What is a Thesis Statement?
Papers should have a central point, a principal idea, or an overall message. This main element is known as the thesis, which all subsequent points and arguments should support.
How Long is a Thesis and Where Does It Appear?
The thesis should serve two functions: present the paper’s topic and make a claim about it. As such, it need not be more than one sentence; however, on occasion, it may extend to two sentences. The thesis should be positioned in the opening paragraph, and is usually situated as its concluding sentence.
Is Your Thesis Statement Sufficiently Focused?
At a certain point in researching your topic, you will have a moment of inspiration as you identify an exciting claim you could present. After writing down this claim, your research and reflection will continue; thus, it is likely your claim may evolve. Therefore, your thesis will likely gain sharper focus over time. Continue to focus your thesis until you can clearly see how to defend it through a series of points and/or arguments.
Beginning Thesis: Today’s horror movies evoke a lot of objections.
This thesis is far too general. It requires revision.
Revised Thesis: Unlike the horror movies of yesteryear, which relied on suspense to convey psychological torment, today’s horror movies depend on carnage to elicit physiological disgust.
Does Your Thesis Establish a Position?
Most essays demand much more than exposition; they require argumentation. Thus, you must do much more with your thesis than outline a topic; you must make a strong claim about the topic, and reveal a plan for its evaluation.
There are many do-nots in crafting thesis statements.
Do not merely announce a topic.
Beginning Thesis: In this paper, I will examine the origins of ice hockey.
Revised Thesis: Ice hockey evolved slowly in colonial Canada as European soldiers skated on frozen rivers and lakes while playing traditional sports, including bandy, shinty, golf, and hurling.
Do not make a subjective claim without justification.
Beginning Thesis: Medium rare is the best way to cook a steak.
Revised Thesis: Steaks are better medium rare because it is hot enough to kill bacteria, while still ensuring great flavour.
Do not merely report fact.
Beginning Thesis: President Nixon and his administration was responsible for one of the worst episodes in American politics, the Watergate scandal.
Revised Thesis: The Nixon administration came to be defined by the Watergate scandal, which had lasting effects on American governance, the most notable and profound of which was the Supreme Court’s curb on executive privilege.
Does Your Thesis Statement Make an Original Claim?
The formulas often presented to state theses are good places to start; however, they only serve as launching points for further refinement and focussing.
For example, using a fill-in-the-blank thesis formula on the topic of statistics could result in a statement like:
Beginning Thesis: There are advantages and disadvantages to incorporating statistics in a research paper.
Revised Thesis: With sufficient statistical sophistication, researchers can use data to support almost any claim being made.