1. Understanding and Crafting a Thesis Statement [0]

thumbnail A thesis statement is a one or two-sentence summary of your paper's main point, typically found at the end of the introduction, which helps keep your writing focused.

1.1. The Purpose of a Thesis Statement [2]

  1. A thesis statement summarizes the main point of your paper in one or two sentences and usually appears at the end of your introduction. [2]
  2. Establishing a thesis statement helps you stay on topic throughout the writing process. [3]
  3. A great thesis statement requires three simple ingredients: [4]
    1. Mention the main topic of your paper. [5]
    2. Take a position and state your argument. [5]
    3. Summarize the evidence used to support your argument. [5]

1.2. Three Steps to Write a Thesis Statement [6]

  1. Step 1: Come up with a research question. [7]
    1. For example, a research question could be: "What were the main factors that led to the result of the 2016 Brexit referendum?" [8]
  2. Step 2: Find a tentative answer to your research question. [9]
    1. If taking an argumentative approach, the answer should take a strong position on the topic. [10]
    2. An initial thesis statement could be: "Brexit was driven by political frustration." [10]
  3. Step 3: Develop and refine your thesis statement as you research. [13]
    1. The final thesis statement should be elaborate and summarize the overall argument. [14]
    2. An example of a refined thesis statement is: "The Brexit referendum result was driven by working-class frustration with the political elite; costly policies have eroded public trust and fragmented communities, and the referendum offered an alternative to the status quo." [15]

2. Characteristics of a Strong Thesis Statement and Different Types [18]

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A strong thesis statement is concise, disputable, and coherent, and its type depends on the paper's aim.

2.1. Criteria for a Strong Thesis Statement [18]

  1. The best thesis statements are concise, meaning they build up to a central argument in one or two sentences without vague or general wording. [19]
  2. A strong thesis statement must be disputable, taking a position that others might argue against. [19]
    1. It is not a simple fact that readers will easily accept. [23]
    2. It requires further evidence and persuasion, encouraging readers to continue reading. [23]
  3. A strong thesis statement is coherent, with its three parts (topic, position, and evidence) well-connected and presented logically. [19]

2.2. Types of Thesis Statements [25]

  1. Argumentative thesis statements take a clear position to persuade the reader of a claim. [26]
    1. The example used earlier, "Brexit was driven by political frustration," is an argumentative thesis statement. [26]
  2. Analytical thesis statements map out the key points of an analysis and briefly introduce the conclusions drawn from it. [28]
    1. This type is used when the paper aims to analyze, interpret, or evaluate different aspects of a topic. [28]
    2. For example: "The history of the UK's relationship with the EU is complicated; from the beginning, Britain has been reluctant to fully integrate into Europe, both economically and culturally, however, the politics of EU membership have changed throughout the past 50 years." [29]
  3. Explanatory thesis statements summarize all the main points the paper will cover. [32]
    1. This type is used when the paper aims to explain and discuss the facts of a topic. [32]
    2. For example: "Surveys shed light on the demographics of the Brexit vote, which can be broken down in terms of age, ethnicity, region, and educational level." [33]