How to Write a Thesis Statement
Writing a thesis statement is probably the most important task in completing a successful high-school research paper. Without a good thesis statement, you will not have a way to organize your thoughts well enough for writing the rest of the paper in a persuasive way. The thesis statement is the theme of your paper put into one sentence. Everything in your paper should stem from and refer back to the thesis statement; it is the paper’s anchor. How does one accomplish this task?
1. Understand what a thesis statement in general needs to accomplish. Your thesis needs to express a "considered point of view." Note that a considered point of view is different from an opinion. Anyone can express an opinion. You can say that you prefer chocolate to vanilla ice cream, to which another can either agree or disagree. This kind of exchange, however, neither leads to further conversation about nor investigation of an issue. Blanket opinions are conversation stoppers. A thesis statement is a conversation starter.
2. Define your point of view. Once given your assignment, take notes or write in a less structured way (this is called "free writing") in order to sort out your thoughts on the issue at hand. You may want to create a table listing the pros and cons of two opposing positions before you make your final decision. This will provide you with clarification and perhaps a line of argumentation for the body of your paper. Write you point of view below:
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3. Write your thesis statement in the form of an organized and clear complex sentence. Complex sentences, as opposed to simple sentences, allow you to communicate rich thoughts. They give you room to unpack and elaborate in the body of your paper. Consider the following pair of sentences, the first simple and expressing a mere opinion, the second expressing a considered point of view in a complex sentence:
- I hate San Francisco weather in the summertime.
- While San Francisco weather in the summer can be variable and unpredictable, once one has mastered “the art of layering,” it can be quite pleasant.
Question: What makes the two sentences different? What makes the 2nd sentence better as a thesis statement?
4. Analyze; don't moralize. Avoid using the words "should" or "must." Statements dictating what people should or should not do are off-putting. On the other hand, offering a fresh or interesting way to think about a controversial or complex issue is inviting, even if there are flaws in one's line of thought.
5. Avoid generalizations. Instead of resorting to terms such as "everyone," "no one," "all," etc., try using "many" or "some." Making universal statements about all of humanity can set your thesis up for easy attack.
Now, write a thesis statement for your chosen topic using what we learned above. You may have to refine your thesis statement before you have a final version.
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