Every piece of writing, except for poetry and fiction, requires a thesis statement. Whether you’re writing an opinion piece for a local newspaper, an essay for a college class, or a book about China’s Ming Dynasty, a well-crafted thesis statement is essential. It summarizes the main idea of your writing and sets the reader’s expectations. But how do you write a strong thesis statement? Let’s explore the process step by step, ensuring that every thesis statement you create is clear, coherent, and complete.
What Is a Thesis Statement?
A thesis statement is a concise one or two sentence statement that describes the subject, angle, or position of your paper. It also provides a preview of the evidence or argument that your essay will present. Unlike a question, exclamation, or simple fact, a thesis statement is like a roadmap that guides your essay. It outlines where you’ll start, what you’ll cover, and where you’ll end. Writing a thesis early in the essay writing process can help you stay focused and ensure that your essay revolves around your central point.
Different Kinds of Papers Need Different Kinds of Theses
The way you compose your thesis depends on the type of essay you’re writing. There are three main kinds of essays: persuasive, expository, and narrative.
- A persuasive essay requires a thesis that clearly states the central stance of the paper and what it will argue in support of. For example: “Paper books are superior to ebooks when it comes to form, function, and overall reader experience.”
- An expository essay’s thesis sets up the paper’s focus and angle, explaining the unique take and the importance of the topic. For example: “Understanding the functional design of physical books can help ebook designers create digital reading experiences that are technologically seamless.”
- A narrative essay focuses on the human experience and may not be as grounded in tangible realities. For example: “The books I’ve read over the years have shaped my perspective, introducing me to new worlds, ideas, and ways of being.”
Before crafting your thesis, think about the goal of your paper. Are you making an argument, describing a subject, or exploring a personal experience? What do you want the reader to take away from reading your piece? Define your paper’s goal and let’s walk through the thesis-writing process.
How to Write (and Develop) a Strong Thesis
Developing a strong thesis is a multi-step process that requires time, thought, and research. Let’s tackle each step one by one to create a rock-solid thesis statement.
1. Identify your essay topic
Start by picking a topic or two based on your assignment requirements. Do some preliminary research to familiarize yourself with the basic facts and identify an interesting angle or focus. If you have a specific topic assigned, make sure to read up on it to choose your own unique angle. For personal narrative essays, combine research with freewriting to discover the most compelling aspect. Once you have a clear idea of your topic, proceed to the next step.
2. Ask a research question
To narrow down your topic, ask a question that delves deeper into the subject. This question can explore cause and effect, challenge assumptions, or investigate value judgments. Make a list of intriguing questions and select the two most compelling ones for further research.
3. Answer the question tentatively
Write down your initial thoughts and specific answer to your research question. This working thesis will guide your research and should be as accurate as possible. Your working thesis will evolve as you learn more about your topic.
4. Research the question (and working thesis)
Conduct thorough research using credible sources, keeping in mind the strengths and weaknesses of your thesis. Look for other opposing or more nuanced theses that may exist. Organize your information based on its relevancy to your thesis. For persuasive essays, determine whether the information supports or challenges your thesis. For expository essays, evaluate if your initial idea holds up to the facts. With comprehensive research, you can answer your research question in-depth and refine your thesis.
5. Refine your thesis
Based on your research, revise or rewrite your thesis to make it more accurate, specific, and compelling. Consider incorporating new insights or flipping your thesis around to reflect what you’ve learned. Choose the most interesting and appropriate thesis if you’ve been researching multiple questions. Your refined thesis should clearly state the topic, position or angle, and summary of evidence or argument that your essay will present.
6. Get help from AI
Utilize Wordtune’s generative AI capabilities to craft an effective thesis statement. You can use the paraphrase tool to get suggestions for better articulating your thesis. Wordtune will provide related phrases that you can select to refine your statement. Alternatively, use Wordtune’s suggestions to create your thesis statement. Begin with your initial introduction sentence, then click ‘+’ and select the explain suggestion. Browse through the suggestions until you find the statement that perfectly captures your idea.
Thesis Check: Look for These Three Elements
Before moving forward, ensure that your thesis contains these three essential elements:
- Topic: Clearly state the topic of your essay, such as swashbuckling pirates, raised garden beds, or methods of snow removal.
- Position or angle: Zoom into the specific aspect of your topic that your essay will focus on and describe your position or angle.
- Summary of evidence and/or argument: Summarize the evidence and/or argument that your essay will present concisely, setting up your readers for what’s to come.
Review your refined thesis and make any necessary additions or clarifications to ensure that all three elements are present.
It’s Essay-Writing Time!
Now that your thesis is ready, it’s time to focus on the rest of your essay. With the work you’ve already done, you should have a clear idea of what comes next. If you need assistance in forming your persuasive essay’s argument, refer to Zenith City News’ blog for helpful tips.
