How to Make a Strong Thesis Statement

How to Make a Strong Thesis Statement Weve all been there: up into the late hours of the night, struggling through writing a paper that you are completely unsure about (that just so happens to be due tomorrow). Your paper seems to meander and not make sense and you are frustrated. Most often when we struggle with a paper its because our thesis statements arent in order.Think of your papers thesis statement like a coverline on the front of a magazine. Though the story inside may be hundreds or even thousands of words long, the coverline on the front details what the story is about in just a few succinct, compelling words. The coverline will give you an argument as to why you should pick the magazine up from the rack and put it on the conveyor belt along with your other groceries. The same goes for your papers thesis statement. Its purpose in your paper is to make an argument about your topic in a way that pieces and organizes all of your evidence together. The thesis statement should keep the reader engaged and make them want to read more.Most importantly, the thesis statement should perfectly sum up what the rest of the paper is saying. Have you ever seen a really good movie trailer and then been extremely disappointed by the movie itself because it wasnt what the trailer portrayed it to be? Think about that as you write a thesis statement to go in your paper. You want your thesis statement to be compelling, but you also want your thesis to be backed up with evidence in the body of the paper so that the reader doesnt feel duped at the end.So, you know that a thesis statement is important and central to your paper, but how do you go about writing an effective one? Here are a few examples of what to do (and what not to do) when writing your thesis statement.The thesis should go at the beginning of the paperBecause the thesis is so central and integral to how the rest of your paper reads, it should go in the first paragraph (or at least one of the first few paragraphs) in the paper. Much like a lede s entence in a newspaper article, the thesis tells the reader what the rest of the article is about and clues them into what they can expect the rest of the way. If the thesis were to go anywhere but the beginning, this would be confusing to your audience as they wouldnt know the point of why they were reading in the first place.The thesis statement is the starting point of your race.Make your thesis give direction to the rest of your paperAll thesis statements make arguments about your topic, but good thesis statements give direction to how the rest of the paper will be shaped. In order to accomplish this, your thesis should lend itself to several reasons that elaborate on your claim. For example, the thesis College athletes should be paid, while certainly an argument, isnt effective because it lacks a sense of structure. This argument doesnt naturally lend itself to body paragraphs. However, if you wrote your thesis as, College athletes deserve compensation because it is the ethical and moral thing to do, then you have two potential reasons that support your claims, thus giving shape to the rest of the paper.Because you have added in a claim to your argument, you can now spend several paragraphs discussing (with your evidence to back it up) things such as the time college athletes devote to their sport and then several paragraphs on how many collegiate athletes come from poverty and how difficult it is for them to make it. With these claims it will be much easier for you to figure out how to structure your paper effectively.A good thesis statement should give your paper direction.Make sure your argument is debatableThough its good to question everything that you learn with a bit of healthy skepticism, there are certain truths that we as a public already know. For example, everyone knows that rent is high in New York City. This statement is unequivocal and therefore it would not be interesting to write a thesis statement that simply said, New York Citys rents a re among the highest in the world. This isnt something that can be argued for or against- it is simply a fact that most people know.The moment your fact becomes an actual thesis statement is when you add the argument to it. You could take your fact: New York Citys rents are among the highest in the world and then add the argument, and should be rent controlled in order to preserve the multi-cultural and unique identity that it has historically had.Only when you add the argument does it really become a thesis statement (and also becomes something that your audience would likely want to read on about).A thesis statement requires an argument to discuss.Smaller is better when it comes to thesis statementsPapers are often more focused when the argument you are trying to make is smaller. If your argument is overly broad (think something like, child care should be more affordable in the United States), then your paper will most likely be meandering and lack a sense of direction. With a top ic so large, there is too much information to cover effectively in such a short amount of time and space. When you make the argument smaller and localize it (something like Childcare should be publicly subsidized in California), then its easier to zero in on facts and provide evidence to your audience.A small thesis statement is focused and effective.Ensure that your thesis statement actually answers the research questionSometimes you may be so busy researching and making sure that your thesis statement is effective that you may forget to check if the paper is actually responding correctly to the paper prompt. For example, if your teacher asked you to write an essay on Atticus Finchs parenting style in To Kill a Mockingbird, then writing your paper and your thesis statement on how Boo Radley is the mockingbird wont be answering the question. Even if the essay and thesis statement are strong, the paper wont be addressing the issue your teacher wanted you to explore.Answering the teac hers question is necessary for a thesis statement.Your thesis will emerge from the writing process (particularly from revisions)Many novice writers think that your thesis statement should come out fully formed when they first start typing. What really happens is that you have a loose idea of an argument when you first start and the more you read and write on your subject, the clearer your argument will become. The thesis statement will really take shape, however, when you are in the thick of the writing process. As you revise, trim, rearrange, and add your paragraphs, your thesis statement will have more clarity. Remember, your thesis statement should be a succinct summary of what your body of evidence is saying.As you write, you will refine your thesis statement.Nuance is okayIn an academic argument its not necessarily about earth shattering revelations as much as it is approaching a question in a new way or coming to a new insight of a particular problem. For example, instead of a thesis that claims to solve world peace, a thesis on what you can do to make your local community a better place can be much more powerful. Dont feel like you have to solve all of the worlds problems in your paper. A good argument doesnt solve major problems; it looks at problems under a new light. Good research is done in small increments and often looking at things under a microscope rather than making grand pronouncements.Focus on smaller issues rather than the big picture.Thesis statement examplesThe following are a few examples of weak thesis statements versus effective and strong thesis statements on well-known paper topics. Use these example thesis statements as a guide to help you think about how you should structure your argument for your particular topic. (Note that these essay topics are for example and are very general and should not be copied for the purposes of your essay.)Topic 1: Climate ChangeWhat not to do: Climate change is man-made.How to fix it: Due to the harr owing statistics of climate change, communities should lead the way in diminishing the effects of global warming by investing more in recycling, public transportation and/or carpooling, and promoting the use of clean energy.Why we fixed it: The first thesis statement definitely gives an argument, but doesnt provide any context or evidence on why the author has come to this conclusion. The first statement is also very broad; the topic is too large and would easily get off track in the body of the paper. The second statement has been narrowed down significantly. It provides solutions and gives the writer a loose structure to follow in the rest of the paper.Topic 2: The Great GatsbyWhat not to do: F. Scott Fitzgerald has a negative view of the American Dream.How to fix it: Jay Gatsbys quick rise in social stature and economic status and his ultimate undoing by the old money crowd in F. Scott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby represents the authors skeptical and pessimistic view of the so-ca lled American Dream.Why we fixed it: Though this first statement is an argument that is debatable, it doesnt really give us any context or claims as to how F. Scott Fitzgerald shows us this in his writing. In the second thesis statement, we can clearly see how the writer came to this conclusion about Fitzgeralds opinion through concrete evidence. We can also see how the writer will be able to organize the rest of the paragraphs and discuss Gatsbys social stature, economic status, and the conflict between new and old money.Topic 3: To Kill a MockingbirdWhat not to do: Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird tells us exactly how to fix racism.How to fix it: Tom Robinsons unfair conviction and death in Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird sheds light on the role of systemic racism in the American justice system.Why we fixed it: This statement reveals something interesting and sheds new light on a problem. The first thesis statement makes a very grand and overarching claim that cant possibly be supported by evidence. Again, its always best to narrow down your argument and remember that you dont need to solve all of the worlds problems in your paper.Topic 4: Obesity in American Children in the SouthWhat not to do: Children in the Southern part of the United States are more likely to be obese.How to fix it: Childhood obesity rates in the South have doubled in the last 30 years because of poor access to healthy foods, an increased dependence on technology for entertainment, and high poverty levels in the southern region of the United States.Why we fixed it: The first statement isnt really an argument, but more of a summary of what the literature says. It doesnt really explain why children from the South are more likely to be obese. The second thesis statement, however, provides us with some insight as well as gives us a structure for the rest of the paper with three concrete reasons that we can go into depth about.How to go forwardIts no secret that writing is tough. In fact, its one of the toughest things youll do in your academic career. However, lots of practice and a clear understanding of how to write a thesis, how it works best, and what things you will need to include in it will make you a better writer and also a better researcher.