The Thesis Statement

After an introduction "hooks" a reader, the introductory paragraph transitions into the main topic of the essay which is the thesis statement.


The thesis is the most important sentence in your essay.
Think of your thesis as providing a map to give the reader directions or focus to the rest of your essay.  It articulates your main point as clearly as possible.  Often, it provides an overview of the main points in your body paragraphs and the order in which they will occur.

One way to do this is to list briefly and in order the ideas you will discuss. Topic sentences should be related by a main topic and show progression in thought.


If the main idea is that Asian-Canadians experienced conflict, planning could shape the discussion in three parts:

  • Asian-Canadians experienced conflict before WWII.
  • Asian-Canadians experienced conflict during WWII.
  • Asian-Canadians experienced conflict after WWII.

These three parts fit nicely into three body paragraphs. The first body paragraph is represented by the colour blue, the second by pink, and the third by yellow.

The thesis might be stated as Asian-Canadians experienced conflict before, during, and after WWII.

Weak Thesis


A thesis must contain a specific idea or argument about the topic.  It is more than a cut-and-dried topic. For example, writing about "conflict" is too general.


Example: Conflict happens all the time. X

Strong Thesis

However, taking a unique position on the topic of "conflict" can produce new discussion opportunities.


Example: Conflict can lead individuals to discover more about themselves and others.


A thesis gives your topic direction.  In this case, at least two body paragraphs are needed: the first about oneself, the next about others.

Notice how a thesis usually consists of two parts. The first part states the topic ("Conflict"), and the second part makes a point about the topic ("can lead individuals to discover more about themselves and others").

Thesis Tips

DO

  • Be specific.
  • Narrow the topic.
  • Have an idea to prove or support.
  • Insert the thesis at the end of the introduction.

DO NOT

  • Do not tell the reader what you are going to do. Do not write "I will prove", or "I will discuss", or "I intend to argue"). This is redundant—just do it!
  • Do not use a question for a thesis. You must make a statement that you will prove or support. Notice that questions might involve the reader, but they do not indicate the writer's position on the topic: Do you agree with conflict? Have you experienced conflict?
  • Do not state a fact for a thesis, such as The company Subaru released its first car, the 1500, in 1954. You need to say something of your own about the topic. The reader can look up facts online; he or she does not need to read your essay to find this information although that fact might be useful to support some point in your essay.
  • Do not state a personal preference for your thesis, such as I like conflict. (The reader might ask, "So what?" and ignore your essay. ) Proving or disproving personal beliefs is not necessary.
to review "How to Write a Killer Thesis Statement".

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