THE THESIS STATEMENT

WHAT IS A THESIS STATEMENT?

DEFINITION: A STATEMENT THAT DECLARES THE MAIN POINT OR
MAIN IDEA OF YOUR ESSAY. IT IS ONE SENTENCE OR TWO
SENTENCES AT THE MOST.

IT USUALLY ANSWERS: 
WHAT IS THE SUBJECT OF THE ESSAY?
WHAT IS THE WRITER'S PURPOSE IN THE ESSAY?
WHAT IS THE WRITER'S OPINION ON THE SUBJECT?
 A “WORKING THESIS”

A WORKING THESIS HELPS THE WRITER FOCUS, BUT IT IS NOT

PERMANENT.

THERE MAY BE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE THESIS STATEMENT

THAT APPEARS IN YOUR ROUGH DRAFTS AND YOUR FINAL THESIS
STATEMENT.
 TIPS FOR WRITING GOOD
THESIS STATEMENTS

1. A GOOD THESIS STATEMENT TELLS THE READER HOW THE WRITER FEELS
ABOUT A SUBJECT. THERE IS A CLEARLY DEFINED OPINION PRESENT.
EXAMPLES:
• MANY PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS ON WHETHER PEOPLE UNDER TWENTY-
ONE SHOULD BE PERMITTED TO DRINK ALCOHOL, AND I AGREE WITH SOME OF
THEM.
 
• THE LEGAL MINIMUM AGE FOR PURCHASING ALCOHOL SHOULD BE EIGHTEEN
RATHER THAN TWENTY-ONE.
2. A GOOD THESIS STATEMENT ASSERTS ONE MAIN IDEA. TRY TO AVOID
CONFUSING YOUR READER BY NOTING MORE THAN ONE ISSUE.
 
EXAMPLES:
• HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES SHOULD NOT HAVE TO MAINTAIN A “B” OR BETTER
GRADE POINT AVERAGE IN ALL SUBJECTS TO PARTICIPATE IN SCHOOL SPORTS.

• HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES SHOULD NOT HAVE TO MAINTAIN A “B” OR BETTER

GRADE POINT AVERAGE IN ALL SUBJECTS TO PARTICIPATE IN SCHOOL SPORTS,
AND THE IMPORTANCE OF SPORTS TO SOME STUDENTS IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED.
3. A GOOD THESIS HAS SOMETHING WORTHWHILE TO SAY. YOU WANT TO
ENCOURAGE THE READER TO CONTINUE READING WITH ENTHUSIASM.
EXAMPLES:
• THE FOUR CHILDREN IN MY FAMILY HAVE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
PERSONALITIES.

• THE ORDER OF BIRTH CAN INFLUENCE CHILDREN’S PERSONALITIES IN

STARTLING WAYS. THIS INFLUENCE IS EVIDENT WITHIN THE WALKER SIBLINGS.
4. A GOOD THESIS IS LIMITED TO FIT THE ASSIGNMENT. FOCUS THE ESSAY ON
AN IMPORTANT PART OF A BROADER/LARGER SUBJECT THAT INTERESTS YOU.
EXAMPLES:
• SCOTT JOPLIN WAS A MAJOR INFLUENCE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE
UNIQUELY AMERICAN MUSIC CALLED RAGTIME.

• AFRICAN-AMERICAN ARTISTS HAVE ALWAYS CONTRIBUTED A LOT TO MANY

KINDS OF AMERICAN CULTURE.
5. A GOOD THESIS IS CLEARLY STATED IN SPECIFIC TERMS. AVOID WORDS
LIKE GOOD, BAD, AND INTERESTING WHICH LEAD TO PERSONAL
INTERPRETATIONS AND VAGUE STATEMENTS.
 EXAMPLES:
• THE WOMEN’S RIGHTS MOVEMENT IS GOOD FOR THE COUNTRY.

• THE GEORGIA WOMEN’S PARTY IS WORKING TO ENSURE THE BENEFITS OF

EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK IN THE STATE.
6. A GOOD THESIS IS EASILY RECOGNIZED AS THE MAIN IDEA AND IS USUALLY
LOCATED IN THE FIRST PARAGRAPH. SOMETIMES, IT CAN BE PLACED LATER
IN THE ESSAY DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF WRITING.

DON'T KEEP THE READER IN SUSPENSE ABOUT YOUR THESIS!

 
 COMMON ERRORS WITH THESIS
STATEMENTS
• DON'T MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT OR DESCRIBE YOUR INTENTIONS.

• DON'T CLUTTER YOUR THESIS WITH PHRASES SUCH AS “IN MY OPINION,” “IN
THIS ESSAY, I WILL,” OR “I BELIEVE…”

• DON'T BE OFFENSIVE OR IRRATIONAL IN YOUR CLAIM. 

• DON'T JUST STATE A FACT OR PRESENT AN IDEA THAT IS SELF-EVIDENT.

• DON'T EXPRESS YOUR THESIS IN THE FORM OF A QUESTION.