How to Make a Thesis Statement

By: Max Malak

14 min

0

10.04.2022

How to Make a Thesis Statement

Thesis, dissertations, assignments, essays, name it! Every student rues those long and arduous hours of writing. But who wouldn't give up some more hours of fun to get some good grades? This article explains how to make a good thesis statement.

What Is A Thesis Statement?

Your research papers could be analytical, argumentative, or expository. A thesis statement helps you summarize the whole message of the research paper in a single sentence.

For instance, let's say you are researching the technology. According to your research, it is established that technology has reduced communication and connection with others. Then, you bring out different statistics and facts based on your research. To give a general view of the research, you would need a thesis statement.

In essence, the statement offers itself as a summary of a research essay or paper. It exudes the research's main idea in a single sentence. Thesis statements usually appear as the last sentence of the introductory paragraph of a research paper. They could either be direct or indirect.

A direct one states explicitly what each section of the research is all about. Meanwhile, an indirect one doesn't explain the essence of each part of the essay.

For instance, "Covid 19 impact would be mitigated if the government took these steps" This statement is indirect because it doesn't explicitly list those "steps".

Meanwhile "Covid 19 impact would be mitigated if the government ensured early lockdown, provided better isolation facilities, and ensured better compliance to Covid 19 prevention protocols. This one is direct because it lists what the research is all about more clearly.

Your thesis and research must be backed up with surveys, examples, facts, evidence, and illustrations to back up your claim. Thesis statements are just preparing the reader's mind to know what the research is all about.

How To Start A Thesis Statement

Composing a thesis statement is more than just summarising your research. Apart from introducing the main essay point to the reader, it must be concise and consistent.

Besides, a good statement must spur the reader's curiosity about reading more about the research paper. It should also reflect the paper's tone of writing and type. From it, readers must be able to know whether the paper is argumentative, analytical, or persuasive.

For instance, argumentative research tends to be more persuasive and factual. Its statement should also be written persuasively.

Thus, you should not start your research essay by writing a thesis statement. Of course, you can create its initial version. However, after writing the whole research, you get a better view of how your statement should be structured. So, here are the basic steps on how to create a thesis statement for your research:

How do you write a thesis statement?

  1. Understand the research topic.
  2. Brainstorm.
  3. Be consistent, concise, and credible.
  4. Read and model samples.

Understand The Topic

Before forming a thesis statement structure or doing research, you must understand the topic. Analyze its background, issues that would be researched, how it is related to or affect your research.

Brainstorm

Through efficient brainstorming, you would make sure that:

It reflects the main point of your research paper without leaving an important detail

The right type of tone is used. Am I developing a thesis statement for an argumentative, or expository essay? How do I write the thesis statement?

It would also help you determine whether you are using the direct or indirect approach.

Before you begin writing, decide the type of statement you want to work with. Is it direct or indirect? A direct one clearly states the issue at hand, while an indirect one isn't that explicit and slowly builds on the issue at hand.

Be Consistent, Concise, and Credible

The statement could contain evidence to give it more credibility. It should be concise, consistent, and credible. For instance, "Human casualties from Covid 19 would be reduced by 50% if the government…" is concise, expresses the main point, and is credible.

Read And Model Samples

One wildcard secret of creating a good statement is reading and modeling other people's statements. No, you don't have to copy them word for word, that amounts to plagiarism. Rather, you can examine them, how they are written, and their essential characteristics. Then, use the template from those statements to form your copy.

Write It Last

Your statement is in the opening part of your research paper. However, it is better to write it as the last part of your research. Why?

A statement reflects the whole paper. Without understanding the central idea of the paper, you may not craft the best statement.

Therefore, you should be done with the research paper, understand the main concept, and how to build a thesis statement accordingly.

How To Write A Thesis Statement Step By Step

So, how to begin a thesis statement?

Use A Rhetorical Question

Questions are great ways to trigger the reader's curiosity about a subject. After seeing the research question, answers pop up in their mind based on their past knowledge and experience. Then, they will look forward to reading the research essay to determine whether their views align with what the research reflects.

This type of rhetorical question must be unique, intriguing, and provocative. For it to be effective, you must know how to create a thesis question. Here are some examples of rhetorical questions

"How much impact does the internet have on the global economy?"

"Did Industrialization end the European slave trade?"

Write Your Initial Answer

In your initial statement, you could either take a side (argumentative essay) or create a logical point of view. Your initial answer could be controversial or align with what people believe.

For instance, the initial answer to "Did industrialization end the European slave trade?" could be "Industrialization ended the European slave trade. However, it was not the only major reason why the slave trade ended. Other reasons include…"

Answer The Research Topic

Research offers to shed more light on a topic. And by the end of the research, you should reach a credible answer to the question. This answer would form the basis of what your statement would be about. It would answer the questions effectively, introduce your point of view, and back it up with credible evidence. Also, use the appropriate APA and MLA method for referencing your evidence.

5 Different Ways To Write A Thesis Statement

This section explains 5 popular forms in which statements can come. It also gives tips and examples for writing thesis statements for each method.

Cause And Effects

In this type, you explain a problem or issue and bring a popular opinion about the effect of the problem. Then, you establish that the effect of such a problem may not be true after all. Of course, your opinion regarding the issue should be based on the research you've done.

For instance: "Why is diabetes considered one of the most chronic diseases of the present times? Many people believe that increased intake of man-made food with high sugar content has increased diabetes among people. However, the truth is that insulin production and absorption of glucose determines diabetes. Insulin absorbs glucose(sugar) into the bloodstream. If the body doesn't produce enough insulin, sugar residues that are not absorbed may result in diabetes".

What do you notice about the statement? It states a problem. It reveals the popularly believed cause and the effect (the problem). Then, based on research and evidence, it brings a contrasting and more credible point of view.

Evaluative/Analytical

Evaluative statements are not meant to support an argument. Thus, they are not persuasive. Rather, they are used to evaluate an issue.

An evaluative or analytical statement explains a topic, analyzes it, distinguishes its various aspects, and makes a conclusion.

Although research-driven, analytical statements are not exactly factual. They are usually based on a study or text. These are mostly used in data analysis, mathematics, and other types of pure sciences and academic writing.

Explanatory

In contrast, explanatory statements are based on facts. They don't try to discuss a study. Rather, they are used to explain reasons for a specific argument that are backed up by facts. An explanatory statement appeals to logical reasoning. Thus, claims that are not supported by evidence have no place in explanatory statements.

The basis of the explanatory statement includes:

  • You make a claim or pose a question.
  • Then, you explain exactly how it affects certain things.
  • You back up your claims with evidence. The evidence could be a fact, survey, or research-based evidence.

An explanatory statement is very similar to an analytical one. However, they have a few differences. Both don't support or oppose an argument. Analytical statements tend to study all the facets of research, study, or text. On the other hand, an explanatory one makes a claim, introduces different views, and supports it with a fact. While analytical statements just give a deep analysis of a topic, explanatory ones go deeper. They use facts and logical reasoning to construct the why's and how's of something.

In essence, analytical or evaluative statements analyze research or study. They also give diverse opinions and situations where such benefits cannot be achieved. Meanwhile, explanatory statements support a claim with proper information and evidence. They show the exact reason why 'A' causes 'B'.

Argumentative

The essence of an argumentative statement is simple: it creates an argument and takes a stand. The succeeding essay would be aimed at supporting such an argument. An argumentative statement makes a claim on the argument and the whole paper is meant to convince the reader why the claim is correct.

By writing it, you should clear every doubt that the reader has about the subject. Thus, be prepared to conduct as much research as possible. It is not entirely based on presenting facts, logical reasoning, surveys, persuasion, debunking of conflicting arguments, amongst other tools are effective ways of persuading the reader to buy into your argument.

Argumentative statements are usually open-ended. That is, they are not a yes or no question. Rather, they are open to every form of conflicting claims and views.

"Should the government stop funding public libraries due to technological advancements?" If you are supporting this kind of argument.

Your claims to support the argument could be

  • decrease in the usage of public libraries due to the availability of digital alternatives
  • wastage of taxpayers' money that could be used to find digital libraries
  • time and geographical rigidity of public libraries when compared to digital alternatives etc.

In this argument, you explain how public libraries usage has reduced and why funds channeled towards it could be more productive if used on capable alternatives. Then, you support your argument with logical reasoning and facts. If you are looking for how to write a thesis statement for an essay, an argumentative method is one of the best options.

Expository

As the name implies, it is meant to expose you to a less-known topic or point of view that is not evident. Unlike other types of statements, it doesn't support an argument, analyze research, or introduce a question and its solution.

It just introduces a central idea to readers and establishes their point of view. Expository ones are meant to inform. Thus, they tend to fire up the readers' curiosity.

An example of an expository one could be "The United States' annual military budget is bigger than all the industrialized nations combined".

How do you write a simple thesis statement? Use the expository method.

How To Make A Thesis Statement Stronger

Now, you probably know how to compose a thesis statement and different statement types you can try. However, it is much more than just that. Many people spend hours upon hours writing a good thesis statement. In such cases, it is always nice to seek a professional writer's help to craft a good statement for you.

Apart from saving you valuable time, you have many more hours of fun and attending to other pressing needs. Meanwhile, whether you create one yourself or you employ a professional to write, you must always look out for the following.

Clearly Explains Your Position And Views

A good statement shows your point of view without mincing words. Every essay gives a position on a topic and its statement is meant to show such a position. You can acknowledge other points of view. However, never show your views' weaknesses. In essence, a powerful statement takes a stand and supports it wholly.

Make It Inconspicuous But Provoking

Your statement is not the most obvious in your essay. However, the reader must be intrigued by the research from reading it. One way to achieve this is claiming something wrong or controversial to be right. Of course, you must have good research to back up your claim.

A reader may not be interested in your essay from reading its statement that goes thus "Sexual immoralities are common in European universities". However, if you make a few tweaks and write the following, "Sexual immoralities are more prevalent in European universities than African schools" the readers' interest would be piqued at once.

Clearly Express Only One Idea

Good statements are clear. They express only one idea. A good statement doesn't try to incorporate several points of view. Rather, it looks at an issue from one angle and clearly states it.

Don't Be Generalistic

Good statements are specific. They don't examine a general solution to a problem. They analyze a specific area, sample, or part of the problem.

For example, when you try to analyze the effects of excessive consumption of processed food. This is a too generalistic topic. Are you talking about the health effects, carbon print effects, economic effects, social effects, etc? Or which processed food should be examined; breakfast cereals, soft drinks, canned food, or alcoholic drinks? These types of research are too spanned to take a stand.

On the other hand, if you analyze the health effects of excessive soft drinks consumption (a type of processed food), you can reach a more specific conclusion. Thus, your statement could be better channeled towards a specific point of view.

FAQ

What is the main purpose of the thesis statement?

The main purpose is to summarize the essay in a sentence and introduce it to the reader. Through reading it, the reader knows what the essay and research are all about.

What are the key elements of a thesis statement?

You may ask, what should a thesis statement include? These are the basic characteristics of a good statement:

  • Confidence. It should be brimming with confidence. Use persuasive words that would make the readers convinced that you are completely sure of what you are saying. 'I believe' or 'I think' should not be examples of words to start a thesis statement.
  • Specificality. It must focus on a specific topic. Choose a specific part of a broad subject and focus on it.
  • Argumentative. It must give logical opinions, points of view, and facts to support its argument.
  • Precision. It should precisely state what is in the research essay.
  • Demonstrability. You have to demonstrate how something may work or may not. You must provide reasons, logic, examples, illustrations, observations, or other sources to support your opinion.

What does a good thesis statement consist of?

The thesis statement setup includes the following parts:

  • Limited subject: a specific subject that meets the research's or instructors requirements.
  • Precise Opinion: a clear and particular opinion that serves as your answer to the problem.
  • Blueprint of reasons: a plan of the whole idea of the essay. It includes how the essay relates to the general sense of the research and how the research and findings would be made.

Can a thesis statement be two sentences?

Probably, you may ask, how should a thesis statement be written; single sentence, dual sentence, or multiple sentences?

Ideally, a thesis sentence should not be more than one. However, at times, it can be written in two sentences.

At times, long papers with several detailed research can have numerous sentences as their statement.

P.S. And if you were looking for the answer to the question "Can a Thesis Statement Be a Question?", you can find it on our website too.

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Max Malak

Product Manager

Here at Studybay, I work as a Head of Affiliates in the marketing department. I studied Liberal Arts and took related classes at Tokyo Sophia University. I believe that challenges are what make my job fun and exciting. That's why I like completing complex, complicated, and even weird tasks and then sharing my experience with colleagues.

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