1. What a thesis statement does
A thesis answers the central question of your paper and gives the reader a roadmap. In most college papers it appears at the end of the introduction. A good thesis is:
- Specific: it names the exact subject, group, text, or time period.
- Arguable or interpretive: a reasonable reader could disagree or see it differently.
- Supportable: you can back it with the evidence you have found or will find.
- Focused: it fits the length of the assignment.
2. Start with a question
Read the prompt closely and turn it into a question you can answer. Your working thesis is your current best answer to that question.
| Topic | Question | Working thesis |
|---|---|---|
| Remote learning | Did online classes during 2020 to 2021 affect community college completion? | Rapid shifts to online classes lowered completion rates at community colleges most among part-time students, because they had the least access to support services. |
| A novel’s ending | Why does the narrator refuse to return home? | The narrator’s refusal to return home shows that the novel treats independence as a loss as well as a gain. |
3. Match the thesis to the paper type
Different assignments call for different kinds of thesis statements.
- Argumentative: takes a position and gives reasons. “Colleges should replace high-stakes final exams with cumulative projects because projects measure applied skills and reduce test anxiety.”
- Analytical: breaks a text, event, or data set into parts and makes a claim about how they work. “The ad campaign relies on nostalgia rather than product features to reach older buyers.”
- Expository: explains a topic and previews the main points. “Sleep affects memory through three processes: consolidation, synaptic pruning, and emotional regulation.”
4. Revise from weak to strong
Most first drafts are too broad, too obvious, or too vague. Revise by asking “how?”, “why?”, and “so what?”.
Social media is bad for teenagers.
Daily use of image-based social media is linked to lower body satisfaction among teenage girls, which suggests that school health programs should address it directly.
The minimum wage was first set in 1938.
Raising the state minimum wage to $15 would reduce reliance on public assistance more than it would reduce employment, based on recent studies of comparable states.
5. Test your thesis
Before you draft the body, check your thesis against these questions:
- Does it answer the question the assignment asks?
- Could someone reasonably disagree or interpret it differently?
- Is each body section you plan to write clearly connected to it?
- Is it narrow enough to cover well in the required length?
- Does it avoid announcements such as “In this paper I will discuss”?
Your thesis can change while you write. Revisit it after your draft and adjust it so it matches what your paper actually shows.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a thesis statement be?
Usually one sentence, sometimes two. Longer papers, such as a capstone or thesis, may use a short paragraph that states the claim and previews the main sections.
Where does the thesis statement go?
In most college papers it comes at the end of the introduction. Check your assignment instructions, since some disciplines place a purpose statement or research question there instead.
Can a thesis statement be a question?
No. A question can guide your research, but the thesis is your answer to it.
Can someone else write my thesis statement for me?
Your thesis should be your own idea. A tutor or editor can ask questions and give feedback on clarity, but the claim and wording should come from you.