thesis statment definition

Summary: This resource provides tips for creating a thesis statement and examples of different types of thesis statements. Contributors:Elyssa Tardiff, Allen BrizeeLast Edited: 2014-02-10 10:44:43 Tips for Writing Your Thesis Statement 1. Determine what kind of paper you are writing: An analytical paper breaks down an issue or an idea into its component parts, evaluates the issue or idea, and presents this breakdown and evaluation to the audience. An expository (explanatory) paper explains something to the audience. An argumentative paper makes a claim about a topic and justifies this claim with specific evidence. The claim could be an opinion, a policy proposal, an evaluation, a cause-and-effect statement, or an interpretation. The goal of the argumentative paper is to convince the audience that the claim is true based on the evidence provided. If you are writing a text that does not fall under these three categories (e.g., a narrative), a thesis statement somewhere in the first paragraph could still be helpful to your reader. 2. Your thesis statement should be specific—it should cover only what you will discuss in your paper and should be supported with specific evidence. 3. The thesis statement usually appears at the end of the first paragraph of a paper. 4. Your topic may change as you write, so you may need to revise your thesis statement to reflect exactly what you have discussed in the paper. Thesis Statement Examples Example of an analytical thesis statement: An analysis of the college admission process reveals one challenge facing counselors: accepting students with high test scores or students with strong extracurricular backgrounds. The paper that follows should: Explain the analysis of the college admission process Explain the challenge facing admissions counselors Example of an expository (explanatory) thesis statement: The life of the typical college.
What is a thesis statement? Every paper you write should have a main point, a main idea, or central message. The argument(s) you make in your paper should reflect this main idea. The sentence that captures your position on this main idea is what we call a thesis statement. How long does it need to be? A thesis statement focuses your ideas into one or two sentences. It should present the topic of your paper and also make a comment about your position in relation to the topic. Your thesis statement should tell your reader what the paper is about and also help guide your writing and keep your argument focused. Questions to Ask When Formulating Your Thesis Where is your thesis statement? You should provide a thesis early in your essay -- in the introduction, or in longer essays in the second paragraph -- in order to establish your position and give your reader a sense of direction. Tip: In order to write a successful thesis statement: Avoid burying a great thesis statement in the middle of a paragraph or late in the paper. Be as clear and as specific as possible; avoid vague words. Indicate the point of your paper but avoid sentence structures like, “The point of my paper is ” Is your thesis statement specific? Your thesis statement should be as clear and specific as possible. Normally you will continue to refine your thesis as you revise your argument(s), so your thesis will evolve and gain definition as you obtain a better sense of where your argument is taking you. Tip: Check your thesis: Are there two large statements connected loosely by a coordinating conjunction (i.e. and, but, or, for, nor, so, yet )? Would a subordinating conjunction help (i.e. through, although, because, since ) to signal a relationship between the two sentences? Or do the two statements imply a fuzzy unfocused thesis? If so, settle on one single focus and then proceed with further development.
A thesis statement usually appears at the beginning of the introductory paragraph of a paper, and it offers a concise summary of the main point or claim of the essay, research paper, etc. A thesis statement is usually one sentence that appears at the beginning though it may occur as more than one.[1] The thesis statement is developed, supported, and explained in the course of the paper by means of examples and evidence. Thesis statements help organize and develop the system of proper writing, and also serve as a signal to readers about the topic of a paper.[2] They are essential components of scholarly research papers. Contents 1 Types of thesis statements 2 Further reading 3 See also 4 References 5 External links Types of thesis statements[edit] The thesis statement will reflect the kind of paper being written. There are three kinds of papers: analytical, expository, and argumentative. The thesis will take a different form for each of these kinds of papers. [3] Further reading[edit] Jonathan Culler and Kevin Lamb. Just being difficult? : academic writing in the public arena Stanford, Calif. : Stanford University Press, 2003. ISBN 0-8047-4709-1 William Germano. Getting It Published, 2nd Edition: A Guide for Scholars and Anyone Else Serious About Serious Books. ISBN 978-0-226-28853-6. Read a chapter. Wellington, J. J. Getting published : a guide for lecturers and researcherLondon ; New York : RoutledgeFalmer, 2003. ISBN 0-415-29847-4 John A. Goldsmith et al. Teaching and Research in The Chicago Guide to Your Academic Career. ISBN 0-226-30151-6. Cary Nelson and Stephen Watt. Scholarly Books and Peer Review in Academic Keywords: A Devil's Dictionary for Higher Education. ISBN 0-415-92203-8. Martin Horton-Eddison. First Class Essays Hull, United Kingdom : Purple Peacock Press, 2012 Carol Tenopir and Donald King. Towards Electronic Journals: Realities for Librarians and.
Definition of Thesis A thesis is a statement in a non-fiction or a fiction work that a writer intends to support and prove. One can find examples of thesis statement at the beginning of literary pieces. These thesis statemets are of utmost importance, as they serve as clear indicators as to which directions writers will follow in their work. A thesis statement is carefully chosen by a writer and is marked by vigilant selection of words that will never miss its target. Generally, such a statement shows up in the first paragraph or what is called an introduction. Despite writers’ efforts to prove their thesis statements, not all of these statements can be verified for their exactness. Nevertheless, they do develop an argument. Importance of a Thesis Statement In writing an essay, a thesis statement determines the worth of an essay by its capacity to stay focused on its thesis statement. For an instance, if a writer fails to clearly mention or define a solid thesis statement in his or her essay, it will be almost impossible for him or her to pay attention to the issue he or she plans to discuss and explain. Suppose a writer wants to write an essay on how to make a perfect fruit salad, the quality of his or her writing will exceedingly improve if he or she lets the readers have knowledge of the subject matter at the start of the essay: “In this essay, I will tell you how to make the perfect fruit salad in the world that is not only tasteful for your taste buds but also healthful for your body.” Narrative Thesis In a narrative essay or narrative section of a piece of literature, a thesis statement is called a narrative thesis. A narrative thesis can be an apparent one or a hidden or implied one. In both cases, such a statement is a powerful propelling force behind an entire work that guides it toward its ultimate purpose and the lesson it intends to instruct. Examples of.