Thesis Statements [Lesson]
Brandi Morley and Claire Carly-Miles
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this lesson, students will
- revise ineffective thesis statements to improve their clarity, specificity, and arguability.
- compose original thesis statements that align with the characteristics of effective thesis statements.
What is a thesis statement?
A thesis statement is the main point or argument of an essay. It lets the reader know and understand what the writer is trying to communicate. Typically, the thesis statement is found in the introduction or somewhere at the beginning of the essay.
A Simple Formula for Writing a Thesis Statement
subject of your writing + your focus/opinion/suggested action on the subject = thesis
Example Thesis Statements
- Chick-Fil-A is a popular fast-food choice for many people due to its healthier food options and reliable customer service.
- Controlling the pet population through spaying and neutering is important because it helps prevent the birth of unwanted and neglected animals.
- School districts should adopt a four-day week because it will attract highly qualified teachers and save money for the district.
Good vs. Poor Thesis Statements
Good Thesis Statements
Short, precise, and clear statements make better theses (plural of thesis). Each thesis should have an arguable point that is designed to move others toward a particular action, opinion, or understanding. In other words, a well-developed thesis moves the audience to change or adjust their beliefs or actions.
Effective theses also let the reader know what they can expect within an essay. Thesis statements should set the stage for the proofs and evidence that will be used to persuade the reader. Effective theses clearly state what the writer is trying to communicate.
In short, a good thesis statement:
- Identifies the topic
- States the main point or argument
- Is clear and specific
- Can be supported by details, evidence, and examples
- Is written as a declarative sentence
Below is an example to illustrate how all of these characteristics come together to form a good thesis statement regarding social media.
Good Thesis Statement: “Although social media helps teenagers stay connected with friends, its excessive use can lead to problems like cyberbullying and low self-esteem, which is why parents and schools should guide teens to use it responsibly.”
This thesis statement:
- Identifies the topic (social media and its effects on teenagers)
- States the main argument (social media has both good and bad effects)
- Is clear and specific (mentions connection with friends, cyberbullying, and self-esteem)
- Can be supported by evidence (you could discuss studies or examples for each point)
- Is written as a declarative sentence
Poor Thesis Statements
Long and wordy statements often make poor thesis statements. Sometimes, shorter more direct statements provide a clear idea to the audience of the exact issue/problem that will be addressed. Long statements may bring in outside considerations that are not part of the argument.
Additionally, poor thesis statements often do not contain an argument but instead offer facts or information to the reader. Factual statements can make poor theses because they are not necessarily arguable. Instead, they may only be stating information that few can disagree with. For example, “Puppy mills are bad as they treat animals inhumanely” is a poor thesis because few, if anyone, would disagree with the notion that puppy mills are bad. A stronger statement might be, “Puppy mills should be regulated to improve the treatment of animals.” This statement offers a clear outcome and direction for the paper as it notes that regulation is a necessary part of effective change.
In short, a poor thesis statement:
- Contains multiple points, two sides of an argument, or unrelated and useable ideas or information
- Is unclear or wordy
- Is not defensible or supportable with evidence
- Is written as a question
Consider the following example that illustrates all of these characteristics.
Poor Thesis Statement: “Is social media good or bad for teenagers, and how does it affect their lives, their parents’ lives, and society as a whole, while also considering the rapid advancement of technology and the increasing prevalence of smartphones in modern culture?”
This thesis statement:
- Contains multiple unrelated points (teenagers, parents, society, technology advancement)
- Is unclear and wordy
- Makes claims that would be difficult to support with evidence (it doesn’t actually make any specific claims)
- Is written as a question
Thesis Statement vs. Topic Sentence
Think of the thesis statement as the main idea of the entire essay and a topic sentence as the main idea of an individual paragraph. Each topic sentence should be connected to the thesis statement and communicate to the reader what each paragraph will be about.
Example
Thesis Statement: “Despite potential short-term challenges, implementing a four-day work week would ultimately benefit both employees and employers by increasing productivity, improving work-life balance, and reducing operational costs.”
Topic Sentences:
- “The transition to a four-day work week can lead to increased productivity as employees are more focused and energized during their working hours.”
- “A shorter work week significantly improves employees’ work-life balance, resulting in better mental health and job satisfaction.”
- “Contrary to initial concerns, a four-day work week can actually reduce operational costs for many businesses.”
- “While the implementation of a four-day work week presents some challenges, these obstacles are surmountable with proper planning and flexible policies.”
In this example:
- The thesis statement presents an arguable position. Some might disagree, arguing that a four-day work week could decrease productivity or increase costs.
- Each topic sentence introduces a specific aspect of the argument that supports the main thesis.
- The topic sentences guide the reader through the logical structure of the argument, each addressing a key point that contributes to the overall thesis.
- All topic sentences clearly relate back to the main thesis, ensuring a cohesive and focused essay.
What comes first: the thesis or the evidence?
There are two ways you can draft a thesis statement:
- Make an assertion about a topic or argument, and then develop/research evidence to support your assertion.
- Study the available evidence, and then form your thesis statement based on your analysis.
While there is no right or wrong way to construct a thesis, your individual style and experiences with writing will influence your choice. It is important to revise the thesis as needed throughout the writing process to make certain it communicates the main point or argument.
Let’s Practice!
Keep in mind that a thesis IS…
- The main point or argument
- Clear and specific
- Supported by details, evidence, and examples
- Written as a declarative sentence
Thesis Practice Activity #1
Revise the following thesis statements:
- This essay will examine the effects of a healthy work-life balance.
- Do you think cosmetic companies should test their products on animals?
- Collegiate athletes should be paid because they help generate revenue for universities, but many of them also receive scholarship benefits.
Possible Answers:
- Maintaining a healthy work-life balance significantly improves employee productivity, mental health, and overall job satisfaction.
- Cosmetic companies should cease animal testing due to its cruelty, unreliability, and the availability of effective alternative methods.
- Despite receiving scholarship benefits, collegiate athletes should be additionally compensated due to the substantial revenue they generate for universities and the time demands of their athletic commitments
Thesis Practice Activity #2
- Use a topic for an upcoming assignment, or choose one of the following:
- The role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education
- The importance of socio-emotional health in teens
- The influence of the media and its impact on culture
- Set a timer for 2-3 minutes, and make a list of ideas, details, and examples about your selected topic.
- Review your entire list, and circle the top two or three ideas related to your topic.
- Use the ideas you circled to write three potential thesis statements for your essay.
- Share your thesis statements with a partner or small group for feedback.
Revising Your Thesis Statement
A thesis statement is a work in progress until an essay reaches the publishing stage of the writing process. It is perfectly acceptable, and highly encouraged, to revise your thesis statement as your writing on a topic evolves. This will strengthen your thesis statement and ensure that it covers exactly what you intend to communicate to your audience.
Often we may have to write a full rough draft before we realize what the best thesis statement for our paper may be. As Zora Neale Hurston said in her wonderful novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, “Sometimes you have to go there to know there.”
Downloadable Resources (Lesson)
Click here to download a PowerPoint version of this lesson:
Attribution:
Morley, Brandi and Claire Carly-Miles. “Thesis Statements [Lesson].” Strategies, Skills and Models for Student Success in Writing and Reading Comprehension. College Station: Texas A&M University, 2024. This work is licensed with a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).