How to write a Thesis Statement
Your simple guide on how to write thesis statement
If you don’t know how to write a thesis statement, these tips will come in handy. The first thing you need to understand is what a thesis statement is. Simply put, it is a sentence that states your argument regarding a topic and then briefly explains how you intend to prove your argument.
A thesis statement is the blueprint for your work since:
- It helps you clarify ideas and maintain focus
- It gives your paper a “hook” to hang all topic sentences
- It can and should be revised as you continue to refine your arguments and evidence. When you get new evidence, you must change the thesis
- It gives your paper a structure and point that is unified.
- Serves as the “map” for readers to follow through
- Keep your reader focused on the argument you are making
- Signals your reader to the main points
- Engages your reader in the argument
Guide on how to write a thesis statement
In order to write a winning thesis statement, you must have a plan. A solid paper is one that involves the process of establishing a claim and proving it by using logical examples, research and reasoning.
Since the thesis statement is the unifying element and guideline of your paper, there are a couple of things you need to remember in order to understand how to write a thesis statement that is a winner. These include the following:
- Begin simply-Your statement should be written in one sentence
- Answer a question-The best strategy to write a thesis statement is to answer the simple question, what are you trying to prove?
- Narrow the topic/focus-You should focus the statement within a limited aspect. For instance, while working on a broad topic like “films” you can narrow it down to “action films” which can further be narrowed to “Avatar” which in turn can focus on “qualities and shortcomings of Avatar.
- Exercise flexibility-Once you conduct research and there is an indication of other possibilities that are stronger, it is acceptable that you change the thesis statement.
- Verify the statement-It is idea to get approval from your instructor on your selected thesis statement before you embark on extensive research.
- Never “telegraph” the statement-You should avoid use of first person while writing the thesis statement. Your reader is already aware that they are reading your paper and you need a strong thesis statement that is accompanied by supporting evidence.
At in this link you will find different thesis statement examples that you can look at to get an idea of how to a thesis statement of your own.
Development strategies for a thesis statement
Tip 1: If your assignment is on a specific question, you should turn the question into a declaration and provide reasons for doing so.
Assignment: Between 1820 and 1860, what changes took place in domestic labor? Why were these changes important for the expansion of the US?
Starting thesis: Women’s domestic labor, between 1820 and 1860 changed since they stopped production of homemade fabric, though they continued sewing clothes for their families and production of soap and butter. With the cash the women earned from sale of soap and butter, they bought ready-made cloth, in turn helping boost industrial production in the US before commencement of the Civil War.
Tip 2: Summarize the main notion of the paper you intend to write
Main Idea-The labor of women within their homes during the first part of the 19th century contributed to the national economy growth.
Tip 3: Take time to mull over the topic. You should list some of the ideas you want to add in the essay and think of the manner in which you can group them in different headings. Often, you will note an organizational plan emerging from the process of sorting out things.
Tip 4: Come up with a formula that will help you develop your working thesis (which you have to revise later). The formula you choose should be one that makes an argument and reveals how you intend to make the argument. However, these tend not to be specific enough as such, they need more work.
Refine the thesis statement
As you continue to work on the essay, ideas are likely to change and this will also lead to a change in your thesis statement. The following are examples of thesis statements that are specific and those that are not:
Unspecific thesis-“As a first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt was a resilient leader”-This statement does not have an argument. One would want to know why she was a resilient leader.
Specific thesis: The role played by the first lady was recreated by Eleanor Roosevelt through her political active leadership within the Democratic Party, by advocating national legislation and fostering the leadership of women in the party”-This thesis makes an argument and also demonstrates how Eleanor Roosevelt remade the position of the first lady.
Make your argument
As a writer, you are the only advocate for your papers thesis. This means that if you do not write an excellent thesis, it will be put under scrutiny by your readers. Therefore, make sure you find the best way to prove your statement. There are different sources that you can use in order to achieve this and they include:
- Primary sources such as government documents, letters, newspapers, diaries and organization meeting minutes
- Secondary sources which include books and articles from your class explaining and interpreting historical events or the person you are discussing, documentaries or films and lecture notes.
How to use collected evidence
While writing your thesis statement, it is also important to have an idea of how to put collected evidence to use. As such:
- Ensure examples you chose from the evidence available effectively address your thesis statement.
- Ensure that the evidence you use will be seen as credible by your reader. This might mean having to sort and sift your sources in search of fair and clear evidence. It is important that you identify shortcomings and biases in every piece you present to your reader.
- In order to avoid generalizations, you should use evidence. If you make the assertion all women have gone through oppression, make sure you have evidence to support the claim. The use of evidence ensures you do not end up with general statements.
- If you have an opposing viewpoint, use evidence as well to address it. Consider whether the sources you have provide examples that refute the interpretation of others regarding the same topic.
Click here to view additional thesis statement samples written by experts on different papers. With these, you can further build your knowledge on how to write a thesis statement that hooks and engages the reader.
Points to help you write a solid thesis statement
- A solid statement is one that provides direction for your paper and limits the topic you are working on. Additionally, it helps inform readers what you intend to discuss in the paper. All paragraphs within your essay are supposed to support, explain or argue the thesis statement
- Every solid statement needs proof and should not be a mere statement of fact. Make sure you support the statement by providing detailed evidence that can interest and motivate readers to read the rest of the paper.
- In most cases, it is of great use to mention the supporting points in the thesis. For instance: John Updike’s novel, “Trust Me” is a valuable one for college syllabus as it permits a reader to become familiar with Updike’s writing and also provides theme that can be connected easily to other works. In the body, write a paragraph or two about your supporting idea. Writing a thesis statement like this will often aid in controlling the flow of ideas in your paper.
Identify the best place to place the thesis statement
If you want write an impressive thesis there is one important thing you have to remember which is, identifying when to introduce the statement. Ideally this is supposed to be at the end of the introduction such that it can be used to lead into the paper’s body. This gives you room, as the writer to lead to the statement rather than delving directly into your topic.
Placing the statement at the beginning is disadvantageous as the reader can get confused or forget what the main idea was by the time they get to the end of your introduction. More importantly, bear in mind an excellent introduction should conceptualize and prepare the reader for the thesis statement. Keeping all these tips on how to write a thesis statement in mind will make the entire writing process easier and simpler.
It’s our hope that from the above guidelines you will be able to write a thesis statement with ease.
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References
https://www.irsc.edu/students/academicsupportcenter/researchpaper/researchpaper.aspx?id=4294967430
http://clas.uiowa.edu/history/teaching-and-writing-center/guides/argumentation
https://gustavus.edu/writingcenter/handoutdocs/thesis_statements.php