How to write an thesis statement for an essay
No matter what type of writing that you do, whether you are writing an essay in a nursing class or an essay for a literature class, it has a main topic.
Anyone can express an opinion. You can say that you prefer chocolate to vanilla ice cream, to which another can either agree or disagree.
This kind of exchange, however, neither leads to further conversation about nor investigation of an issue. Blanket opinions are conversation stoppers.
A thesis statement is a conversation starter. Once given your assignment, take notes or write in a less structured way this is called "free writing" in order to sort out your thoughts on the issue at hand.
How to Write a Good Thesis Statement
You may want to create a table listing the pros and cons of two opposing positions before you make your final decision. This will provide you with clarification and perhaps a line of argumentation for the body of your essay.
Complex sentences, as opposed to simple sentences, allow you to communicate rich thoughts. They give you room to unpack and elaborate in the body of your essay. Consider the following pair of sentences, the first simple and expressing a mere opinion, the second expressing a considered point of view in a complex sentence: I hate San Francisco weather in the summertime.
Statement 1 gives a mere opinion, to which one can respond in only one of two ways. One can agree I hate political economy thesis, too or disagree I love San Francisco weather.
Either way, the statement does not begin a conversation, but rather shuts it down from the beginning as with the chocolate ice cream example.
It is a flat, blanket statement.
Before you begin writing, you'll want to follow these tips for developing a good thesis statement: Read and compare your sources: What are the main points they make? Do your sources conflict with one another? Don't just summarize your sources' claims; look for the motivation behind their motives.
Good ideas are rarely born fully formed.
They need to be refined. By committing your thesis to paper, you'll be able to refine it as you research and draft your essay. Consider the other side: Just like a court case, every argument has two sides.
You'll be able to refine your thesis by considering the counterclaims and refuting them in your essay. Be Clear and Concise An effective thesis should answer the reader question, "So what?
Don't be vague, or your reader won't care.
