Writing a Thesis Statement

The thesis statement is the heart of  all academic writing.  It provides the energy and supports the clarity of an essay.   You can think of it using many metaphors --   it is the spine that holds an essay together;  it is a road map and the keys to the car.  And of course,  it goes by other names -- the "point",  the "main idea", the "claim".     It underlies all good presentations -- both written and spoken.

Many times,  teachers read an essay, or listen to a talk,  and wonder,  "What is the point?  What is the writer trying to do?  What am I supposed to do?"  Writers sometimes fall into the trap of simply describing,  where there is no point,  or their point is hidden or convoluted.  Sometimes there are multiple points.    And yet it is vitally important that everthing in a text coheres.  Consider the definition of cohere (adjective = coherent)

1. To stick or hold together in a mass that resists separation.

2. To have internal elements or parts logically connected so that aesthetic consistency results: "The movie as a whole failed to cohere" (Robert Brustein). 

It is your thesis that causes the text to cohere.   There is a point that is clear and interesting and everything else is somehow connected to.   The reader (or listener) should at the end of reading or listening know or understand something he/she didn't before.    And of course,   it is entirely possible (but regrettable) to have a sound thesis while all the rest of the essay is in shambles.

Problems may arise from several causes.    Too often the writer does not fully know or understand his or her own thesis.   It has not been thought out.    It has not been communicated to another yet.    There are several qualities to a good thesis:

• It is stated explicitly in one complete sentence.
• It is focused.   
• It is written clearly and succinctly.
• It considers the reader.
• It is located at the beginning of the text in the introduction (typically in one of the first 3 paragraphs, as the final sentence in the paragraph)
• It is repeated in different words in the conclusion of the essay.
• All the supporting information in the body of the essay relates to it (and it may well be repeated at one or more points in the body of the essay)

There are some things a thesis is not:

• It is not a statement of fact.
• It is not a question.
• It is not confusing,  ambiguous or vague.
• Is not too broad.

What you are doing in writing a thesis is focusing on one interesting aspect of a topic or issue. Do not fall into the trap of simply describing a process.   Find something unique or unusual to say about it, then persuade the reader of your point.    

For example,   if your topic is the development of the Internet,  don't simply describe it, or even just one part of this development.    Look at one aspect of the development,  and make a point.    You could argue that the early creators of the Internet wanted it to be free of control,  and this can be demonstrated through its entire development,  and seen through the constant stresses as forces attempt to control it.    A writer supports a thesis in different ways, but it is important to support it in order to persuade the writer that the thesis is valid.        

Types of support for a thesis  (from  Education.com)

• explanations
• examples
• details and descriptions
• facts
• reasons
• anecdotes/stories
• expert opinions 
• quotations
• diagrams/visuals

Of course,   a writer must be careful and balanced  in the use of these various types of support.    

Finally,   one of the best strategies is to have your teacher or a peer read your thesis and give you feedback.    You shouldn't spend all the time to write a full essay if it is founded on a faulty thesis.

Some useful resources about thesis statements:

Justice Institute of Canada -- Thesis Statements   (this is a short and easy to read resource)

Owl Writing Lab -- Tips and Examples for Writing Thesis Statements

How to Write a Strong Thesis Statement (PDF from Wilfred Laurier University)

How to Write a Thesis Statement (wiki How)