Felicia Wright has always been a bright student. But once she got into college, things began to take an unexpected turn. It was for the second time when the college professor had commented on her paper saying, “Your thesis statement is weak.” To avoid any mishaps further, she even contemplated seeking assignment help services.
Like Felicia, many of you may have trouble preparing a thesis statement of a particular topic. A solid thesis statement lays the foundation for an interesting, well-researched assignment. An academic paper without the main claim to control the contents and direction will leave your professors, and the readers confused.
With that thought, let’s delve into some incredible tips to prepare an excellent thesis statement.
1. It takes quite a bit of brainstorming
Once you’ve selected the topic of your paper, carry out a brainstorming activity in which you note down everything you know about the particular topic. This will help you develop connections between what you already know and notice where there are existing gaps in your knowledge.
Proper brainstorming involves writing down everything you know about a topic without much thought given to the organisation, time spent, or outcome at this point.
2. Think of what appeals to you
A great thesis statement should be many things, and appealing is definitely one of them. A topic you believe is boring will be the same for your readers too. So, it’s better to think of something that will be genuinely intriguing to you. This will help you write an assignment that your readers will appreciate more.
But remember just because a topic seems appealing to you, doesn’t mean you’ll find every information on it. If your preliminary research doesn’t highlight any valuable resources, you should find another topic.
3. Carry out preliminary research
Make sure you perform the initial research about your topic. Choose reputable and trustworthy sources and emphasise on aspects that you know little about.
Some of the reliable sources for academic papers include scholarly articles and books that you can find in the library. And in case you’re looking for online resources, you can browse through resources like JSTOR or Google Scholar. Also, to use sites that end in .gov or .edu (as opposed to .com or .org) as they will be more reliable.
4. Present your thesis statement accurately
A thesis statement explains the arguments you wish to highlight in an assignment. It serves as a blueprint which enlightens on the direction of your analysis or argument and how you’ll portray the importance of the topic. In the simplest terms, a thesis statement addresses what your paper is about.
Additionally, you must remember that a thesis statement is more of an assertion, not an observation or fact. Facts are incorporated within the paper to support your thesis. It’s the main idea that emphasises what you plan to discuss.
5. Provide evidence within the statement
It’s crucial to explain to your readers that you’re making claims based on facts, not just your whims or opinions. Your thesis statement should prove that you’ve performed research and that your paper will explain the topic fairly.
You can either present a broad example of evidence; e.g., “Schools should allow more time for recess as boosts the learning process of the students.” Or, you can mention the sub-points that will be discussed more explicitly in the body paragraphs; e.g., “Schools should allow more time for recess because it increases focus, and boosts the learning process.”
6. Find a balance between too broad and too narrow
Writing a thesis statement can be complicated. You must provide sufficient background information to help you understand. But you shouldn’t overshare and provide too many details in your introduction. A broad thesis statement offers claims that may come across vague, ambiguous, or overreaching.
If your thesis addresses too many aspects at once, it means you don’t have a clear focus. Again, a narrow thesis statement is too specific to use in crafting a well- written assignment.
7. Know where to add the thesis statement
Because of the role thesis statements have, they are presented at the beginning of the paper, typically at the end of the introductory paragraph or somewhere in the introduction.
Even though most of the time, readers look for the thesis statement at the end of the first paragraph, where you add it depends on multiple factors. You need to consider how long your introduction needs to be before you can introduce your thesis statement.
8. Write down your thesis
Writing down a working thesis will set you in the right direction and compel you to think about it, focus your ideas further, and refine the content of the paper. You’ll be able to think about your thesis clearly and logically.
There are two schools of thought on thesis timing. Some people opine that you shouldn’t write the paper without a thesis statement in mind, even if you have to tweak it later slightly. The other school of thought believes that you probably won’t know how everything will turn out in the end, so it’s best not to write the statement until you know what it should be.
9. Assess your thesis statement
Evaluate the thesis statement once you think you have a final, or working, version. The idea is to make sure you avoid making any mistakes that can weaken the thesis statement. For having clarity on what to avoid and what not to, consider the following pointers.
- · Never present your thesis statement as a question. The job of a thesis statement is to answer a question, not ask one.
- · A thesis shouldn’t be treated like a list. If you’re trying to address a specific question, too many variables will keep your assignment off-focus.
- · Never mention a new aspect of a topic that you don’t intend to discuss.
10. Take a break and revise
Once you’re done with the process of writing the whole paper, take some time off. Come back to the task after a couple of days and review your work. This will help you find more clarity, to see if your argument’s impactful. You’ll also be able to determine if your thesis statement is an accurate representation of the claim you highlight.
Don’t discuss topics in the paper that don’t align with your thesis idea. Staying on topic is vital for the clarity in your assignment.
Final thoughts,
Writing an accurate thesis statement will determine how well arguments and major points take shape. So, if you have any confusion while coming up with one, it’s best to follow these ideas we’ve discussed in the post. This way, your thesis statement will always turn out perfect.
