How to Write a STRONG Thesis Statement
A thesis statement:
Is a statement that informs your reader what your entire paper will set out to prove
Is usually a single sentence that appears in your introduction (often it is the last sentence)
Is supported by the body of your essay; usually between 3-5 key points are explored
Acts as the “road map” for your paper
Remember:
Know the purpose of your essay (to inform, compare/contrast, persuade, argue)
Your thesis statement is a statement, not a question
Include your key points in your thesis statement
Never:
Announce the thesis (ie: This paper will explain…)
Announce yourself or use first person (ie: I am going to…)
Leave your reader asking how? or why?
Examples of Thesis Statements:
Weak: The Civil War was fought because of many reasons.
This statement is too general. It does not give the reader specific points, and it leaves the reader asking how or why.
Better: Some causes of the Civil War were the issue of slavery, states’ right to self-govern, and the shift from farming to industry.
This statement gives the reader key points about the topic. However, the order of these points should be changed, and it does not make a strong claim.
Best: Although there were many causes of the Civil War, the primary causes were the country’s shift from farming to industry, the moral issue of slavery, and the states’ right to self-govern.
This statement makes a strong claim, and it tells the reader exactly what the primary causes were.
To test out your thesis statement, try seeing if it answers the following questions:
What is the overall topic of the paper, based on the thesis statement?
Then ask specifically what the paper will be about.
Finally ask how or why?