Regardless of the style of essay you are writing, strong thesis statements are a must. Thesis statements are simultaneously the most important and most challenging skill you will have to master. It is easy to see the thesis statement as an inconsequential task, but writing a strong thesis statement means the difference between a strong paper and a weak one. I have found that taking some time to write a concise, original, and insightful thesis is hugely beneficial.
Fortunately, there are a few tried and tested approaches to writing a thesis statement that can ease the process for you. Below you will find my recommended approaches to writing a thesis statement. When approached with care, your thesis statement will act as the backbone of your essay and set its overall direction.
The Importance of the Thesis
When writing a thesis statement, you must first identify the type of essay you are being asked to produce. Different types of essays will demand different types of thesis statements. When writing an essay, especially when you are being timed, it is important to produce a strong thesis statement which lays out the structure of your essay. Thesis statements define the scope of your essay and perhaps most importantly outline which arguments you will explore.
The thesis statement acts not only as a foundation for your essay but also as its structure.
Annie Wilcox
If you are lost or frustrated with the essay writing process, you can refer back to a strong thesis statement to redirect your essay. A good thesis statement will help you find a sense of direction and regain a foothold on your essay. The thesis statement acts not only as a foundation for your essay but also as its structure. A strong thesis statement is your blueprint for an A+ essay making it the most important skill to master.
How to Approach the Thesis
What is crucial when writing a thesis statement is that you are responding directly and steadfastly to the topic. Your thesis statement should be clear and obvious to any reader as it overviews the position and arguments you will discuss. The ideas you present in your thesis should logically connect to the prompt and to each other, and you should plan to outline these connections within your essay.
1. The Cause and Effect Thesis
Cause and effect essays will typically ask you to discuss events that lead to certain results. When writing a cause and effect thesis statement, ask yourself what are the major causes or consequences of the “event?”
For a cause and effect thesis, you must recognize the cause and the effects of that cause within your thesis statement. You may simply restate the question to create a thesis, but this is cliché, and I favor a bolder response to the question.
If you are asked to describe how the end of the Pleistocene Epoch affected homo sapiens, you must identify the cause and two to three effects that it had on homo sapiens. Instead of restating the question, try a more engaging thesis like this…
Never had life been so simple for homo sapiens upon the ending of the Pleistocene Epoch when the species could finally explore new, more fertile terrain, find permanent places to settle, and grow in population.
2. The Change over Time Thesis
The Change over Time thesis asks you to address a change and identify why the change occurred. In this thesis, as yourself, what are the major patterns of continuity and change over this time period? What has remained the same and what has changed?
In the early 20th century, few people saw a need for the establishment of an independent Jewish state, however, once the world realized the massive genocide of Jews that took place during World War II, support for the establishment of Israel began to grow.
The thesis identified the change, which was the sudden support for an independent Jewish state. It also recognizes why the change took place which was after the genocide of Jewish people during the Holocaust.
3. The Compare/Contrast Thesis
When asked to compare two things, think to yourself, what similarities and differences are there between the two things? If there are more similarities, you will write a comparison thesis. If there are more differences, you will write a contrasting thesis.
For an essay on the poems “I, Too” and “Theme for English B” by Langston Hughes, read both poems and decide the direction you will take the essay. I would avoid starting your thesis statement with a vague or forgettable statement such as
“I, Too” and “Theme for English B” by Langston Hughes explore civil rights for Black Americans using first person ‘I’ in different ways.
A thesis that merely restates the question does not capture the interest of the reader making it a low-interest essay. Instead, I favor of a more striking thesis like…
Harlem Renaissance writer Langston Hughes advocated for Black voices Black freedoms in his poems “I, Too” and “Theme for English B” through the use of the first person to convey both the individual ‘I’ and the collective ‘I.’
4. The Turning Point Thesis
The Turning Point essay is a popular choice in the social sciences. For this thesis, you are asked to evaluate whether something was a turning point or major marking period in history. A thesis statement for this essay type should note what things were like before and after that time period and discuss the amount of change that took place.
The Cognitive Revolution acted as a turning point for humankind by rapidly developing humans’ ability to use symbolic language and communicate ideas to each other leading to the creation of human history and culture.
A Strong Thesis Statement
Strong thesis statements indicate the complexity of having weighed all sides and all arguments. Thesis statements use rich and creative language and structures to engage the reader and design a clear essay the deeply and consistently convey your ideas. Thesis statements are defensible and do not make claims that cannot be substantiated with evidence. Finally, strong thesis statements provide a road map of your essay that guide you through the writing process and guide your audience toward understanding you.