How to Write a Thesis Statement: A Guide to Excellence

For your essay to be impactful and complete, a strong thesis statement must be included at the end of the introductory section. What is this part of the essay structure, and how long should a thesis statement be? Read on to find all the details shared by experienced writing professionals.

What Is a Thesis Statement?

To understand how to write a thesis statement, you first need to understand what it is. In simple words, it is the main idea guiding your paper and condensing its key message. Therefore, it should contain your position, concisely formulated in one sentence.
What is the purpose of a thesis statement? This part of your writing task aims to:

• Guide the readers in terms of content.
• Explain your main position on the explored subject.
• Present a concise one-sentence message that effectively communicates your ideas.

Examples of Thesis statements

Academic writing allows thesis statements of all kinds, depending on the nature of the paper and personal preference. However, it is always vital to choose a thesis statement that blends in with the paper’s overall tone. Here are some examples of thesis statements and how to use them:

Statement of fact

This kind of thesis statement contains a claim that cannot be argued because it is valid on its merit.

• Bad example: This paper will discuss the relevance of fairy tales in character development.
• Good example: This paper focuses on the psychological impacts of fairy tales on character development in kids. 

Opinion or personal standpoint

You have to specify a stance with which the reader might agree or disagree. This kind of thesis statement is used mostly for argumentative essays.

• Bad example: Pharmaceutical companies are responsible for homelessness.
• Good example: The activities of pharmaceutical companies have aggravated the opioid crisis, which has also played a role in increasing homelessness.

How to Write a Good Thesis Statement?

You can’t just jump into writing a thesis statement without understanding the topic properly. A proper grasp of the subject will help you come up with a specific and relevant thesis statement. 

Let’s take a look at the steps involved:

1.Brainstorm before you start writing
You need to dedicate a few extra minutes to researching and coming up with your thesis statement. With the facts obtained, you can narrow the statement down to a sentence or two that points toward the paper’s central message.

2. Keep it short but relevant
It is always advisable to keep the number of sentences to a maximum of two – the jab and the cross. The first statement (jab) will provide the topic; the second sentence(cross) will specify an area of concentration. Anything extra will make the thesis statement less impactful.

3. Write in two stages
Opinions are split on writing the thesis statement at the start or after completing the paper. 
It is always advisable to write a draft first and come back to improve it when the essay is complete. This technique will help you get a clearer understanding of what to include or remove.

4. Review and adjust
The last step in writing your thesis is the proofreading and honing stage. Consider removing ‘filler words’ to improve clarity. Fix every grammatical error and spelling mistake.

Without a solid thesis an essay can become difficult to digest. Therefore, you must dedicate enough time to research and write your thesis. Academic conventions allow thesis statements in the form of delivery of facts or opinions, so it’s up to you to choose your type. Always create a draft of the statement and edit it after completing the paper to suit the overall narrative.