How to Write a Thesis Statement

The following is a step by step guide on How to Write a Thesis Statement

If you aren't sure how to write a thesis statement, the tips in this article will help you tackle this often challenging aspect of writing your essay. The thesis statement answers a question, and actually condenses the entire topic of your essay down to a one or two sentence answer. Many people wonder how to write a thesis statement, and believe it is a very difficult task - but it doesn't have to be.

Don't let this area of your essay stump you before you even get started!

How to write a thesis statement

1. Tightly focus your statement. Your thesis statement should answer the question regarding "what is the central idea of your thesis"? Focus on the main idea of your essay, and don't try to crowd in the small details. Ask yourself what you are trying to prove in your thesis, then summarize the answers to this question.

2. What idea do you want to give the readers of your essay? Your thesis statement should narrow down the subject of your essay to a central idea that you want the reader to take away after reading your work.

3. Create a list of answers. By brainstorming several answers or ideas for your question, you can narrow down a single idea from this list that you feel will be easiest to discuss in your essay. Before you choose your idea, be sure that you will have enough evidence to support it in writing your essay.

4. Include 2 to 3 reasons in your thesis statement. When writing your thesis statement, it is a good idea to include 2 to 3 reasons regarding why the idea you chose is the best answer to the question. For example: Children today are obese because reason a, reason b, and reason c.

5. Consider writing your essay before you write your thesis statement. For many people, it's easier to write the thesis statement after a rough draft of the essay has been written. This way, you know exactly what is in your essay and what evidence you are providing, making it easier to determine your central answer or idea.

6. Remember you can always go back and change it. If you write your thesis statement first, don't let it make you nervous. After completing your essay you can always go back and change your statement so that it fits the information you are providing as proof in your essay.

Never let this part of writing an essay affect you in a way that prevents you from writing or gives you “writer’s block”. If you are stumped from the beginning, simply skip this and come back to it when you have a better feel for your essay and what evidence it provides.

Many people are intimidated and do not know how to write a thesis statement; hopefully the tips above will help make this task much easier for you.