Essays thesis

No matter what type of writing that you do, whether you are writing an essay in a nursing class or an essay for a literature class, it has a main topic. In college level writing, most professors agree that this topic should be expressed in a thesis sentence. The thesis is a very important part of an essay because it summarizes what you have in mind for this essay and guides the reader in reading your essay accurately. Now that we know what a strong thesis statement is, we can begin to craft one of our own. Most effective thesis statements often answer these three questions:. I might begin with a sentence like this:.

Thesis Statement Examples

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Every paper you write should have a main point, a main idea, or central message. The argument s you make in your paper should reflect this main idea.

The sentence that captures your position on this main idea is what we call a thesis statement. A thesis statement focuses your ideas into one or two sentences. It should present the topic of your paper and also make a comment about your position in relation to the topic. Your thesis statement should tell your reader what the paper is about and also help guide your writing and keep your argument focused.

You should provide a thesis early in your essay -- in the introduction, or in longer essays in the second paragraph -- in order to establish your position and give your reader a sense of direction.

Your thesis statement should be as clear and specific as possible. Normally you will continue to refine your thesis as you revise your argument s , so your thesis will evolve and gain definition as you obtain a better sense of where your argument is taking you.

Your thesis should be limited to what can be accomplished in the specified number of pages. Shape your topic so that you can get straight to the "meat" of it. Being specific in your paper will be much more successful than writing about general things that do not say much. Don't settle for three pages of just skimming the surface. The opposite of a focused, narrow, crisp thesis is a broad, sprawling, superficial thesis.

Compare this original thesis too general with three possible revisions more focused, each presenting a different approach to the same topic :. Your thesis statement is no exception to your writing: it needs to be as clear as possible.

By being as clear as possible in your thesis statement, you will make sure that your reader understands exactly what you mean. These words tell the reader next to nothing if you do not carefully explain what you mean by them. Never assume that the meaning of a sentence is obvious. To avoid misunderstandings, be as specific as possible.

Compare the original thesis not specific and clear enough with the revised version much more specific and clear :. Do not expect to come up with a fully formulated thesis statement before you have finished writing the paper. The thesis will inevitably change as you revise and develop your ideas—and that is ok!

Start with a tentative thesis and revise as your paper develops. Avoid, avoid, avoid generic arguments and formula statements. They work well to get a rough draft started, but will easily bore a reader.

Keep revising until the thesis reflects your real ideas. Avoid formula and generic words. Search for concrete subjects and active verbs, revising as many "to be" verbs as possible. A few suggestions below show how specific word choice sharpens and clarifies your meaning. Use your own words in thesis statements; avoid quoting. Crafting an original, insightful, and memorable thesis makes a distinct impression on a reader.

You will lose credibility as a writer if you become only a mouthpiece or a copyist; you will gain credibility by grabbing the reader with your own ideas and words.

A well-crafted thesis statement reflects well-crafted ideas. It signals a writer who has intelligence, commitment, and enthusiasm. Wright St. Degree Ph. How long does it need to be? Tip : In order to write a successful thesis statement: Avoid burying a great thesis statement in the middle of a paragraph or late in the paper.

Be as clear and as specific as possible; avoid vague words. Tip : Check your thesis: Are there two large statements connected loosely by a coordinating conjunction i.

Would a subordinating conjunction help i. Or do the two statements imply a fuzzy unfocused thesis? If so, settle on one single focus and then proceed with further development. Is your thesis statement too general?

Compare this original thesis too general with three possible revisions more focused, each presenting a different approach to the same topic : Original thesis : There are serious objections to today's horror movies. Revised theses : Because modern cinematic techniques have allowed filmmakers to get more graphic, horror flicks have desensitized young American viewers to violence. The pornographic violence in "bloodbath" slasher movies degrades both men and women.

Today's slasher movies fail to deliver the emotional catharsis that s horror films did. Is your thesis statement clear? Tip : In order to be as clear as possible in your writing: Unless you're writing a technical report, avoid technical language. Always avoid jargon, unless you are confident your audience will be familiar with it. Compare the original thesis not specific and clear enough with the revised version much more specific and clear : Original thesis : Although the timber wolf is a timid and gentle animal, it is being systematically exterminated.

Does your thesis include a comment about your position on the issue at hand? Tips : Avoid merely announcing the topic; your original and specific "angle" should be clear. In this way you will tell your reader why your take on the issue matters. Original thesis : In this paper, I will discuss the relationship between fairy tales and early childhood.

Revised thesis : Not just empty stories for kids, fairy tales shed light on the psychology of young children. Original thesis : We must save the whales.

Revised thesis : Because our planet's health may depend upon biological diversity, we should save the whales. When you make a subjective judgment call, specify and justify your reasoning. Original thesis : Socialism is the best form of government for Kenya. Revised thesis : If the government takes over industry in Kenya, the industry will become more efficient. Avoid merely reporting a fact.

Say more than what is already proven fact. Go further with your ideas. Otherwise… why would your point matter? Original thesis : Hoover's administration was rocked by scandal. Revised thesis : The many scandals of Hoover's administration revealed basic problems with the Republican Party's nominating process.

Is your thesis statement original? Be prepared to explain why the point you are making is worthy of a paper. Why should the reader read it? Compare the following: Original thesis : There are advantages and disadvantages to using statistics.

In order to ensure accurate reporting, journalists must understand the real significance of the statistics they report. Because advertisers consciously and unconsciously manipulate data, every consumer should learn how to evaluate statistical claims.

A thesis statement is one sentence that expresses the main idea of a research paper or essay, such as an expository essay or argumentative essay. It makes a. Just as there are different types of essays, there are different types of thesis statements. The thesis should match the essay. For example, with an.

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn more Got it! A thesis statement is one sentence that expresses the main idea of a research paper or essay, such as an expository essay or argumentative essay.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Every paper you write should have a main point, a main idea, or central message.

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How to Write a Thesis Statement

Date published January 11, by Shona McCombes. Date updated: January 10, A thesis statement sums up the main point of your paper. It is just one or two sentences long, and usually appears at the end of your introduction. Most kinds of academic essays and research papers require a thesis statement, which can also be thought of as the answer to your research question. Table of contents Why is the thesis statement important?

How to Write a Good Essay

We refer to that condensation as a thesis statement. In general, your thesis statement will accomplish these goals if you think of the thesis as the answer to the question your paper explores. Here are some helpful hints to get you started. You can either scroll down or select a link to a specific topic. Almost all assignments, no matter how complicated, can be reduced to a single question. Your first step, then, is to distill the assignment into a specific question. Brainstorm the topic. You find that you are interested in the amount of sugar Americans consume.

Strong Concluding Sentence. Search this Guide Search.

It is one of the first things your teacher looks for and one of the main factors for your grade. This article is here to explain everything in plain English and share actionable tips with you on how to write strong thesis statements for your academic papers. Do not confuse thesis statements with introductions, as most students asking how to start an essay do!

25 Thesis Statement Examples That Will Make Writing a Breeze

Posted 02 May By Sally Baggett Under Writing. Without a thesis, your argument falls flat and your information is unfocused. That type of thesis is a long, well-written paper that takes years to piece together. This sentence can tell a reader whether your essay is something they want to read. Just as there are different types of essays, there are different types of thesis statements. The thesis should match the essay. For example, with an informative essay, you should compose an informative thesis rather than argumentative. You want to declare your intentions in this essay and guide the reader to the conclusion that you reach. To make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, you must procure the ingredients, find a knife, and spread the condiments. This thesis showed the reader the topic a type of sandwich and the direction the essay will take describing how the sandwich is made. In other words, unless your purpose is simply to inform, your thesis is considered persuasive. A persuasive thesis usually contains an opinion and the reason why your opinion is true.

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As explained in Research , not all essays will require an explicitly stated thesis, but most argumentative essays will. A thesis statement is a one- to two-sentence statement that presents the main idea and makes an assertion about your issue. You may have a longer thesis for much longer essays, but one to two sentences is a good general guideline. And, remember, in an argumentative essay, the assertion you present in your thesis is going to be particularly important. When you make your assertion in your thesis, it should be clear and direct. You want your audience to have no doubt about your point. Of course, how assertive you are in your thesis and the content you choose to include depends upon the type of argumentative essay you are writing. For example, in a Classical or Aristotelian argument explained in pages that follow , your thesis statement should clearly present your side of the issue.