The thesis statement for an essay allows you to summarise the key point of your essay within a few sentences. Its length usually comprises one or two sentences, which are generally placed at the end of the introduction section. It introduces the topic and states your position or perspective on that topic.
A thesis statement is the main point or claim of academic essays and research papers and is generally considered a summary of the research question’s answer.
Essay Thesis Statement Formula
Here is a formula that you can use to write a strong essay thesis statement:
[Tour Topic] + [Your Specific Claim/Argument] + [Your Main Points/Reasons]
The topic is what you’re writing your essay about. A claim/argument is your specific, debatable position on the topic. However, the main points/reasons are the pieces of evidence or lines of reading that support your claim.
Why is an essay thesis statement important?
The thesis statement is one of the most important elements of an essay. It plays a vital role in the essay and performs the following functions:
- Keeps the writing consistent.
- Entails the key point or claim of the topic.
- Guides the readers.
Steps to Write a Thesis Statement for an Essay
Follow these essential steps to write an effective essay thesis statement:
Step 1: Develop a research question
Before you start writing an essay thesis statement, you will need to develop a research question that addresses the problem that you want to provide suitable solutions for in your essay.
It must be directly related to your topic and provide a clear idea of what the essay is about to discuss. If you’re given an essay prompt, then you can easily turn this prompt into a question. For example:
- Prompt: “Analyse the impact of social media on interpersonal communication”.
- Research Question: “What is the impact of social media on interpersonal communication?”.
However, if you’re not given a prompt and you choose your own topic, then begin with a broad subject and narrow it down through questioning. Here is an example:
- Broad Subject: Climate change
- Narrower Topic: Renewable energy policies
- Research Question: “Should governments subsidise solar energy more aggressively than fossil fuels?”.
Step 2: Provide an initial answer
The research question is followed by the answer to the research problem and an explanation. At this stage, you need to take a position/claim in a way that clearly conveys your stance about the specific topic.
The weight of the position/claim (how strongly your stance should be) varies depending on the type of thesis statement for an essay. Don’t worry about perfection at this stage. This is your working thesis, a starting point that will evolve as your research and writing.
Based on the question about social media, an initial answer might be:
“Social media has a negative impact on communication”.
Step 3: Justify the answer with logic and reason
The final step involves your claim being supported by logic and reasons. In this step, you will be guiding the audience towards the potential results (which are to be placed in the conclusion section). This will make them aware of where this thesis statement will lead them.
Refine your initial answer by making it specific, complex, and nuanced. Ask yourself these questions:
- Why is there a negative impact?
- What specific negative effects are there?
- How does this happen?
- What are the mechanisms?
- Why does this matter?
- What are the consequences or larger implications?
When should I write an essay thesis statement?
Make sure that you write your essay thesis statement before the whole essay writing process. It’s because the main body elaborates on it in a detailed way with arguments in its support.
What are the steps to write an essay thesis statement?
- Develop a research question
- Provide an initial answer
- Justify the answer with logic and reason
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Examples of Essay Thesis Statements
Here are some examples of thesis statements according to different essay types:
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Argumentative Essay
The thesis statement for an argumentative essay involves an argument by presenting a claim supported by logical reasons. Your thesis statement for an essay should clearly state your claim and a justification.
For example, if you are writing an essay on cricket, your thesis statement might look like this:
- ❌Cricket should be a part of the Olympics.✔️Cricket should be a part of the Olympics as more than 20 countries play it internationally.
The first example mentioned above is making an argument but not providing any logical reason to support it. In contrast, the second example is compact yet precise and provides an argument backed up by reason.
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Analytical Essay
Rather than developing a strong, convincing argument, here, you will be required to conduct an analysis and understand and assess various aspects of the essay topic. In such an essay, you would present key points for your readers and gradually lead them towards the results.
❌Cartoons and video games contain violent content.
✔️Due to technological advancement, it is difficult to prevent our children from watching violent content since it is readily available to them in video games and cartoons.
The first example doesn’t provide any concrete analysis of who is affected by the violent content and why we cannot stop our children from watching it.
The second example clearly states the problem we face in restricting our children from using video games and watching cartoons, thus indirectly injecting violence into their personalities.
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Expository Essay
An expository essay aims to describe the topic to the audience. It addresses the most vital aspects of your topic, i.e., the essay’s main claim points. The thesis statement for an expository essay will briefly describe the key claims of the essay.
❌There are various merits and demerits of adoption.
✔️Adoption allows parents to increase their family size, especially those with no children. The majority of orphan children are being adopted and bestowed love, care, and affection, thus making the idea of adoption a noble act for a social and personal cause.
The first example is ambiguous, not providing any details of what your essay would address. The second example is more detailed and descriptive in nature, discussing the key points like how adoption helps to take care of multiple children deprived of their actual parents.
What Constitutes a Good Thesis Statement?
Here are the qualities that make an essay thesis statement strong:
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It must be concise
A thesis statement is typically brief and concise and forms a central point. It shouldn’t include any irrelevant or unnecessary information. Therefore, it shouldn’t exceed 2-3 sentences.
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It must be logical
A thesis statement generally comprises several parts, but all of these sections must be logical and coherent. You are not just meant to write catchy sentences unless they are supported with logic.
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It must take a clear stand
No matter what type of essay you are writing, you must state a vivid claim based on your essay.
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It must justify your essay
If your essay thesis statement doesn’t validate your whole argument, you need to restructure your statement. Make sure that the statement you provided follows the central argument of your essay.
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It must be contentious
Your thesis statement isn’t just about winning an argument; rather, it should be debatable in an engaging way.
What are the qualities of a good essay thesis statement?
- It must be concise
- It must be logical
- It must take a clear stand
- It must justify your essay
- It must be contentious
How to Revise an Essay Thesis Statement?
When one has completed writing their essay thesis statement, they must also revise it. To do so, read it aloud. Does it sound clear and concise? Ask yourself these further questions:
- Can someone disagree with this?
- Does it summarise the main point of my essay?
- Is it focused enough?
After answering these questions, test the structure of your thesis statement. You must make sure that it follows the formula: Topic + Opinion + Supporting Points
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No, a thesis is a declarative statement, not a question. It must clearly state your position or purpose.
Typically, an essay thesis statement is placed at the end of the introduction paragraph, before the main body paragraphs begin.
It should be 1-2 sentences long. It should summarise your argument and key points.
Yes, as you start writing your essay, your ideas become clearer. Revising your thesis statement reflects that your final argument is common and recommended.
Most academic essays require a thesis statement. However, very short responses, informal narratives, or descriptive pieces might not need one.
