How to Write a Good Thesis Statement
Three Steps to a Creative Thesis Argument for Your Paper
May 29, 2009
Of course, depending on the stipulations of the particular assignment, some of these techniques may not be necessary or appropriate for the paper. Adapt them accordingly if there are restrictions or limitations on the assigned essay.
Although it is best to think about thesis ideas before reading the book, going back and reviewing it for ideas after the fact can also be effective. Give these tips a try!
1. Take Time to Think About the Book or Topic
- What is the reason this book has been assigned? What major themes and concepts is the class focusing on? What was most striking or remarkable about the book? What was missing from the book? While reading the book, mark events, ideas, and quotes that stand out and consider their implications or potential usefulness in a thesis argument based around those concepts or occasions.
- Write down ideas for thesis arguments whenever they come up, and mark all potential places in the book that defend or support this idea. If there are way too many, the thesis is probably too obvious to be considered creative. If there are many supports but also many counterarguments, consider marking them all and designing a thesis idea around the contradictions and competing ideas.
2. Pick a General Theme to Focus On
- After reading the book, pick a concept that was interesting, even if it was not a central theme of the book. Some simple themes that can be addressed in thesis papers include the treatment of women or minorities, the parallels between the book’s events or ideas and those of another time or place, ideas of classism or discrimination, treatment of the emotions or qualities of the main character, distinguishing characteristics of the society represented in the book, use of mythology or fantasy in an otherwise realistic book, etc.
- More than one suggestion may apply to the book at hand, but some will fit better than others. Choose one that is not so obvious that particular supports would not be necessary – the thesis argument should defend an idea that would probably not be an obvious and immediate conclusion any reader would draw from the book. Keep in mind, however, that a thesis statement does not always have to be hard to defend or highly contentious to be a unique thought worth writing about.
3. Make Sure the Idea Can be Supported
- Preferably, each thesis statement should include three points to support, or three aspects of the argument to defend. Furthermore, for each of these three sections, there should be three quotes, examples, citations, or arguments provided in support of the claim. If necessary, a counterpoint should be acknowledged and addressed (shot down, if possible) for each section of the thesis statement.
- Try setting up an outline with the thesis statement at the top and a section for each of the three sections of the statement. Then list the three supports for each of the three sections. If the original thesis statement does not have enough supports per claim, consider adjusting the thesis argument or moving on to a different one. If there are only two supports for one of the claims, consider the strength and quality of the arguments. If they are significant or in-depth examples, two is probably enough; if not, consider swapping out that point for a different one with more supports.
Using the Thesis Statement
By using the above tips, developing a solid and defensible thesis statement should be a simple task. Writing a thesis paper becomes much easier with a quality thesis argument that is already laid out in an outline, supports and all.
Just remember to make the thesis statement stand out in the introduction (first or last sentence of the paragraph) and to defend the points of the thesis in the same order in the body of the essay as they appear in the thesis statement. Also, always keep in mind what your teacher will be specifically looking for when grading your thesis.
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