Writing Thesis Statements

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What is a thesis statement?

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A thesis statement is the guiding sentence for the whole paper. It takes a clear stance on the topic of your research paper and is specific, telling the reader exactly what the paper will be about.

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What are the three parts of a thesis statement?

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A thesis statement must include at least 3 separate supporting ideas, all related to the topic, and it must take a stance by choosing a side or stating a belief.

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How do you take a stance in your thesis?

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Taking a stance means clearly stating your feelings and/or beliefs about your topic. You start by looking at your research question, answering it with 'I believe' or 'I think', giving three reasons, and then removing 'I believe' or 'I think' from your statement.

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Example of a thesis statement about teen curfews

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Teenagers need a curfew to protect them from danger, to ensure they get enough sleep, and to help them focus on school work.

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Example of a thesis statement about school uniforms

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Students should wear uniforms to school because it makes dress codes easier to enforce fairly, it keeps students safe, and it encourages a sense of teamwork.

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Example of a thesis statement about credit cards

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Using a credit card can be dangerous because it can cause excessive debt, can create difficulty in breaking the credit card debt cycle, and can encourage an unrealistic view of money.

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Example of a thesis statement about renter's insurance

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Everyone should have renter's insurance in case of a fire or natural disaster, in case of a break-in or theft, and in case of an accident or injury at your home.

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What is the purpose of a thesis statement in a research paper?

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To introduce the reader to what the paper will be about. After the introductory paragraph, the rest of the paper is used to prove the thesis statement.

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What should a thesis statement present?

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A thesis statement should present a topic, a stance on that topic, and three separate ideas to support that stance.