Wednesday, January 23, 2008 1:43 PM
A Quick and Easy Way to Improve Your Thesis Statements
Many instructors report that their students have trouble developing strong thesis statements for their papers. Too often, it’s hard for them to tell what an essay is trying to do until they get to the end. And if they don’t know, they give lower grades. That’s why it’s important to signal to the reader what your essay is going to be about. To do that you need to learn the secrets to a strong thesis statement, and this article will show you how.
First, the basics: What is a thesis statement? A thesis statement is a sentence (usually at the end of the first paragraph of the essay) that tells the reader what your essay will demonstrate or prove. In other words, it sums up your main idea and indicates what you will discuss.
Now, how do you make a strong thesis? There are a few tips and tricks:
- Be specific. Don’t just say “The Holy Roman Empire did not become a modern nation.” Say why.
- Think about what your essay is about. Tell the reader what your essay will show and the major pieces of evidence you will use to do it. Let’s revise our example from above: “The Holy Roman Empire failed to become a modern nation-state because it had a weak central government, religious divisions, and competition from nobles who formed their own nations within it.” Here you can see what the essay is about and the three topics it will use to prove the point.
- Lastly, write a temporary thesis and then return to polish it after you finish the paper. Often, your conclusion will help show you what your paper really demonstrated or proved and can help you develop a stronger thesis.
Applying these tips and tricks can help you generate stronger and more focused thesis statements. Your instructors will thank you for it later when it comes time to give out grades!
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