose of the essay. The thesis statement should encapsulate the essay’s core message in a clear, concise manner.

What should you avoid when writing a thesis statement?

When writing a thesis statement, there are several common pitfalls to avoid. Here are some key things to steer clear of:

• Vagueness : Avoid using vague language or general statements that don’t provide a clear direction for your essay. A thesis statement should be specific and focused.
• Clichés : Steer clear of overused or clichéd phrases that don’t add any original insight to your argument. A thesis statement should be unique and thought-provoking.
• Absolute Language : Avoid using absolute language, such as “always” or “never,” which can be difficult to support with evidence. A thesis statement should be nuanced and allow for complexity.
• Too Broad or Too Narrow : Avoid making your thesis statement too broad or too narrow. A thesis statement should be focused enough to be manageable, but not so narrow that it’s trivial.
• Too Obvious : Avoid stating the obvious or something that is widely accepted as fact. A thesis statement should be arguable and open to debate.
• Too Long or Too Short : Avoid making your thesis statement too long or too short. A thesis statement should be concise, but still provide enough information to guide the reader.
• Lack of Clarity : Avoid using ambiguous language or complex sentences that obscure the meaning of your thesis statement. A thesis statement should be clear and easy to understand.
• Too Negative or Too Positive : Avoid making your thesis statement too negative or too positive. A thesis statement should provide a balanced perspective and acknowledge potential counterarguments.
• Lack of Originality : Avoid copying or paraphrasing someone else’s thesis statement. A thesis statement should be original and reflect your own unique perspective.
• Failure to Take a Stand : Avoid failing to take a clear stance or position on the topic. A thesis statement should assert a claim or make a clear argument.

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How to Write a Strong Thesis Statement: 4 Steps + Examples

What’s Covered:

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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Thesis statement examples: How to write a thesis statement for your essay

Planning to Write

Marisha Fonseca

If you’re writing an academic essay, you need to stay focused and avoid meandering off into different directions. That’s why having a thesis statement is important. A thesis statement  

Keeps you focused  

Helps you eliminate irrelevant information  

Helps you organize your essay and follow a meaningful structure  

Makes it easier for readers to understand the core argument you are making  

What is a thesis statement?  

In simple terms, a thesis statement is a 1-2 line summary of the main purpose and argument of your essay.  

How to write a thesis statement  

To write a strong thesis statement, you need to follow a systematic approach:  

First, identify the main topic of your essay.   

Take a clear stance or position on that topic.   

Write down your stance in 1-2 lines.  

Revise and refine these sentences until they are focused .  

Place these sentences in the introductory section of your essay.  

Types of thesis statements with Examples  

The way you craft your thesis statement will depend on the kind of essay you're writing. Here are some examples:  

Analytical Essay  

An analytical essay involves a thorough, systematic investigation of a particular topic or concept. An example of a thesis statement could be  

This paper examines attitudes toward polyamory and the impact of anti-war ideology on dance forms in postmodern Kurukakaland .  

Expository Essay  

An expository essay is an in-depth exploration that presents information about a topic from various perspectives. An example thesis statement might be  

This essay investigates the relationship between gender stereotypes and proficiency in cooking among native English speaking Pomphernesians .  

Argumentative Essay  

This type of essay presents a specific point of view and backs it up with evidence. A thesis statement for an argumentative essay might be  

Using insights from consecutive socioeconomic surveys, I argue that the eradication of arranged marriage improved the standard of living among women in Camphorborginia in the 1970s.   

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Published on: Nov 04, 2024

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