How to Write a Thesis Statement

If you’ve ever written an essay before, you’ve probably heard the term “thesis statement.” The quality of the thesis statement often determines the quality of an academic essay as a whole, so it’s important to get it just right. Doing so can be tricky, especially with so much riding on it. So, what exactly is a thesis statement, and how do you write a perfect one? 

The Basics

A thesis statement makes a claim or takes a stand on a particular topic. It shouldn’t be neutral or vague, but confident and evidence-based. Stay specific, concise and relevant. This sentence will usually be the very last sentence of your introduction, but it’s okay if your thesis takes up two sentences in some cases. Most importantly, it should answer the prompt or directly address the main idea of your essay. 

For example, if your assignment is to write a paper on the benefits of artificial intelligence, your thesis statement might be, “The use of artificial intelligence has not only allowed for great strides in technological advancements, but also provides safer ways to perform tests and experiments that might otherwise not be possible.” This statement explores the safety of artificial intelligence, which is a specific stance derived from the prompt. It shows that the paper will focus on ways artificial intelligence makes science safer while also furthering technology’s advancements in society. If you wanted to get even more specific, you could choose a couple of examples of AI safety to include in your statement as well. 

Types of Thesis Statements

Determining the right thesis statement can be difficult to figure out when it comes to different kinds of prompts. Here’s a few types of thesis statements you might see: 

• Explanatory

Uses only facts. This type of essay will only have researchable, accurate information driving it. The thesis statement should reflect on the main idea of your given topic, preparing the reader for a detailed explanation about the subject. 

• Analytical 

Takes a look at a specific issue. You might use numbers and statistics to analyze something in depth. Try offering the answer to a how or why question in your thesis statement. 

• Argumentative 

Is opinionated and takes a stance on a debatable topic. If the question is, “Is Shakespeare the greatest writer of all time?” the answer in the thesis statement would need to be yes or no and present a compelling argument as to why he is or isn’t. 

Writing the Thing

Now that you have a bit more information on thesis statements, writing one shouldn’t be too hard. As you start to work on it, ask yourself, am I answering the prompt/question directly? What type of thesis statement should I be using in my essay? Is it too vague, confusing or off-topic? Is the main idea of my paper clearly presented in my thesis statement? Be sure to take your time on this, as it’s extremely important to get your thesis statement right! If your first few aren’t winners, don’t worry. You can always edit and adjust your thesis statement as you write your paper or ask a tutor for some extra help and practice; as long as the final version has a great thesis, you’ll be good to go. 

Looking for extra assistance writing your thesis statement? Contact us at Revolution Tutors today for more information on one-on-one writing tutoring.