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The thesis statement is the main topic of an essay, usually placed in the first paragraph. To write a strong thesis, the writer should decide their stance on the topic and provide concrete reasons to support it. The thesis should be clear, short, and fact-based, with a strong argument and no use of “I think” or “I believe.” Supporting paragraphs should follow the thesis statement to provide evidence.
The thesis statement is the main topic of any essay. It’s usually a sentence, and it’s placed somewhere in the first paragraph of the paper; the most common places to put the thesis statement are at the beginning or end of the first paragraph to ensure that the reader knows right away what the writer will be trying to prove or prove with the essay. To write a strong thesis, the writer will need to decide where they stand on an issue before they even put pen to paper.
It is often helpful to write the thesis statement first, before delving into the rest of the paper. The writer should decide how he feels about a certain question or topic, then write down a few key points about those feelings. The goal is to summarize those thoughts and feelings in one sentence to give the reader a clear understanding of what the writer intends to demonstrate or outline in the essay. The writer needs to gain the reader’s trust and assert his or her authority on the subject at hand, so statements such as “I think” or “I believe” should be avoided in favor of firmer statements. A good basic format for writing the thesis statement would be:
(argument) exists this way because (reason).
The “why” part of the thesis statement is important because it immediately confirms the writer’s claim to show that the writer has thought clearly about the topic. The argument can then be elucidated in the following paragraphs, known as the supporting paragraphs because they support the thesis statement. The thesis should be clear, short and fact-based whenever possible. Concrete examples based on the research the writer has done should be provided.
If, for example, the topic question is “Which meal is best for you: breakfast or lunch?”, then the writer could write a thesis statement like this:
Good thesis: “Breakfast is a better meal because it replenishes the body after a long night’s sleep and prepares it for the first stresses of the day.”
Weak thesis: “I think breakfast is better than lunch.”
The second example doesn’t give concrete reasons why breakfast is better than lunch; it is merely a statement of opinion which gives the reader no clue as to how the writer intends to prove this point. Including a proof example in the thesis statement goes a long way in establishing the writer as an authority. The second statement also includes “I think,” which doesn’t convey confidence or a firm decision.
