A thesis statement, also known as the ‘argument’ or the ‘contention’, is the key logic of an essay in a single sentence form! 

They are an absolutely essential part of any essay, which means it’s important to get them right. If the marker cannot easily identify what you are trying to argue, most of your other hard work might be misunderstood, or worst case, missed altogether.

FOR ASSIGNED SUBJETS

If you’ve been asked to write an essay on a specific topic, then your thesis must be modelled around this. Typically, if you are given a question, the thesis needs to be a direct answer.

For example, if the question is:

“What perspective on female agency does Margaret Atwood offer in The Penelopiad?” 

The thesis in response might look like:

“While Atwood’s Penelope does gain some agency, ultimately she remains at the mercy of the stronger male figures in her life.” 

The thesis above sums up the key point of the essay while also alluding to some of the specifics that will be explored throughout the essay while keeping it short and sweet. 

FOR NON-ASSIGNED SUBJECTS

If you have free reign over a topic, then you first need to pin down what you want to write about. Your thesis needs to: 

  1. Show one clear argument or idea

  2. Gives space for people to disagree

  3. Shows your conclusion on the topic 

Before you write your thesis, these questions can be helpful to consider. 

  1. What is the main point of the essay? 

  2. What are your views on the topic? 

  3. Can you find evidence/research that backs up your opinion? 

One of the easiest ways to write a thesis for a non-assigned essay is to take the topic you have chosen and turn it into a question/prompt. 

For example; “Is homework conducive to learning?” 

A thesis might say; “Despite parental claims that homework eats into free time and offers little academic value, a recent study in Germany determined that 90% of children who complete homework pass their exams at a higher grade, doing homework highly conducive to learning.” 

This thesis is ok, but it includes a big problem. It is introducing evidence prior to the argument being initially made. You want your thesis to be clear and to the point. Your evidence can be sufficiently explored in your body paragraphs! 

Something like this would suffice; “While it can produce concerns homework is shown to significantly improve academic output, making it highly conducive to learning.”  

REMEMBER, your thesis always needs to be: 

  • Clear and direct

  • Referred to consistently throughout your essay to show you are proving it

  • Linked directly to all the evidence you use