What is a “thesis statement”?
A thesis statement is usually one to two sentences, used to state the central idea of your essay. The thesis statement is used to answer the main research question of your writing, and is usually placed at the end of the introductory paragraph. Before forming your thesis, you must first research and read a variety of sources and look at your topic from all sides. You'r essay should contain a thesis to organize and better develop your essay's argument, and to provide you'r reader with a "guide" to you'r argument. The thesis statement, or simply “thesis,” is the heart of your essay. The thesis explicitly states the subject of your essay, discloses your assertion about the subject, suggests an organizing structure for your essay, and provides the scope of your essay.The thesis also describes the topic and how the writer is going to explain the information on that topic. The thesis makes a promise to your reader: it clearly explains the purpose of your essay and how the essay will deliver that purpose. A strong thesis statement is integral to a successful essay.
See What is a “thesis statement” and how do I write a strong one? for more information.
External Links
- The Thesis Statement — from Capital Community College
- Thesis Statement — from LEO: Literacy Education Online
- [1]-from Writing Tutorial Services, Idiana University
- [2]
Works Cited
Hacker, Diana. A Writer's Reference. 5th Ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2003.