What exactly is a thesis statement?

What if I told you that one sentence in your essay or thesis could be the difference between a First and a Fail?

It may sound absurd – perhaps even unfair – but it’s true. I refer, of course, to the thesis statement. A thesis statement is your entire essay if it were condensed into a single sentence. If your essay title is a question, then your thesis statement is the one-sentence answer.

A thesis statement is a concise summary of the main point or claim of an academic paper. It is typically found at the end of the introductory paragraph and it serves as a roadmap for the reader, outlining the central argument or focus of the work. A strong thesis statement is specific, debatable, and reflects the writer's stance on a topic. It helps to guide the direction of the paper, ensuring that all subsequent content aligns with and supports the main argument, making it a crucial element in academic writing.

Let’s take a look at a thesis statement example from a Master of Education degree thesis:

Thesis title
What constitutes ‘good writing’ for GCSE students of English?

Thesis statement
The examination rubric by which GCSE English writing performance is assessed, influenced by a long history of variable ‘tastes’, may now be said to describe ‘good writing’ as that which is grammatically accurate, sophisticated, and suited to purpose, genre and audience.

Key Elements of a Good Thesis Statement

  • Clarity: A good thesis statement should be clear and specific, avoiding vague language. It should express the main idea straightforwardly.
  • Debatable: It should present an argument or claim that can be supported or opposed, encouraging critical discussion.
  • Focused: A strong thesis statement should concentrate on a single main idea, guiding the direction of the paper.
  • Relevant: It must relate directly to the topic and be meaningful to the overall argument being presented.
  • Insightful: A compelling thesis statement often provides a fresh perspective or insight into the topic, highlighting the significance of the research.

Why is a Thesis Statement Important?

As I mentioned, the way your thesis statement is written can be the difference between a First and a Fail. But how?

To answer that, let’s think about what ‘thesis’ means. From the Greek thésis, meaning ‘proposition’, your thesis is your main argument.

It is the position you have to support and defend for the remainder of your essay. Without something clear to defend, the fortress you build will crumble. In essence: without a clear thesis statement, you don’t have an essay.

Characteristics of a Strong Thesis Statement

  • Clarity and Precision: A strong thesis statement should be clear and precise, conveying the main idea without ambiguity. It uses straightforward language, allowing readers to easily understand the argument being presented. By avoiding vague terms and generalizations, the thesis sets a clear direction for the paper, ensuring that readers know what to expect.
  • Arguable or Debatable Claim: An effective thesis statement presents an arguable or debatable claim, inviting discussion and critical analysis. It should not be a simple statement of fact; instead, it should propose an opinion or perspective that others might challenge. This characteristic encourages a deeper exploration of the topic, fostering engagement and debate.
  • Specificity: A strong thesis statement is specific, detailing the main points that will be discussed in the paper. Instead of making broad generalizations, it narrows down the focus to particular aspects of the topic. This specificity helps readers understand the scope of the argument and what to expect in the subsequent sections of the paper.
  • Scope and Focus: A well-crafted thesis statement maintains a balanced scope and focus. It should be broad enough to cover the topic but narrow enough to be manageable within the confines of the paper. This balance ensures that the thesis statement guides the research and writing process effectively, keeping the argument on track without becoming overly broad or too detailed.

Placement of a Thesis Statement and its Importance

As mentioned above a thesis statement typically appears at the end of the introductory paragraph. This positioning allows the thesis to serve as a bridge between the background information provided in the introduction and the main body of the paper. By placing the thesis statement here, you immediately inform readers of your central argument, setting the tone for what is to come. This strategic placement helps to guide readers through your paper, ensuring they understand the purpose and direction of your research from the outset.

Steps to Write a Thesis Statement

  • Identify the topic: Choose a relevant subject for your assignment or research question.
  • Narrow down the focus: Hone in on a specific aspect of the topic that interests you.
  • Determine your position or argument: Clarify your stance on the focused topic to guide your paper's direction.
  • Draft the thesis statement: Articulate your main argument in one or two clear sentences, and be open to revising it as your research evolves.

Tips for Writing a Strong Thesis Statement

Be specific: Avoid vague language and generalizations. A strong thesis statement should clearly outline the main argument and the specific points you plan to discuss in your paper.

Take a clear stance: Your thesis should express a definite opinion or perspective on the topic. Avoid hedging language; instead, assert your position confidently.

Keep it concise: Aim for one or two sentences that encapsulate your main idea. A concise thesis statement is easier for readers to understand and follow throughout your paper.

Make it arguable: Ensure your thesis presents a claim that can be debated. A strong thesis statement invites discussion and encourages readers to consider your viewpoint.

Revise as necessary: Don’t hesitate to revise your thesis as you write and research further. It’s normal for your ideas to evolve, so ensure your thesis reflects your current understanding and direction.

Align with your content: Make sure your thesis statement aligns with the body of your paper. Every point you make should support or relate back to your thesis, creating a cohesive argument.

What Should a Thesis Statement Include?

Now that you know the main thesis statement characteristics, and have read some tips on how to write a strong thesis statement in a few steps, we can delve deep into what your thesis statement should include. This is determined by three things:

1. The subject and topic of the essay.
2. The purpose of the essay.
3. The length of the essay.

Let’s examine each of those in more detail to see how they can help us refine our thesis statement.

The subject and topic of the essay

Look at this real-life title from an undergraduate Sports Science essay. This should help you learn how to write a thesis statement with examples

What are the key differences between training recommendations for maximising muscular strength and maximising muscular hypertrophy?

The first task is, of course, to determine the subject of the essay.

In this example, that would be ‘training recommendations for maximising muscular strength and training recommendations for maximising muscular hypertrophy’.

Knowing that means that I know I will need to deploy my knowledge about those two similar but distinct areas. It also means that I should be using the specialist terminology relevant to the field, such as load, isotonic and volume.

Next, I need to determine the topic.

Here it would be ‘the key differences’ between training recommendations for those two goals. That phrase ‘key differences’ is likely to be at the heart of my thesis statement, to show that I’m on track.

With that in mind, my thesis statement might look like this:

Whilst both training outcomes require resistance training centred upon isotonic contractions, it is likely that the absolute load requirements may need to be higher for strength purposes, whilst the total training volume may need to be higher for hypertrophy purposes.

It is by no means a complete essay, but it states clearly what the ‘short answer’ to the question is, whilst paving the way for the ‘long answer’ to follow.

But what if the essay isn’t just looking for the facts organised into a specific order? What if the essay is asking for analysis? Or an argument?

The purpose of the essay

Different essay purposes require different thesis statements. Fortunately, there are only three main essay purposes, and they’re pretty easy to recognise:

1. The expository essay:
This is an essay type that asks for the key facts on a subject to be laid out, with explanations. The Sports Science question above is an example of this. It asks for the WHAT and HOW of something.

2. The analytical essay:
This essay type asks you not only to lay out the facts, but also to analyse and deconstruct them to better understand them. It is typical in subjects such as English Literature and Fine Art. It asks for the WHY of something.

3. The argumentative essay:
This type of essay asks you to use the facts available, to analyse them for value, and then to provide a point of view about the subject. It moves more quickly through the WHAT, HOW and WHY of a topic through to: WHY DOES IT MATTER?

All of the above essay types need a thesis statement that includes a proposition (a statement which answers the question or addresses the title).

Beyond that, these three essay types all require different additions.

For the expository essay, you need to add an overview of the details of the conclusion. Let’s look at an example:

Expository essay title:
What are the key differences between training recommendations for maximising muscular strength and maximising muscular hypertrophy?
(BSc in Sports Science)

Expository thesis statement:
Whilst both training outcomes require resistance training centred upon isotonic contractions, it is likely that the absolute load requirements may need to be higher for strength purposes, whilst the total training volume may need to be higher for hypertrophy purposes.
(The basic conclusion is that both approaches need isotonic resistance training; the details are teased out in bold.)

For the analytical essay, you need to add an overview of the analysis performed. Here’s an example:

Analytical essay title:
Why did England and Wales vote to leave the European Union?
(BA in Politics)

Analytical thesis statement:
A close consideration of the voter demographics, the populist nature of political messages leading up to the referendum, and the history of Britain’s status in the EU, will demonstrate that Brexit was primarily motivated by the machinations of the Right.

(The basic conclusion is that Brexit was influenced by politicians; the analytical approach is in bold.)

For the argumentative essay, you need to add an overview of your reasoning. Another example:

Argumentative essay title:
To what extent do you consider the authorship of Shakespeare’s plays to be in question?
(BA in English Literature)

Argumentative thesis statement:
Shakespeare’s authorship of his plays is beyond question, given both the entirely unconvincing nature of any counter-theories and the relatively unstable conception of the playwright’s identity as it stands.
(The basic conclusion is that Shakespeare did write his plays; the reasoning is in bold.)

As you can see from these examples, the purpose of the essay gives a very clear demand for something beyond a simple answer.

But, there’s more!

The length of the essay

The prescribed length of the essay also defines what you need to do with your thesis statement.

Your thesis statement is a microcosm: a miniature, compressed version of your whole essay.

So, it makes sense that the length of the actual essay is going to impact upon the content of the thesis statement.

If, for example, your essay is expected to be 800 words long and on the subject of Eve in the Bible, then it would be overly ambitious for your thesis statement to say: ‘through comprehensive study of the Bible and extant criticism’. For an 800 essay, more precision will be necessary. It would be better for your thesis statement to say: ‘with due awareness of the complexity of the issue, focusing on feminist readings of Genesis.’

“Matching the scope given in your thesis statement to the depth you provide in your essay is a very effective way to ensure precision.”

Contrastingly, if your essay is expected to be 80,000 words long (a PhD thesis, for example), on the subject of stop-motion animation, it would be rather unambitious to suggest that the essay will ‘provide a visual analysis of Wallace and Gromit: The Wrong Trousers’, only. For a PhD, we would expect more content to be covered, and multiple approaches to analysis to be considered.

Indeed, matching the scope given in your thesis statement to the depth you provide in your essay is a very effective way to ensure precision.

So, to summarise, how do I write a thesis statement?

It’s a simple, three-part process:

1. Identify the question in the title (or make a question from the statement).
2. Answer that question in as few words as possible.
3. Complete the sentence by providing an overview of the foundation behind your answer.

Easy, right? It can be!

That said, there are plenty of traps that essayists can fall into with this part of the essay. Let’s look at some of these pitfalls and how to avoid them.

Pitalls to Avoid

Pitfall #1: amateurish style

This is common throughout academic essays written by beginners. It’s not just the thesis statement that falls foul of sounding amateurish. There are plenty of ways this happens, which are beyond the scope of this argument, but the following example is a prime example:

In this essay, I will explore the various pieces of evidence before concluding.

This is amateurish for a few reasons. Firstly, it doesn’t actually say anything. You could otherwise word it, ‘I will write an essay which answers the question’ – a rather wasted sentence. The next, and more forgivable issue is the use of the first-person. We want to get a sense that an individual wrote this essay, but we never want to hear them mentioned! Make sense? No? Sorry.

This should instead read more like:

This essay considers evidence from X in light of Y which ultimately reveals Z at the heart of the issue.

(It focuses on the specifics, X, Y, and Z, and is devoid of any mention of its author.)

Pitfall #2: empty phrasing

This is similar to amateurish style. However, empty phrasing is not just amateur-sounding; it’s manipulative-sounding.

Using phrases such as “in order to” instead of, simply, “to” – or “due to the fact that” instead of just “as” – look like attempts to fill up the word count with waffle rather than content. The same goes for phrases that can be substituted for one word: ‘it is evident that’ can (and should) become ‘evidently’.

Watch this thesis statement from a GCSE essay on Music go from hideous to tolerable:

Beethoven was unable to hear his work, due to the fact that he was deaf, so it is evident that he musically conceptualised the notes in order to compose.
(Wordy!)

Beethoven was unable to hear his work, as he was deaf, so it is evident that he musically conceptualised the notes to compose.
(Slightly less wordy.)

Beethoven’s deafness made him unable to hear his work, so evidently he musically conceptualised the notes to compose.
(About as concise as such a complex sentence will get…)

Do not mistake wordiness for sophistication. Your ideas should be sophisticated; your writing should be clear.

Pitfall #3: non-standard grammar

For an examiner, the English language is not just a vehicle for your ideas. It should be, but the academic process always involves the assessment of your expression.

So, to satisfy our examiners’ prescriptive tastes, we need to adhere to the basic tenets of Standard English.

Take a look at the following thesis statement example from an A Level Sociology essay:
Considering the status of BAME in Internet culture, the demonstrably racist treatment at the hands of the police, and the energy behind the BLM protests, concluding that there is hope for the future.

This sentence has no finite main verb, so it is technically not a sentence. To become a grammatical sentence, we would need to make ‘concluding’ finite: ‘it can be concluded’, or ‘we conclude’.

The writer got lost in this example because the sentence was so long!

Long sentences can also lead to a failure to make subject and verb agree, like in the next thesis statement example from a school Geography essay:

The most populous municipalities of Spain, Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, and Zaragoza, does not rank in the top ten most dense populations of the country, with the exception of Barcelona.

Because the subject ‘municipalities’ is separated from the verb ‘does’ by eight words, it is easy to forget that they do not agree. It should, of course, be ‘do, not ‘does’.

FAQs

How do I test my thesis statement?
To test your thesis statement, ask if it’s specific, clear, and arguable. Check if you can support it with evidence and discuss it with peers or instructors for feedback. A strong thesis should withstand scrutiny and encourage discussion.

What should I do if I’m struggling to write a thesis statement?
If you’re struggling, start by brainstorming your main ideas and outlining your paper. Write several versions of your thesis statement and seek feedback from classmates or instructors to refine your argument.

How do I ensure my thesis statement is debatable?
To ensure your thesis is debatable, frame it as an opinion that others might disagree with. Avoid universally accepted facts and consider counterarguments to make your position more engaging.

Where should the thesis statement be located?
The thesis statement is typically placed at the end of the introductory paragraph. This position helps transition into the body of your paper while establishing the focus of your argument.

Can a thesis statement change during the writing process?
Yes, a thesis statement can change as you write and gather more evidence. It’s normal to refine your thesis to better reflect your argument, so feel free to revise it if needed.

Final words

The thesis statement, as mentioned at the start, can be the difference between a First and a Fail. So, take your time with it. But with our tips you should now have learnt how to write the perfect thesis statement.

So: write it carefully. Then redraft and refine it several times, until it’s as good as you can make it. The payoff is a slick, coherent thesis statement that paves the way to a great essay that really impresses your examiner.