How to Create a Strong Thesis
Constructing a thesis can be the trickiest part of writing an entire essay. A thesis statement is NOT a
summary or general overview of what you are going to discuss in your paper. It is the main argument or
focus of your paper. It is an assertion or statement about a particular topic.
How to Create a Thesis
Once you have decided on a topic for your paper, you need to decide what you want to say about that
topic. You need to think about what the research suggests about your topic and make a link between
the research and your own ideas on the topic. Below are some approaches that can help you to develop
a thesis:
Make Connections
Compare what you know about your subject with something else that you have learned in the same
class or, perhaps, something that you have learned in a completely different class. Consider what else
you would like to learn in relation to the topic.
Example: Romeo from Romeo and Juliet and Leontes from A Winter’s Tale are both insecure male
characters who act in rash and detrimental ways.
Play Devil’s Advocate
Refute a commonly accepted idea or notion about a particular topic. This can be an interesting way to
interpret existing evidence, ideas, and beliefs about a topic.
Example: Despite the terror they inflicted on the world, the Nazi party presented Germany with several
positive proposals to improve the country’s well -being.
Discover Something New
Choose an aspect of your topic that has not yet been explored. These are always the most exciting kinds
of papers to write—all the information that exists on the topic will have been generated by YOU!
Example: If Mozart composed today in the twentieth century, his music would not be appreciated.
Consider Cause and Effect
You can argue that because one thing has happened, something else will happen as a consequence. For
example, Y happened because of X; or, Y will happen because of X. Consider how events, concepts, and
ideas affect one another.
Example: The Occupy Wall Street riots are a result of the disappearance of the middle class.
Be an Inventor
Propose a solution or an improvement to a problem.
Example: By lowering the cost of oil, world hunger will be reduced.
Qualities of a Strong Thesis Statement
Although it doesn’t have to be, a thes is statement is generally one sentence. It is a good idea to strive
for one sentence so that you can always go back and identify it easily. Aim to be as clear and concise as
possible so that the reader doesn’t become confused and bogged down by a lengthy t hesis statement
which loses focus. However, if you really feel like you can’t state your thesis in just one sentence, then it
is acceptable to write more.
The thesis statement does not have to be the last sentence of the first paragraph but, again, it is a good
spot for it. Readers are trained to look for the thesis statement in this general spot and the statement
will likely be more persuasive if you’ve introduced your ideas and provided a bit of background.
Transforming a Weak Thesis Statement to a Strong Thesis Statement
School violence is on the rise because kids are evil, they don’t know right from wrong anymore, and they
play too many video games.
This is a weak thesis statement for several reasons. First, the sentence is not very concise. Instead of a
strong, clear statement, the writer includes a bunch of gobbled -gook which confuses the reader.
Second, the statement lacks focus. Is the focus of the essay that kids are evil, kids don’t know right from
wrong, or that they play too many video games? Third, the language is not sophisticated or suitable for
an academic setting.
As society moves away from unconditional understandings of right and wrong, young people lack moral
principles resulting in rising violence in schools.
This thesis statement is much stronger than one above. The sentence is clear, concise, and the reader
does not have any doubt about the point the writer is making: school violence is on the rise because
society does not have a strict moral code about what is right and what is wrong. Instead of including
unnecessary words about kids being evil and video games, the writer gets straight to the heart of the
paper. It is clear that the writer’s words have been very carefully chosen to express the essay’s purpose.
This is a much more informative and succinct thesis than the one above and makes a clear assertion
about the reasons for school violence.
Some good websites to visit about writing thesis statements
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~writing/materials/student/ac_paper/develop.shtml
http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/planning-and-organizing/thesis-statements
http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/thesis_statement.shtml