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- How to Write a Thesis Statement | 4 Steps & Examples
How to Write a Thesis Statement | 4 Steps & Examples
Published on January 11, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on August 15, 2023 by Eoghan Ryan.
A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . It usually comes near the end of your introduction .
Your thesis will look a bit different depending on the type of essay you’re writing. But the thesis statement should always clearly state the main idea you want to get across. Everything else in your essay should relate back to this idea.
You can write your thesis statement by following four simple steps:
- Start with a question
- Write your initial answer
- Develop your answer
- Refine your thesis statement
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Table of contents
What is a thesis statement, placement of the thesis statement, step 1: start with a question, step 2: write your initial answer, step 3: develop your answer, step 4: refine your thesis statement, types of thesis statements, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about thesis statements.
A thesis statement summarizes the central points of your essay. It is a signpost telling the reader what the essay will argue and why.
The best thesis statements are:
- Concise: A good thesis statement is short and sweet—don’t use more words than necessary. State your point clearly and directly in one or two sentences.
- Contentious: Your thesis shouldn’t be a simple statement of fact that everyone already knows. A good thesis statement is a claim that requires further evidence or analysis to back it up.
- Coherent: Everything mentioned in your thesis statement must be supported and explained in the rest of your paper.
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The thesis statement generally appears at the end of your essay introduction or research paper introduction .
The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts and among young people more generally is hotly debated. For many who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its many benefits for education: the internet facilitates easier access to information, exposure to different perspectives, and a flexible learning environment for both students and teachers.
You should come up with an initial thesis, sometimes called a working thesis , early in the writing process . As soon as you’ve decided on your essay topic , you need to work out what you want to say about it—a clear thesis will give your essay direction and structure.
You might already have a question in your assignment, but if not, try to come up with your own. What would you like to find out or decide about your topic?
For example, you might ask:
After some initial research, you can formulate a tentative answer to this question. At this stage it can be simple, and it should guide the research process and writing process .
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Now you need to consider why this is your answer and how you will convince your reader to agree with you. As you read more about your topic and begin writing, your answer should get more detailed.
In your essay about the internet and education, the thesis states your position and sketches out the key arguments you’ll use to support it.
The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its many benefits for education because it facilitates easier access to information.
In your essay about braille, the thesis statement summarizes the key historical development that you’ll explain.
The invention of braille in the 19th century transformed the lives of blind people, allowing them to participate more actively in public life.
A strong thesis statement should tell the reader:
- Why you hold this position
- What they’ll learn from your essay
- The key points of your argument or narrative
The final thesis statement doesn’t just state your position, but summarizes your overall argument or the entire topic you’re going to explain. To strengthen a weak thesis statement, it can help to consider the broader context of your topic.
These examples are more specific and show that you’ll explore your topic in depth.
Your thesis statement should match the goals of your essay, which vary depending on the type of essay you’re writing:
- In an argumentative essay , your thesis statement should take a strong position. Your aim in the essay is to convince your reader of this thesis based on evidence and logical reasoning.
- In an expository essay , you’ll aim to explain the facts of a topic or process. Your thesis statement doesn’t have to include a strong opinion in this case, but it should clearly state the central point you want to make, and mention the key elements you’ll explain.
If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!
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A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.
The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:
- It gives your writing direction and focus.
- It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.
Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.
Follow these four steps to come up with a thesis statement :
- Ask a question about your topic .
- Write your initial answer.
- Develop your answer by including reasons.
- Refine your answer, adding more detail and nuance.
The thesis statement should be placed at the end of your essay introduction .
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Expository Essays
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The Modes of Discourse—Exposition, Description, Narration, Argumentation (EDNA)—are common paper assignments you may encounter in your writing classes. Although these genres have been criticized by some composition scholars, the Purdue OWL recognizes the wide spread use of these approaches and students’ need to understand and produce them.
What is an expository essay?
The expository essay is a genre of essay that requires the student to investigate an idea, evaluate evidence, expound on the idea, and set forth an argument concerning that idea in a clear and concise manner. This can be accomplished through comparison and contrast, definition, example, the analysis of cause and effect, etc.
Please note : This genre is commonly assigned as a tool for classroom evaluation and is often found in various exam formats.
The structure of the expository essay is held together by the following.
- A clear, concise, and defined thesis statement that occurs in the first paragraph of the essay.
It is essential that this thesis statement be appropriately narrowed to follow the guidelines set forth in the assignment. If the student does not master this portion of the essay, it will be quite difficult to compose an effective or persuasive essay.
- Clear and logical transitions between the introduction, body, and conclusion.
Transitions are the mortar that holds the foundation of the essay together. Without logical progression of thought, the reader is unable to follow the essay’s argument, and the structure will collapse.
- Body paragraphs that include evidential support.
Each paragraph should be limited to the exposition of one general idea. This will allow for clarity and direction throughout the essay. What is more, such conciseness creates an ease of readability for one’s audience. It is important to note that each paragraph in the body of the essay must have some logical connection to the thesis statement in the opening paragraph.
- Evidential support (whether factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal).
Often times, students are required to write expository essays with little or no preparation; therefore, such essays do not typically allow for a great deal of statistical or factual evidence.
- A bit of creativity!
Though creativity and artfulness are not always associated with essay writing, it is an art form nonetheless. Try not to get stuck on the formulaic nature of expository writing at the expense of writing something interesting. Remember, though you may not be crafting the next great novel, you are attempting to leave a lasting impression on the people evaluating your essay.
- A conclusion that does not simply restate the thesis, but readdresses it in light of the evidence provided.
It is at this point of the essay that students will inevitably begin to struggle. This is the portion of the essay that will leave the most immediate impression on the mind of the reader. Therefore, it must be effective and logical. Do not introduce any new information into the conclusion; rather, synthesize and come to a conclusion concerning the information presented in the body of the essay.
A complete argument
Perhaps it is helpful to think of an essay in terms of a conversation or debate with a classmate. If I were to discuss the cause of the Great Depression and its current effect on those who lived through the tumultuous time, there would be a beginning, middle, and end to the conversation. In fact, if I were to end the exposition in the middle of my second point, questions would arise concerning the current effects on those who lived through the Depression. Therefore, the expository essay must be complete, and logically so, leaving no doubt as to its intent or argument.
The five-paragraph Essay
A common method for writing an expository essay is the five-paragraph approach. This is, however, by no means the only formula for writing such essays. If it sounds straightforward, that is because it is; in fact, the method consists of:
- an introductory paragraph
- three evidentiary body paragraphs
- a conclusion
Expository Essay Writing Worksheet 1
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Students would depict their ability to write a five-paragraph expository (with a three-point thesis statement) on their favourite holiday.
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Exercise 3: Order the following ideas from general (1) to narrow (5). Underline the topic, circle the controlling idea, and double underline the sub-topics in the following thesis statements. e.g. My roommate has her own unique systems for studying, writing essays, and cleaning our living room.
A common structure for a short expository essay consists of five paragraphs: An introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Introducing your essay. Like all essays, an expository essay begins with an introduction. This serves to hook the reader's interest, briefly introduce your topic, and provide a thesis statement summarizing ...
5. A troublesome thesis is a fragment; a good thesis statement is expressed in a complete sentence. Example: How life is in New York after September 11th. Better: After September 11th, the city of New York tends to have more cases of post-traumatic disorder than other areas of the United States and rightfully so.
Exercise Directions: Create a thesis statement based on the following information. Topic 1: Education is important to have. It could enable one to get a better paying job. It makes a person a more interesting individual. It makes a person a more informed citizen. Topic 2: Bowling is a sport for everyone.
KMBT C654-20121115000022. Printable Handouts: Writing a Thesis Statement O n i n e Writing Lab Writing a Thesis Statement Page '1 of 4 A thesis statement is a sentence (or sentences) that expresses the main ideas of your paper and answers the question or questions posed by your paper. It offers your readers a quick and easy to follow summary of ...
"build" towards the thesis statement. 3. Thesis statement The thesis statement comes at the end of the introduction. It is the most important sentence in the entire essay because it presents the essay topic and the writer's position on that topic. It also indicates the main ideas that will be discussed in the body paragraphs. Essay structure
Step 2: Write your initial answer. After some initial research, you can formulate a tentative answer to this question. At this stage it can be simple, and it should guide the research process and writing process. The internet has had more of a positive than a negative effect on education.
Browse thesis statement worksheets expository resources on Teachers Pay Teachers, a marketplace trusted by millions of teachers for original educational resources. Browse Catalog. ... Make the 5-paragraph expository essay manageable for you and your middle school students! From thesis statement to final draft, these outlines, graphic organizers ...
A thesis statement is often (but not always) one sentence and is often placed at the end of an introductory paragraph. A thesis statement is a promise; a successful essay depends on fulfilling that promise. A thesis statement is the essay's controlling idea.
• Try and avoid using a three-pronged thesis statement. Experienced, creative writers aim to make a general claim and avoid the standard "five paragraph essay." Expository (Explanatory) Thesis Statements . An expository paper explains something to the reader. An expository thesis statement details: 1. What you are going to explain 2.
by. Michelle Kirby Claunch. 19. $2.00. PPT. This power point explains what expository writing entails, what a thesis statement is, how to write thesis statements, identify thesis statements, and practice the writing essentials. Subjects: Writing-Expository, Writing-Essays, Informational Text.
71. $4.50. PDF. This test prompts students to identify the important elements of an expository essay. I use it with my students during an expository essay writing unit to make sure they understand what each element looks like in a mentor text. It covers the following concept -Hook/attention grabber -thesis stateme.
A clear, concise, and defined thesis statement that occurs in the first paragraph of the essay. It is essential that this thesis statement be appropriately narrowed to follow the guidelines set forth in the assignment. If the student does not master this portion of the essay, it will be quite difficult to compose an effective or persuasive essay.
Step 2) Brainstorm some possible answers to your question. Step 3) Combine your best answer(s) and your question into a thesis statement. Academic Writing Tools: To outline your essay see our Outline: Short Essay (fewer than 5 pages) or Extended Essay (+ 5 pages). If your instructor has requested an annotated bibliography, see Writing Guide ...
It's worth noting that each paragraph in the essay's body must have a logical relationship to the thesis statement in the first paragraph. Transitions are the cement that keeps the essay's foundation together. The reader will be unable to follow the essay's thesis if there is no logical sequence of thinking, and the structure will collapse.
An informative (or expository) thesis statement will 1. state what you are going to explain 2. outline the organization of your explanation Step 1. Choose a topic: barn owls ... What the essay will do: This thesis statement establishes that the paper will provide information on the lifestyles of barn owls. Using the subdivisions in this thesis ...
Worksheets that save paper, ink and time. This is a student-driven worksheet that allows them to see expository essay prompts and practice writing a thesis statement, create necessary evidence, and a conclusion. This is a great way to introduce expository outlining and brainstorming skills to students ages 12 - 18.
Circle the lead sentence in the introduction. Draw a box around the thesis statement in the introduction. Write the word "Conclusion" above the concluding paragraph. Read paragraphs 2, 3, and 4. Underline the main idea (topic) sentence in each of these paragraphs. Summarize paragraphs 2, 3, and 4 in one or two words.
Lesson 5: Thesis statements—students will review what they have previously learned about writing thesis statements; identify examples and non-examples, and write thesis statements for their own essays. EQ focus: Why is "writing to explain" important to high school students? Lesson 6: Logic and transitions—Students will be able to
Browse thesis statement expository essay resources on Teachers Pay Teachers, a marketplace trusted by millions of teachers for original educational resources.
Country code: VC. Country: St. Vincent & Grenadines. School subject: English language (1061957) Main content: Expository Essay on Favourite Holiday (1430172) Students would depict their ability to write a five-paragraph expository (with a three-point thesis statement) on their favourite holiday. Other contents: Three-point thesis statement.
FREE. This step-by-step worksheet on how to write a thesis statement gives clear and simple steps that can used when writing a thesis statement for ANY type of paper. Two examples are also given to show how this worksheet can be utilized for different types of essays. W.6.1, W.6.7, W.7.1, W.7.7, W.8.1 ….
The Caring Teacher. This thesis worksheet provides practice for students to both identify and write a thesis statement. This a great activity to become familiar with what a good thesis looks like. This is also a good activity for centers where students can work independently or in a group to practice thesis writing!