Attention to detail is essential while writing academic papers or essays. However, paying microscopic attention to your thoughts while writing is not always possible. A thesis statement can either make or break your research paper or college essay. But you may be wondering how to make a thesis statement.
In this post, we answer this question and give you an in-depth analysis of what is a thesis statement and how you make one. We will discuss all facets of a thesis, its types, importance and more. We will also give you examples of how to make a thesis statement. So, let us first begin with what is a thesis statement.
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What is a thesis statement?
This is the crux of the central point of your essay or paper in a few sentences. It is usually where your introduction ends. The rest of your paper or essay builds on this statement by addressing different parts of it.
The opening statement is assertive and gives the remaining essay a platform to build, validate and rely on. It is also an outline for the rest of the essay. It shows your understanding of the subject. You need to spend some time on your introduction and structure it in a way that naturally flows with your thesis statement. This is one aspect of what is a thesis statement.
How to write a thesis statement
Now that we have understood what is a thesis statement, let us look at the writing part in a bit more detail. Following are some guidelines you can follow to know how to make a thesis statement:
– First, let us look at your point of view. It should be presented in one or two sentences.
– There needs to be a flow of thought. You need to indicate the profession of your statement logically.
– Your approach should be case-by-case. Based on your research, you can also opt for a thesis statement in three parts.
– The topic should be clear. Your statement should be assertive and clarify your research paper or essay.
– The statement should be debatable. However, it can also be proven with reasoning or evidence.
– Your thesis statement should be at the end of your introduction. In other words, it should conclude your introduction.
Here, we are giving you a few tips on how to make a thesis statement. But, you need to do your reading and research when you write it to ensure it is what is a strong statement. Here are some tips on what is a thesis statement and how you can write it.
Formulate your research question
Filter your research to write a strong thesis. Your research needs to be targeted in your interest area to formulate the question. Be specific, as it will add credibility to your research. Your question should highlight the research you have done. For example, if your thesis statement is on climate change, your question can be about how it affects the planet or what will happen if immediate action is not taken to address it.
Create a tentative thesis statement
Shape your thesis statement by answering your question. This will give you an initial draft of the outline of your statement, where you can make suitable changes.
Drafting a tentative thesis statement takes a lot of time and effort. Keep revisiting your tentative statement as you invest more research, resources and time in the project.
If your assignment needs you to argue a certain point of view on the subject, you need to sharpen your tentative statement with the evidence. For example, the movie Grapes of Wrath is a proletarian movie that captures the psyche of the labor class in America during the Great Depression.
Supplement reasoning with evidence
Your tentative statement is a guide to entering the next phase of writing your thesis. This phase requires the most attention as it needs you to engage with literature that has been well-established.
The more exhaustive your research is, the more you will be prepared on how to make a thesis statement. Research will help you during the viva when you must defend your arguments firmly.
Anticipate counterarguments
Counterarguments have a critical purpose. They help you build stronger arguments. Anticipating counterarguments will help you understand how your research fits into the larger scheme. Counterarguments from your supervisor, cohort, peers, and others will enable a learning curve for you as an academic and make it easier for you when you are stuck with the question of ‘how to make a thesis statement’.
Types of thesis statements
Every research paper or essay has two important elements as its foundation – angle and topic. The topic is the subject you are writing on, and the angle is your view. Based on these, your essay comes under the following: argumentative, expository, and descriptive.
So, if you are beginning your paper and focusing on how to make a thesis statement, you need to remember that it varies on the sort of essay you are writing. Let us understand these three types in detail:
Expository thesis
This thesis is also called the explanatory thesis, where you need to explain the idea, opinion or concept. As the name suggests, this thesis type applies to expository essays where you must give your opinion on the subject. A statement example will be how this essay gives an in-depth view of post-traumatic stress disorder and why it can increase the chances of a cardiac stroke or fibrillation. This is also how to make a thesis statement.
Analytical thesis
This thesis statement needs you to break down a bigger idea into smaller components. You can analyze each component further to present your final take to the readers. This type of thesis statement must present many topics your essay discusses. So, it can apply to descriptive and persuasive essays. An example of this statement is The Grapes of Wrath, the John Steinbeck classic movie that captures the migration of the labor class during the Great Depression to California. This paper looks at revisiting the novel through the lens of fresh working conditions, social change and poverty. This is another way to make a thesis statement.
Argumentative thesis
This type of statement will let you give and claim evidence and help back it up. You make a few common claims in this type of statement — evaluation, opinion, comprehension and cause-and-effect solutions. This sort of thesis is the best for an argumentative essay where you have a particular point of view on the topic and then provide substantial evidence to reason it out.
An example of a thesis statement will be: The legislation to regulate gun ownership can substantially reduce gun violence in the United States of America. Such laws can help re-establish the democratic ideal that, in the purview of public interest, freedom is subject to accountability. This can also significantly reduce the number of deaths due to suicide, domestic abuse and open mass shootings. This was the final type on how to make a thesis statement.
Conclusion
As academic and research editors, the most common queries we receive are regarding the environment, climate change and global warming. Now that you know what is a thesis statement, we suggest that instead of stating your topic vaguely, you should give specifics in the essay. Be assertive and concise. Also, list data points clearly in your statement. This is how to make a thesis statement that is good, clear and gives the crux of your paper or essay. To sum it up, begin with concluding your introduction, mention your angle on the subject, and give your evidence and reasoning for the same. You only have 20 to 50 words to use, so you know how to make a thesis statement.
-Joe