How to Write a Thesis Statement With Examples

How to Write a Thesis Statement With Examples A thesis statement provides the foundation for your entire research paper or essay. This statement is the central assertion that you want to express in your essay. A successful thesis statement is one that is made up of one or two sentences clearly laying out your central idea and expressing an informed, reasoned answer to your research question. Usually, the thesis statement will appear at the end of the first paragraph of your paper. There are a few different types, and the content of your thesis statement will depend upon the type of paper you’re writing. Key Takeaways: Writing a Thesis Statement A thesis statement gives your reader a preview of your papers content by laying out your central idea and expressing an informed, reasoned answer to your research question.Thesis statements will vary depending on the type of paper you are writing, such as an expository essay, argument paper, or analytical essay.Before creating a thesis statement, determine whether you are defending a stance, giving an overview of an event, object, or process, or analyzing your subject Expository Essay Thesis Statement Examples An expository essay exposes the reader to a new topic; it informs the reader with details, descriptions, or explanations of a subject. If you are writing an expository essay, your thesis statement should explain to the reader what she will learn in your essay. For example: The United States spends more money on its military budget than all the industrialized nations combined.Gun-related homicides and suicides are increasing after years of decline.Hate crimes have increased three years in a row, according to the FBI.Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) increases the risk of stroke and arterial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat). These statements provide a statement of fact about the topic (not just opinion) but leave the door open for you to elaborate with plenty of details. In an expository essay, you dont need to develop an argument or prove anything; you only need to understand your topic and present it in a logical manner. A good thesis statement in an expository essay always leaves the reader wanting more details. Types of Thesis Statements Before creating a thesis statement, its important to ask a few basic questions, which will help you determine the kind of essay or paper you plan to create: Are you defending a stance in a controversial essay?Are you simply giving an overview or describing an event, object, or process?Are you conducting an analysis of an event, object, or process? In every thesis statement, you will give the reader a preview of your papers content, but the message will differ a little depending on the essay type. Argument Thesis Statement Examples If you have been instructed to take a stance on one side of a controversial issue, you will need to write an argument essay. Your thesis statement should express the stance you are taking and may give the reader a preview or a hint of your evidence. The thesis of an argument essay could look something like the following: Self-driving cars are too dangerous and should be banned from the roadways.The exploration of outer space is a waste of money; instead, funds should go toward solving issues on Earth, such as poverty, hunger, global warming, and traffic congestion.The U.S. must crack down on illegal immigration.Street cameras and street-view maps have led to a total loss of privacy in the United States and elsewhere. These thesis statements are effective because they offer opinions that can be supported by evidence. If you are writing an argument essay, you can craft your own thesis around the structure of the statements above. Analytical Essay Thesis Statement Examples In an analytical essay assignment, you will be expected to break down a topic, process, or object in order to observe and analyze your subject piece by piece. Examples of a thesis statement for an analytical essay include: The criminal justice reform bill passed by the U.S. Senate in late 2018 (The First Step Act) aims to reduce prison sentences that disproportionately fall on nonwhite criminal defendants.The rise in populism and nationalism in the U.S. and European democracies has coincided with the decline of moderate and centrist parties that have dominated since WWII.Later-start school days increase student success for a variety of reasons. Because the role of the thesis statement is to state the central message of your entire paper, it is important to revisit (and maybe rewrite) your thesis statement after the paper is written. In fact, it is quite normal for your message to change as you construct your paper.