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An academic essay needs to remain on point. The easiest way to make sure you aren’t drivelling off in different directions from your main argument is to have a thesis statement and include it in your essay.
What is a thesis statement?
A thesis statement is the summary of the main argument you’re making in your essay. Usually it’s a single sentence (maximum 2). Needless to say, your thesis statement shouldn’t contain anything that you don’t mention in the rest of your essay.
Example of a thesis statement
I argue that Persia exerted a significant influence on Indonesian narrative poetry right till the 19th century, in addition to India, China, and the Netherlands.
In this essay, I show how Johannes Brahms can be considered responsible for a new and unique paradigm in musical education.
This paper will highlight how Empidocles, though the author of numerous texts on the doctrine of reincarnation, cannot be considered the originator of this doctrine even in Ancient Greece.
Why Should Your Essay Contain a Thesis Statement?
Some professors or schools don’t make a thesis statement mandatory in essays. Should you write one anyway? A good thesis statement
- Gives your writing direction and focus,
- Keeps you from meandering off track,
- Makes it easier to structure and organize your essay, and
- Makes it easier for the reader to quickly grasp the purpose of your essay.
Placement of the Thesis Statement
For all the above reasons, your thesis statement belongs to the introductory section of your essay. Position it close to the beginning of the introduction or towards the end of the introduction, but you need to spell out your thesis statement before you get to the “meat” of your arguments.
Check out this video Q&A: How to Write the Introduction of Your Paper
How to Know Whether Your Thesis Statement is Strong Enough
Without a good thesis statement, it’s hard to write a good essay. You’ll know if your thesis statement is strong enough if
- It is original
- It is not overly general
- People can logically argue about it (it’s not obviously true or false)
- It is clear and concise, and
- You’ve sufficient material to expand the thesis statement into an essay without “fluffing” it.
Steps to Writing a Thesis Statement
A thesis statement is so important that you should actually spend maximum time and effort to get a good one. Here’s what experienced writers do:
- Research and brainstorm their topic
- Identify 2-3 questions that need to be answered
- Shortlist the most important or most significant of these
- Turn it into a sentence.
- Done!
How to Generate a Thesis Statement: If a Topic is Assigned
If you’ve already been assigned a topic for your essay, generating a thesis statement is quick and easy. Pick one aspect or question that is worth exploring further: either because there is insufficient research on the topic or because existing research is conflicting. Then, just use the steps given above to create a thesis statement. Voila!
How to Generate a Thesis Statement When You Don’t Have an Assigned Topic
It might be harder to generate a thesis statement when you have free reign over what to write about. First, find a topic on which there is a reasonable amount of speculation and discussion. Don’t take an obvious, well-established fact like whether Oliver Twist is about crime and poverty.
Once you’ve chosen the topic, look for specific questions that need to be answered. For instance, how similar are Agnes Grey and Oliver Twist in their approach to poverty? From these questions you can create a thesis statement.
Thesis Statement for Analytical, Expository, and Argumentative Essays
Depending on the type of essay you’re writing, you will have to frame your thesis statement accordingly. Look at the examples below.
Analytical Essay
An analytical essay is a comprehensive and methodological examination of a single topic or theory. A sample thesis statement would be:
This paper analyses subversive praxis and the influence of anticapitalist thought on 1980s grunge bands.
Expository Essay
An expository essay is an “exploration”: it provides information about a topic from multiple angles. A sample thesis statement would be:
This essay explores the intersection of ethnic identity and work-life balance among second-generation Asian-Americans.
Argumentative Essay
This kind of essay makes an argument. It advances a definite opinion and provides evidence to support that opinion. So, your thesis statement would look like:
Drawing on examples of public school textbooks, I argue that Duxyginia’s occupation of the Republic of Wastewaterland led to a paradigm shift in science education.
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