How to write a thesis statement

Every good introduction needs a thesis statement, a sentence that plainly

and concisely explains the main topic. Thesis statements are often just a
brief summary of your entire paper, including your argument or point of view
for personal essays. For example, if your paper is about whether viewing
violent cartoons impacts real-life violence, your thesis statement could be: 

Despite the rhetoric and finger-pointing, no evidence has connected live-

action role-play violence with real-world violence, but there is plenty of
evidence for exoneration, as I explain here.  

Learning to write a good thesis statement is an essential writing skill, both in

college and the world of work, so it’s worth taking the time to learn. The rule
of thumb for thesis statements is not to give everything away all at once.
Thesis statements, and more broadly introductions, should be short and to
the point, so save the details for the rest of the paper. 

You should always pinpoint your thesis before writing. If you’re having
trouble nailing it down, ask yourself, “What’s the one thing I want my reader
to remember when they’re done reading my essay?”

Write your thesis statement 

At the beginning of writing a paper, even before writing the research paper

outline, you should know what your thesis is. If you haven’t already, now is
the time to put that thesis into words by writing your thesis statement. 

Thesis statements are just one sentence, but they are usually the most
important sentence in your entire work. When your thesis is clearly defined,
your readers will often use it as an anchor to understand the rest of the
writing. 

The key to writing a good thesis statement is knowing what to ignore. Your
thesis statement should be an overview, not an outline. Save the details,
evidence, and personal opinions for the body of the paper. 

If you’re still having trouble, ask yourself how you’d explain this topic to a
child. When you’re forced to use small words and simplify complex ideas,
your writing comes across more clearly and is easier to understand. This
technique also helps you know which details are necessary up front and
which can wait until later.

Essay writing process

1. Preparation 2. Writing 3. Revision

 Define your essay topic  Write the introduction  Evaluate

 Do your research and  Write the main body, organized the overall
gather sources into paragraphs organization
 Come up with a thesis  Write the conclusion  Revise the
 Create an essay outline content of
each
paragraph
 Proofread
your
essay or
use
a Grammar
Checker for
language
errors
 Use
a plagiarism
checker
Paragraph 1: Introduction
Paragraph 2: Body 1
Paragraph 3: Body 2
Paragraph 4: Body 3
Paragraph 5: Conclusion

5 types of essays

Like any form of writing, essays come in many different types. Sometimes
the assignment dictates the type, as with admissions essays, and other
times the thesis will determine it. Regardless, it helps to know what your
options are, so here are some of the most common essay types: 

1. Argumentative essay

Argumentative essays assert or defend a position. This is the most common

type of school paper, so keep that in mind when writing your first college
essay. 

2. Admissions essay

Most colleges request an admissions essay in applications, which typically

revolve around why you’re interested in their school. 

3. Persuasive essay

A persuasive essay is just as it sounds: an essay to persuade or convince

the reader of a certain point. It’s similar to an argumentative essay— they
both strongly favor a particular point of view, but the difference is the end
goal: Argumentative essays just have to present their case, while
persuasive essays have to present their case and win over the reader. 

4. Compare-and-contrast essay

When you want to devote equal attention to two opposing things,

a compare-and-contrast essay works better than argumentative or
persuasive essays, which lean to one side over the other.

5. Personal essay

Personal essays are often anecdotal or real-life stories of the authors,

like the works of David Sedaris. Because they tend to follow narrative
structures, the thesis can be flexible or interpretive.