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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.

Purdue Online Writing Lab College of Liberal Arts

Developing Strong Thesis Statements

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The thesis statement or main claim must be debatable

An argumentative or persuasive piece of writing must begin with a debatable thesis or claim. In other words, the thesis must be something that people could reasonably have differing opinions on. If your thesis is something that is generally agreed upon or accepted as fact then there is no reason to try to persuade people.

Example of a non-debatable thesis statement:

This thesis statement is not debatable. First, the word pollution implies that something is bad or negative in some way. Furthermore, all studies agree that pollution is a problem; they simply disagree on the impact it will have or the scope of the problem. No one could reasonably argue that pollution is unambiguously good.

Example of a debatable thesis statement:

This is an example of a debatable thesis because reasonable people could disagree with it. Some people might think that this is how we should spend the nation's money. Others might feel that we should be spending more money on education. Still others could argue that corporations, not the government, should be paying to limit pollution.

Another example of a debatable thesis statement:

In this example there is also room for disagreement between rational individuals. Some citizens might think focusing on recycling programs rather than private automobiles is the most effective strategy.

The thesis needs to be narrow

Although the scope of your paper might seem overwhelming at the start, generally the narrower the thesis the more effective your argument will be. Your thesis or claim must be supported by evidence. The broader your claim is, the more evidence you will need to convince readers that your position is right.

Example of a thesis that is too broad:

There are several reasons this statement is too broad to argue. First, what is included in the category "drugs"? Is the author talking about illegal drug use, recreational drug use (which might include alcohol and cigarettes), or all uses of medication in general? Second, in what ways are drugs detrimental? Is drug use causing deaths (and is the author equating deaths from overdoses and deaths from drug related violence)? Is drug use changing the moral climate or causing the economy to decline? Finally, what does the author mean by "society"? Is the author referring only to America or to the global population? Does the author make any distinction between the effects on children and adults? There are just too many questions that the claim leaves open. The author could not cover all of the topics listed above, yet the generality of the claim leaves all of these possibilities open to debate.

Example of a narrow or focused thesis:

In this example the topic of drugs has been narrowed down to illegal drugs and the detriment has been narrowed down to gang violence. This is a much more manageable topic.

We could narrow each debatable thesis from the previous examples in the following way:

Narrowed debatable thesis 1:

This thesis narrows the scope of the argument by specifying not just the amount of money used but also how the money could actually help to control pollution.

Narrowed debatable thesis 2:

This thesis narrows the scope of the argument by specifying not just what the focus of a national anti-pollution campaign should be but also why this is the appropriate focus.

Qualifiers such as " typically ," " generally ," " usually ," or " on average " also help to limit the scope of your claim by allowing for the almost inevitable exception to the rule.

Types of claims

Claims typically fall into one of four categories. Thinking about how you want to approach your topic, or, in other words, what type of claim you want to make, is one way to focus your thesis on one particular aspect of your broader topic.

Claims of fact or definition: These claims argue about what the definition of something is or whether something is a settled fact. Example:

Claims of cause and effect: These claims argue that one person, thing, or event caused another thing or event to occur. Example:

Claims about value: These are claims made of what something is worth, whether we value it or not, how we would rate or categorize something. Example:

Claims about solutions or policies: These are claims that argue for or against a certain solution or policy approach to a problem. Example:

Which type of claim is right for your argument? Which type of thesis or claim you use for your argument will depend on your position and knowledge of the topic, your audience, and the context of your paper. You might want to think about where you imagine your audience to be on this topic and pinpoint where you think the biggest difference in viewpoints might be. Even if you start with one type of claim you probably will be using several within the paper. Regardless of the type of claim you choose to utilize it is key to identify the controversy or debate you are addressing and to define your position early on in the paper.

What is a Thesis Statement and How to Write It (with Examples) 

A thesis statement is basically a sentence or two that summarizes the central theme of your research. In research papers and essays, it is typically placed at the end of the introduction section, which provides broad knowledge about the investigation/study. To put it simply, the thesis statement can be thought of as the main message of any film, which is communicated through the plot and characters. Similar to how a director has a vision, the author(s) in this case has an opinion on the subject that they wish to portray in their research report.  

In this article, we will provide a thorough overview on thesis statements, addressing the most frequently asked questions, including how authors arrive at and create a thesis statement that effectively summarizes your research. To make it simpler, we’ve broken this information up into subheadings that focus on different aspects of writing the thesis statement.

Table of Contents

• What is a thesis statement? 
• What should a thesis statement include (with examples)? 
• How to write a thesis statement in four steps? 
• How to generate a thesis statement? 
• Types of thesis statements? 
• Key takeaways 
• Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What is a thesis statement?

A thesis statement, in essence, is a sentence that summarizes the main concept the author(s) wishes to investigate in their research. A thesis statement is often a “question/hypothesis” the author(s) wants to address, using a certain methodology or approach to provide sufficient evidence to support their claims and findings. However, it isn’t necessarily the topic sentence (first sentence) in a research paper introduction, which could be a general statement.  

Returning to our movie analogy, a thesis statement is comparable to the particular viewpoint a director wants to convey to his audience. A thesis statement tells the reader the fundamental idea of the study and the possible course it will take to support that idea. A well-structured thesis statement enables the reader to understand the study and the intended approach, so both its placement and clarity matter here. An appropriately placed thesis statement, usually at the end of an introductory paragraph, ensures the reader will not lose interest. A thesis statement plays another crucial role, it summarizes the main idea behind the study so that readers will understand the question the author is trying to answer. It gives the reader some background information and a sense of the topic’s wider context while also hinting at the work or experimental approach that will come next. To summarize, thesis statements are generally that one key phrase you skim over to rapidly understand the thesis of a study.  

What should a thesis statement include (with examples)?

Now that we have understood the concept, the next step is learning how to write a good thesis statement. A strong thesis statement should let the reader understand how well-versed you are, as an author, in the subject matter of the study and your position on the topic at hand. The elements listed below should be considered while crafting a statement for your thesis or paper to increase its credibility and impact.  

• The author should take a position that a sizable portion of the readership may disagree with. The subject should not be a well-known, well-defined issue with just unanimity of view. This form of thesis statement is typically viewed as weak because it implies that there is nothing substantial to investigate and demonstrate. To pique readers’ interest, the thesis statement should be debatable in some way, and the findings should advance the body of knowledge. 
• A review of pertinent literature on the subject is a must in order for the author to establish an informed opinion about the questions they wish to pose and the stance they would want to take during their study, this is the basis to develop a strong thesis statement. The authors of the study should be able to support their statements with relevant research, strengthening their stance by citing literature.  
• The thesis statement should highlight just one main idea, with each claim made by the authors in the paper demonstrating the accuracy of the statement. Avoid multiple themes running throughout the article as this could confuse readers and undermine the author’s perspective on the subject. It can also be a sign of the authors’ ambiguity. 
• The main objective of a thesis statement is to briefly describe the study’s conclusion while posing a specific inquiry that clarifies the author’s stance or perspective on the subject. Therefore, it is crucial to clearly establish your viewpoint in the statement. 

Based on the considerations above, you may wonder how to write a thesis statement for different types of academic essays. Expository and argumentative essays, the most common types of essays, both call for a statement that takes a stand on the issue and uses powerful language. These kinds of thesis statements need to be precise and contain enough background material to give a comprehensive picture of the subject. However, in persuasive essays, which typically integrate an emotive perspective and personal experiences, the opinions are presented as facts that need supporting evidence. The sole difference between argumentative and expository essays and persuasive essays is that the former require the use of strong viewpoints, while the latter does not. Last but not least, the thesis statement for a compare-and-contrast essay addresses two themes rather than just one. Authors can choose to concentrate more on examining similarities or differences depending on the nature of the study; the only caveat is that both topics must receive equal attention to prevent biases. 

How to write a thesis statement in four steps?

Coming up with a research question might be challenging in situations when the research topic is not decided or it’s a new field of study. You may want to delve deeper into a widely researched subject, continue with your current research, or pursue a topic you are passionate about. If you don’t have a thesis statement yet, here are four easy stages to get you started. 

• Start with a working thesis statement : Writing the statement is not so straightforward; you won’t magically write the final thesis statement at once. It is preferable to choose an initial working thesis after reviewing relevant literature on the topic. Once you have chosen a subject that interests you, attempt to think of a specific query that has not been raised or that would be fascinating to contribute to the body of literature. For example, if you are writing an article or paper about ChatGPT, you could want to look into how ChatGPT affects learning among students. You can even get more specific, like, “How does ChatGPT harm learning and education?” 
• Outline your answer (your positioning on the subject): Based on your review of past research, you would form an opinion about the subject—in this example, the effect of ChatGPT on students’ learning—and then you write down your tentative answer to this question. If your initial response is that ChatGPT use has a detrimental impact on education and learning, this would serve as the foundation for your research. Your study would include research and findings to support this assertion and persuade the reader to accept your hypothesis. 
• Provide evidence to support your claim : The goal of your study should be to back your hypothesis with enough evidence, relevant facts and literature, to support your claim and explain why you selected that particular response (in this case, why you believe that ChatGPT has a negative impact on learning and education). The focus should be on discussing both the benefits and drawbacks of using ChatGPT and demonstrating why the disadvantages outweigh the benefits. An argumentative thesis statement example on the same topic would be that, despite ChatGPT’s enormous potential as a virtual learning tool for students, it has a detrimental effect on their creativity and critical thinking skills and encourages problematic behaviors like cheating and plagiarism.  
• Polish your thesis statement: After outlining your initial statement, improve it by keeping these three elements in mind.  
• Does it make it clear what position you hold on the subject? 
• Does it effectively connect the various facets of the study topic together?  
• Does it summarize the key points of your narrative?  

The thesis statement will also gain from your comments on the approach you will employ to validate your claim. For example, the aforementioned thesis statement may be clarified as “Although ChatGPT has enormous potential to serve as a virtual tutor for students and assistant to instructors, its disadvantages, such as plagiarism and the creation of false information, currently outweigh the advantages.” This particular illustration offers a thoughtful discussion of the subject, enabling the author to make their case more persuasively. 

How to generate a thesis statement?

No matter how complicated, any thesis or paper may be explained in one or two sentences. Just identify the question your research aims to answer, then write a statement based on your anticipated response. An effective thesis statement will have the following characteristics: 

• It should have a take on the subject (which is contentious/adds to existing knowledge) 
• It should express a main topic (other themes should only be included if they connect to the main theme) 
• It should declare your conclusion about the issue 
• It should be based on an objective, broad outlook on the subject. 

To understand how to write a thesis statement from scratch, let’s use an example where you may want to learn about how mental and physical health are related.  

Since the subject is still broad, you should first conduct a brainstorming session to acquire further thoughts. After reading literature, you determine that you are curious to learn how yoga enhances mental health. To develop a compelling thesis statement, you must further narrow this topic by posing precise questions that you can answer through your research. You can ask, “How does yoga affect mental health. What is the possible mean”? This topic makes it plain to the reader what the study is about but it is necessary for you to adopt a position on the issue. Upon further deliberation, the premise can be rephrased as “Yoga, a low impact form of exercise, positively impacts people’s mental health by lowering stress hormones and elevating healthy brain chemicals.” This clearly states your position on the topic. Finally, you may further develop this into a clear, precise thesis statement that asks, “Does practicing yoga induce feel-good hormones and lower the stress hormone, cortisol, that positively affects people’s mental health?” to turn it into a study.  

Types of thesis statements?

The three primary categories of thesis statements are analytical, expository, and argumentative. You choose one over the other depending on the subject matter of your research or essay. In argumentative thesis statements, the author takes a clear stand and strives to persuade the reader of their claims, for example, “Animal agriculture is the biggest driver of climate change.” It is specific, concise, and also contentious. On the other hand, the purpose of an expository thesis statement is to interpret, assess, and discuss various facets of a subject. Here you shortlist the key points of your interpretation, and state the conclusion based on the interpretation you drew from the study. An analytical thesis statement aims to discuss, glean information on the subject, and explain the facts of the topic. Here, the goal is to critically analyze and summarize the points you will cover in the study.  

Key takeaways

• A good thesis statement summarizes the central idea of your thesis or research paper.  
• It serves as a compass to show the reader what the research will contend and why.  
• Before creating a thesis statement, keep in mind that the statement should be specific, coherent, and controversial. 

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

A thesis statement can be defined as a sentence that describes the main idea of the research or thesis to inform the reader of the argument the research will pursue and the reason the author adopts a specific stance on the subject. Essentially, it expresses the author’s judgment or opinion based on a review of the literature or personal research experience. 

Any academic essay or research piece must have a thesis statement since it directs the research and attracts the reader’s attention to the main idea of the subject under discussion. In addition to confining the author to a specific subject, so they don’t veer off topic, it also enables the reader to understand the topic at hand and what to expect.

To create an impactful thesis statement, simply follow these four easy steps. Start by creating a working statement by posing the question that your research or thesis will attempt to answer. Then, outline your initial response and choose your position on the matter. Next, try to substantiate your claim with facts or other relevant information. Finally, hone your final thesis statement by crafting a cogent narrative using knowledge gained in the previous step. 

Ideally the thesis statement should be placed at the end of an introduction of the paper or essay. Keep in mind that it is different from the topic sentence, which is more general.  

We hope this in-depth guide has allayed your concerns and empowered you to start working craft a strong statement for your essay or paper. Good luck with drafting your next thesis statement! 

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Academic Paraphrasing: Why Paperpal’s Rewrite Should be Your First Choice! 

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• Thesis Statement

A thesis statement expresses the central idea of your written assignment. In essays, a thesis statement is usually included in the introduction. In longer pieces of writing, it may appear further along, but still near the beginning part.

A thesis statement is "your answer to the central question or problem you have raised" (Gibaldi, MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers , 50). As you develop your essay or research paper, your thesis may change. Revise it to reflect the scope and the central idea of your writing.

Consider the paragraph below (also discussed in this tutorial's Introduction section):

The University of Illinois envisions an increase in its enrollment to more than 70,000 in under a decade by setting up the Global Campus, a new online education program. While an enrollment of 70,000 students might sound impressive, it is only about half of the current enrollment of the University of Phoenix, a pioneer in online education (Foster, The Chronicle of Higher Education ). The Internet, which has been transforming the landscape of traditional pedagogy in the last few years, is argued to be the most significant development in educational technology in our lifetime. In the last decade, the growth of the Internet has caused various educational institutions and businesses to rethink how they deliver knowledge and information to their learners and to adopt new ways of implementing instruction that takes into consideration recent developments in educational technology. However, in their rush to stay on the cutting edge of technology, some educators look only at the positive features the Internet has to offer and often forget to consider its limitations. The Internet can be extremely valuable for education, but online instruction is not appropriate for all classes in all situations; its implementation needs to be based on the instructor's learning objective, the need for technology, and the availability of resources .

From a student research paper on Advantages and Limitations of Web-Based Instruction :

The central idea or the thesis statement of this student paper is expressed in the last sentence of the introduction.

From the previous example we can observe the following:

It is hard to argue the positive effect of the Internet on teaching and learning, but is all online instruction advantageous?

While, we cannot deny that online instruction is very valuable in education, it may not be suited for all learning situations. The decision to use online instruction should be based the learning objectives, the need for it, and the availability of resources.

Rule To Remember

A thesis statement expresses the central idea of your written assignment.

The rest of the paper then needs to focus on developing the suggested answer to the problem and provide sufficient evidence to support the writer's view.

Writing evolves in stages; sometimes, you may not know what your thesis will be until you start to write. The concept of a working thesis is important here.

A working thesis "should have two parts: a topic part, which states the topic, and a comment part, which makes an important point about the topic" (Lunsford, The Everyday Writer , 36).

When we consider the example from page one again, we can easily point out the topic and the comment components of the working thesis:

Online instruction is not appropriate for all classes in all situations.

Its implementation needs to be based on the instructor's learning objective, the need for it, and the availability of resources.

Another Rule To Remember

Make your thesis statement interesting, specific, and narrow in scope.

A successful thesis has the following characteristics:

• It is interesting to the readers
• It is specific
• It narrows down the scope of the topic to "make it manageable "

(Lunsford, The Everyday Writer , 36)

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Writing a Paper: Thesis Statements

Basics of thesis statements.

The thesis statement is the brief articulation of your paper's central argument and purpose. You might hear it referred to as simply a "thesis." Every scholarly paper should have a thesis statement, and strong thesis statements are concise, specific, and arguable. Concise means the thesis is short: perhaps one or two sentences for a shorter paper. Specific means the thesis deals with a narrow and focused topic, appropriate to the paper's length. Arguable means that a scholar in your field could disagree (or perhaps already has!).

Strong thesis statements address specific intellectual questions, have clear positions, and use a structure that reflects the overall structure of the paper. Read on to learn more about constructing a strong thesis statement.

Being Specific

This thesis statement has no specific argument:

Needs Improvement: In this essay, I will examine two scholarly articles to find similarities and differences.

This statement is concise, but it is neither specific nor arguable—a reader might wonder, "Which scholarly articles? What is the topic of this paper? What field is the author writing in?" Additionally, the purpose of the paper—to "examine…to find similarities and differences" is not of a scholarly level. Identifying similarities and differences is a good first step, but strong academic argument goes further, analyzing what those similarities and differences might mean or imply.

Better: In this essay, I will argue that Bowler's (2003) autocratic management style, when coupled with Smith's (2007) theory of social cognition, can reduce the expenses associated with employee turnover.

The new revision here is still concise, as well as specific and arguable.  We can see that it is specific because the writer is mentioning (a) concrete ideas and (b) exact authors.  We can also gather the field (business) and the topic (management and employee turnover). The statement is arguable because the student goes beyond merely comparing; he or she draws conclusions from that comparison ("can reduce the expenses associated with employee turnover").

Making a Unique Argument

This thesis draft repeats the language of the writing prompt without making a unique argument:

Needs Improvement: The purpose of this essay is to monitor, assess, and evaluate an educational program for its strengths and weaknesses. Then, I will provide suggestions for improvement.

You can see here that the student has simply stated the paper's assignment, without articulating specifically how he or she will address it. The student can correct this error simply by phrasing the thesis statement as a specific answer to the assignment prompt.

Better: Through a series of student interviews, I found that Kennedy High School's antibullying program was ineffective. In order to address issues of conflict between students, I argue that Kennedy High School should embrace policies outlined by the California Department of Education (2010).

Words like "ineffective" and "argue" show here that the student has clearly thought through the assignment and analyzed the material; he or she is putting forth a specific and debatable position. The concrete information ("student interviews," "antibullying") further prepares the reader for the body of the paper and demonstrates how the student has addressed the assignment prompt without just restating that language.

Creating a Debate

This thesis statement includes only obvious fact or plot summary instead of argument:

Needs Improvement: Leadership is an important quality in nurse educators.

A good strategy to determine if your thesis statement is too broad (and therefore, not arguable) is to ask yourself, "Would a scholar in my field disagree with this point?" Here, we can see easily that no scholar is likely to argue that leadership is an unimportant quality in nurse educators.  The student needs to come up with a more arguable claim, and probably a narrower one; remember that a short paper needs a more focused topic than a dissertation.

Better: Roderick's (2009) theory of participatory leadership  is particularly appropriate to nurse educators working within the emergency medicine field, where students benefit most from collegial and kinesthetic learning.

Here, the student has identified a particular type of leadership ("participatory leadership"), narrowing the topic, and has made an arguable claim (this type of leadership is "appropriate" to a specific type of nurse educator). Conceivably, a scholar in the nursing field might disagree with this approach. The student's paper can now proceed, providing specific pieces of evidence to support the arguable central claim.

Choosing the Right Words

This thesis statement uses large or scholarly-sounding words that have no real substance:

Needs Improvement: Scholars should work to seize metacognitive outcomes by harnessing discipline-based networks to empower collaborative infrastructures.

There are many words in this sentence that may be buzzwords in the student's field or key terms taken from other texts, but together they do not communicate a clear, specific meaning. Sometimes students think scholarly writing means constructing complex sentences using special language, but actually it's usually a stronger choice to write clear, simple sentences. When in doubt, remember that your ideas should be complex, not your sentence structure.

Better: Ecologists should work to educate the U.S. public on conservation methods by making use of local and national green organizations to create a widespread communication plan.

Notice in the revision that the field is now clear (ecology), and the language has been made much more field-specific ("conservation methods," "green organizations"), so the reader is able to see concretely the ideas the student is communicating.

Leaving Room for Discussion

This thesis statement is not capable of development or advancement in the paper:

Needs Improvement: There are always alternatives to illegal drug use.

This sample thesis statement makes a claim, but it is not a claim that will sustain extended discussion. This claim is the type of claim that might be appropriate for the conclusion of a paper, but in the beginning of the paper, the student is left with nowhere to go. What further points can be made? If there are "always alternatives" to the problem the student is identifying, then why bother developing a paper around that claim? Ideally, a thesis statement should be complex enough to explore over the length of the entire paper.

Better: The most effective treatment plan for methamphetamine addiction may be a combination of pharmacological and cognitive therapy, as argued by Baker (2008), Smith (2009), and Xavier (2011).

In the revised thesis, you can see the student make a specific, debatable claim that has the potential to generate several pages' worth of discussion. When drafting a thesis statement, think about the questions your thesis statement will generate: What follow-up inquiries might a reader have? In the first example, there are almost no additional questions implied, but the revised example allows for a good deal more exploration.

Thesis Mad Libs

If you are having trouble getting started, try using the models below to generate a rough model of a thesis statement! These models are intended for drafting purposes only and should not appear in your final work.

• In this essay, I argue ____, using ______ to assert _____.
• While scholars have often argued ______, I argue______, because_______.
• Through an analysis of ______, I argue ______, which is important because_______.

Words to Avoid and to Embrace

When drafting your thesis statement, avoid words like explore, investigate, learn, compile, summarize , and explain to describe the main purpose of your paper. These words imply a paper that summarizes or "reports," rather than synthesizing and analyzing.

Instead of the terms above, try words like argue, critique, question , and interrogate . These more analytical words may help you begin strongly, by articulating a specific, critical, scholarly position.

Read Kayla's blog post for tips on taking a stand in a well-crafted thesis statement.

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