A thesis statement is written in a short and straight to the point manner. Writing a thesis statement might be a bit complex, that is why this article will provide you with several tips on how to write a strong thesis. Like any written material, a thesis statement is considered as the main point of your paper. It is the basis for your argument(s) and your reader’s guide in understanding what is your take in writing the paper.
It would be easier for you to start writing a thesis statement if you are aware of the topic you will be writing about. Topics can be classified into two categories: assigned and unassigned.
- Assigned topics are provided to you and include information on what you have to specifically write about.
Example 1:
Write a paper about possible side effects of medical marijuana.
- Unassigned topics are vague and do not specifically require a person to write on a particular topic. Thus, writers encountering this type of topics generate their own main question.
Example 2:
Write a paper on medical marijuana.
The sample topic is broad that as a writer, you would need to identify what topic about medical marijuana you would prefer on elaborating; it could be the possible side effects or the wonders medical marijuana could provide to medical patients.
Once the topic is being identified, it would then be easier for you to formulate your topic’s main question. A main question guides you on your argument(s) and helps you maintain your take on what you are writing.
Example 3:
TOPIC: Write a paper about possible side effects of medical marijuana.
MAIN QUESTION: What are the possible side effects of medical marijuana?
It will be a bit of a challenge in formulating your main question in an unassigned topic since it is too broad; you would need to identify possible specific topics that can help you generate your main question. The key is to identify what your would like to write about. You could either focus on the positive aspect of your topic or the negative ones.
Example 4:
TOPIC: Write a paper on medical marijuana.
MAIN QUESTION: Either, what are the possible side effects of medical marijuana? Or, what are the advantages of patients using medical marijuana in treating chronic pains?
Since you already know the basics in writing a thesis statement, let us proceed with learning the basics on how to write a strong thesis statement. A strong thesis statement depends on what type of approach you are going to use. The type of approach that you use in writing your paper helps you identify a claim in your paper. There are four approaches: cause and effect, value, solutions and policies and fact or definition. These will be discussed one by one for better understanding.
- Cause and effect approach. This approach focuses on the argument that a person, thing, or situation contributed for a certain thing or situation to happen.
Example 5:
Air pollution in Mexico is caused by exhaust from automobiles and trucks; therefore, it is a necessity to stay indoors.
- Value approach. This approach focuses on the classification and comparison of something of worth; it does not have to be of a direct value to you or someone.
Example 6:
Early education in public schools can stop teenage gang activities.
- Solutions and policies approach. This approach focuses on pros or cons of certain policies and solutions.
Example 7:
The government should ban smoking rather than limit it to certain age levels.
- Fact or definition approach. This approach focuses on a definition of something is or if something is a settled fact.
Example 8:
Normal, long-term cycles of climate change are what some people refer to as global warming.
If you are working on a one to two-page essay, your thesis statement should come first; for long papers, the thesis paragraph will include your thesis statement. Writing a strong thesis statement guides you to be very consistent with your arguments and it keeps you on track to avoid multiple revisions that might contribute to a delay, especially if you have a short deadline.