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Where Can I Get Help Writing My Thesis Online?
You’ve spent years preparing for your master’s degree or PhD. You’ve read, studied and spent hours of time and energy writing papers. Now you’ve arrived at the culmination of all this effort: writing your thesis. There are plenty of compelling stories about the time and energy that students have spent drafting their dissertations and theses.
The good news is that you’re not alone. While you certainly don’t want to hire someone to write your thesis for you, which goes against most institution policies and puts your academic integrity at risk, you can get plenty of help with certain aspects of your thesis online. Whether you’re looking for a little guidance or extensive assistance, various services can make writing or editing your thesis go smoothly.
Dissertation Editor
One of the greatest challenges of writing your thesis can be juggling your family or job responsibilities with your studies. The time that writing takes can add another layer of obligation to your already-packed schedule. Dissertation Editor is a company whose founder is a PhD-educated writer and professor, and it promises to help you complete your thesis or dissertation on time and in compliance with your university’s rules and regulations.
Dissertation Editor’s primary function is to guide you along in the writing process and provide a helping hand in understanding everything you need to take care of. It places you with a writer who specializes in your area of study, and this individual can help you organize and analyze your research while making sure that your thesis fits your writing style and personality. This company also specializes in helping with any statistical analysis that you use in your thesis.
Thesis Helpers
If you’re concerned about using a service to help you write your thesis because you think it’ll be obvious that you hired help, don’t worry. Thesis Helpers puts its team of experienced writers to work for you to help you craft a thesis that finishes your degree on a high note. No matter what level of help you need, from narrowing down a topic to advanced editing and proofreading, they’re available to help.
The writers have advanced degrees in their areas of expertise, and one of the best things about Thesis Helpers is that it gives you ultimate say in the final product of your thesis. This company can help you with revisions and additional research, and you can rest assured that your thesis will meet anti-plagiarism standards.
Best Dissertation
Sometimes when you’re writing a thesis or dissertation, you can get stuck on one section or chapter. You may not need assistance writing the whole thing, but getting some help with the exact portion you’re struggling with can come in handy. That’s one of the strengths of using Best Dissertation . You don’t have to rely on it for help with your entire thesis if it’s not what you need.
Like most of the top thesis-assistance services, Best Dissertation employs writers with advanced degrees who specialize in various fields of study. What truly sets this company apart is the live support that it offers any time of the day or night. It claims to take the stress and strain out of writing your dissertation or thesis.
While some companies place a premium on helping you get your thesis written, others emphasize the editing and proofreading process. If you don’t need help with writing but need a hand with proofreading and editing, Scribbr is a good option for you. Its editors can help you get a grasp on the grammar and tone that are appropriate for academic writing.
Scribbr doesn’t just provide boilerplate feedback that you can find anywhere. It offers personalized feedback aimed at helping you become a better writer in the long run. You can even see examples of how its editors work by looking at the company’s website.
My Assignment Help
Writing a thesis has its own challenges that other academic writing simply doesn’t, which is why the team at My Assignment Help offers its particular brand of expertise. If you need assistance with a dissertation or thesis at the PhD or master’s level, its writers have the level of education and experience to help you write an expertly crafted and edited thesis.
My Assignment Help prides itself on hiring subject matter experts, meaning you can pair up with a helper who already has an advanced degree in your field. They understand the nuances of academic writing that are specific to your area of study, and they can provide advice on everything from making your abstract more unique to crafting a thought-provoking conclusion.
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How to Write an Argumentative Essay and Remain Unbiased
Maintaining an objective voice is crucial to writing a credible and effective argumentative essay, but it’s often easier said than done. Although the whole point of an argumentative essay is to sway the reader’s opinion on a topic, any conclusion the reader forms on the topic should be driven by evidence that you present in your argument. Bias sometimes slips through in the form of your word selection, tone, and source material. Failing to maintain a detached tone weakens your position, and by association, your essay, leaving the reader thinking that the whole argument is based on your personal bias . How can you avoid this common mistake?
Start at the Source
The sources you choose for your piece reflect the overall feel of the essay, so it’s important to select sources that are unbiased toward the topic. As a general rule, stick with peer-reviewed journal articles, scholarly publications, and information gleaned from websites with domain extensions “.gov”, “.org” and “.edu” for the most reliable and unbiased information. When you use sources that are trustworthy, you borrow that credibility in your quest to get the reader to see your point of view.
Be Objective
Write from an impartial viewpoint, leaving opinions on the sideline and away from your essay. To write objectively , you must present the information in your essay in a fair and credible manner, allowing the reader to draw his own conclusions. Steer clear of emotional phrasing and exaggerative adverbs, including “really” or “very”.
Rely on Logic
An evidence-driven argument is the hardest to refute. Develop the points you make logically, and then organize them into easy-to-digest factoids and information. A well-reasoned argument that includes clinical studies, statistics, and other types of empirical evidence obtained through reliable resources is one that is not easily assuaged.
Choose Your Words Wisely
Use language that is respectful, clear, reasonable, calm and honest to get your point across without showing bias or causing bias. Write with clarity. The sentence “Many elderly people live on this street” is not as effective as “Many people between ages 75 and 90 live on this street”. The former leaves room for the reader to assume the age of the street’s occupants, whereas the latter gives the reader an exact age for reference. In the same vein, avoid labeling people, such as “autistic child” or “diabetic” adult instead of a “child with autism” or an “adult with diabetes”.
Avoid Sweeping Generalizations
It is all too easy to alienate a large chunk of your audience with a sweeping generalization or two. Avoid generalizations and all-or-never assertions. The sentence “Teachers fail to consider individual students’ learning styles when they develop their lesson plans” makes a sweeping assertion that all teachers fail to make an important consideration. A better way to phrase that sentence may be “Some teachers fail to consider individual learning styles when they develop their lesson plans.” In this revised sentence, the writer acknowledges that not all teachers make this same mistake.
Maintain Third-Person Voice
Writing from a third-person perspective is the easiest way to keep bias out of your essay. A third-person narrative reads like an overview of the issue discussed, making it easier to keep personal opinions and accusatory language out of your piece.
Avoid Emotional Pleas
While some readers may be swayed by emotions, a more effective approach utilizes sound reasoning. Instead of opining that “The death penalty is cruel and unusual punishment, subjecting the condemned to horrific pain”, you might instead opt for “DNA evidence has proven hundreds of people innocent after their executions”. Some readers may not care that the death penalty causes horrific pain for the offender, but they may reflect on the possibility of innocence among the wrongfully condemned.
With these tips, you should be able to strike a balance between swaying your audience to your side and appearing to force your viewpoints on them.
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Purdue Online Writing Lab College of Liberal Arts
Developing Strong Thesis Statements
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These OWL resources will help you develop and refine the arguments in your writing.
The thesis statement or main claim must be debatable
An argumentative or persuasive piece of writing must begin with a debatable thesis or claim. In other words, the thesis must be something that people could reasonably have differing opinions on. If your thesis is something that is generally agreed upon or accepted as fact then there is no reason to try to persuade people.
Example of a non-debatable thesis statement:
This thesis statement is not debatable. First, the word pollution implies that something is bad or negative in some way. Furthermore, all studies agree that pollution is a problem; they simply disagree on the impact it will have or the scope of the problem. No one could reasonably argue that pollution is unambiguously good.
Example of a debatable thesis statement:
This is an example of a debatable thesis because reasonable people could disagree with it. Some people might think that this is how we should spend the nation's money. Others might feel that we should be spending more money on education. Still others could argue that corporations, not the government, should be paying to limit pollution.
Another example of a debatable thesis statement:
In this example there is also room for disagreement between rational individuals. Some citizens might think focusing on recycling programs rather than private automobiles is the most effective strategy.
The thesis needs to be narrow
Although the scope of your paper might seem overwhelming at the start, generally the narrower the thesis the more effective your argument will be. Your thesis or claim must be supported by evidence. The broader your claim is, the more evidence you will need to convince readers that your position is right.
Example of a thesis that is too broad:
There are several reasons this statement is too broad to argue. First, what is included in the category "drugs"? Is the author talking about illegal drug use, recreational drug use (which might include alcohol and cigarettes), or all uses of medication in general? Second, in what ways are drugs detrimental? Is drug use causing deaths (and is the author equating deaths from overdoses and deaths from drug related violence)? Is drug use changing the moral climate or causing the economy to decline? Finally, what does the author mean by "society"? Is the author referring only to America or to the global population? Does the author make any distinction between the effects on children and adults? There are just too many questions that the claim leaves open. The author could not cover all of the topics listed above, yet the generality of the claim leaves all of these possibilities open to debate.
Example of a narrow or focused thesis:
In this example the topic of drugs has been narrowed down to illegal drugs and the detriment has been narrowed down to gang violence. This is a much more manageable topic.
We could narrow each debatable thesis from the previous examples in the following way:
Narrowed debatable thesis 1:
This thesis narrows the scope of the argument by specifying not just the amount of money used but also how the money could actually help to control pollution.
Narrowed debatable thesis 2:
This thesis narrows the scope of the argument by specifying not just what the focus of a national anti-pollution campaign should be but also why this is the appropriate focus.
Qualifiers such as " typically ," " generally ," " usually ," or " on average " also help to limit the scope of your claim by allowing for the almost inevitable exception to the rule.
Types of claims
Claims typically fall into one of four categories. Thinking about how you want to approach your topic, or, in other words, what type of claim you want to make, is one way to focus your thesis on one particular aspect of your broader topic.
Claims of fact or definition: These claims argue about what the definition of something is or whether something is a settled fact. Example:
Claims of cause and effect: These claims argue that one person, thing, or event caused another thing or event to occur. Example:
Claims about value: These are claims made of what something is worth, whether we value it or not, how we would rate or categorize something. Example:
Claims about solutions or policies: These are claims that argue for or against a certain solution or policy approach to a problem. Example:
Which type of claim is right for your argument? Which type of thesis or claim you use for your argument will depend on your position and knowledge of the topic, your audience, and the context of your paper. You might want to think about where you imagine your audience to be on this topic and pinpoint where you think the biggest difference in viewpoints might be. Even if you start with one type of claim you probably will be using several within the paper. Regardless of the type of claim you choose to utilize it is key to identify the controversy or debate you are addressing and to define your position early on in the paper.
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How to Write a Strong Thesis Statement
A thesis can be found in many places—a debate speech, a lawyer’s closing argument, even an advertisement. But the most common place for a thesis statement (and probably why you’re reading this article) is in an essay.
Whether you’re writing an argumentative paper, an informative essay, or a compare/contrast statement, you need a thesis. Without a thesis, your argument falls flat and your information is unfocused. Since a thesis is so important, it’s probably a good idea to look at some tips on how to put together a strong one.
Guide Overview
What is a “thesis statement” anyway.
- 2 categories of thesis statements: informative and persuasive
- 2 styles of thesis statements
- Formula for a strong argumentative thesis
- The qualities of a solid thesis statement (video)
You may have heard of something called a “thesis.” It’s what seniors commonly refer to as their final paper before graduation. That’s not what we’re talking about here. That type of thesis is a long, well-written paper that takes years to piece together.
Instead, we’re talking about a single sentence that ties together the main idea of any argument . In the context of student essays, it’s a statement that summarizes your topic and declares your position on it. This sentence can tell a reader whether your essay is something they want to read.
2 Categories of Thesis Statements: Informative and Persuasive
Just as there are different types of essays, there are different types of thesis statements. The thesis should match the essay.
For example, with an informative essay, you should compose an informative thesis (rather than argumentative). You want to declare your intentions in this essay and guide the reader to the conclusion that you reach.
To make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, you must procure the ingredients, find a knife, and spread the condiments.
This thesis showed the reader the topic (a type of sandwich) and the direction the essay will take (describing how the sandwich is made).
Most other types of essays, whether compare/contrast, argumentative, or narrative, have thesis statements that take a position and argue it. In other words, unless your purpose is simply to inform, your thesis is considered persuasive. A persuasive thesis usually contains an opinion and the reason why your opinion is true.
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are the best type of sandwich because they are versatile, easy to make, and taste good.
In this persuasive thesis statement, you see that I state my opinion (the best type of sandwich), which means I have chosen a stance. Next, I explain that my opinion is correct with several key reasons. This persuasive type of thesis can be used in any essay that contains the writer’s opinion, including, as I mentioned above, compare/contrast essays, narrative essays, and so on.
2 Styles of Thesis Statements
Just as there are two different types of thesis statements (informative and persuasive), there are two basic styles you can use.
The first style uses a list of two or more points . This style of thesis is perfect for a brief essay that contains only two or three body paragraphs. This basic five-paragraph essay is typical of middle and high school assignments.
C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia series is one of the richest works of the 20th century because it offers an escape from reality, teaches readers to have faith even when they don’t understand, and contains a host of vibrant characters.
In the above persuasive thesis, you can see my opinion about Narnia followed by three clear reasons. This thesis is perfect for setting up a tidy five-paragraph essay.
In college, five paragraph essays become few and far between as essay length gets longer. Can you imagine having only five paragraphs in a six-page paper? For a longer essay, you need a thesis statement that is more versatile. Instead of listing two or three distinct points, a thesis can list one overarching point that all body paragraphs tie into.
Good vs. evil is the main theme of Lewis’s Narnia series, as is made clear through the struggles the main characters face in each book.
In this thesis, I have made a claim about the theme in Narnia followed by my reasoning. The broader scope of this thesis allows me to write about each of the series’ seven novels. I am no longer limited in how many body paragraphs I can logically use.
Formula for a Strong Argumentative Thesis
One thing I find that is helpful for students is having a clear template. While students rarely end up with a thesis that follows this exact wording, the following template creates a good starting point:
___________ is true because of ___________, ___________, and ___________.
Conversely, the formula for a thesis with only one point might follow this template:
___________________ is true because of _____________________.
Students usually end up using different terminology than simply “because,” but having a template is always helpful to get the creative juices flowing.
The Qualities of a Solid Thesis Statement
When composing a thesis, you must consider not only the format, but other qualities like length, position in the essay, and how strong the argument is.
Length: A thesis statement can be short or long, depending on how many points it mentions. Typically, however, it is only one concise sentence. It does contain at least two clauses, usually an independent clause (the opinion) and a dependent clause (the reasons). You probably should aim for a single sentence that is at least two lines, or about 30 to 40 words long.
Position: A thesis statement always belongs at the beginning of an essay. This is because it is a sentence that tells the reader what the writer is going to discuss. Teachers will have different preferences for the precise location of the thesis, but a good rule of thumb is in the introduction paragraph, within the last two or three sentences.
Strength: Finally, for a persuasive thesis to be strong, it needs to be arguable. This means that the statement is not obvious, and it is not something that everyone agrees is true.
Example of weak thesis:
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are easy to make because it just takes three ingredients.
Most people would agree that PB&J is one of the easiest sandwiches in the American lunch repertoire.
Example of a stronger thesis:
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are fun to eat because they always slide around.
This is more arguable because there are plenty of folks who might think a PB&J is messy or slimy rather than fun.
Composing a thesis statement does take a bit more thought than many other parts of an essay. However, because a thesis statement can contain an entire argument in just a few words, it is worth taking the extra time to compose this sentence. It can direct your research and your argument so that your essay is tight, focused, and makes readers think.
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A Strong Thesis Statement: Tips and Examples | Make a Stand
A thesis statement is a central element of an academic essay and an important academic writing skill. It presents the major message of the paper and a short summary of the points you make. This way, a thesis statement prepares your reader and facilitates understanding.
It is a thesis statement that adds logic and coherency to your writing.
A logical and coherent essay can be written only around a thesis statement: presented in the introduction , supported in the body paragraphs , and restated in the conclusion .
The good news is that once you have a strong thesis statement, you know what to include in each of these elements of an essay structure .
So let me show you what a strong thesis statement looks like.
What Makes a Good Thesis Statement
A good thesis statement is :
- Relevant to the essay type
If your goal is to argue, a thesis statement should present an argument; if your goal is to compare, it compares, and so on. If you need to analyze a debate on an argumentative topic , and your thesis statement argues your own position on it, do not expect an effective essay or a good grade.
- Debatable
Purdue Owl Writing Lab emphasizes that a strong thesis statement is debatable. What does it mean? It should not be common knowledge, a fact, or something all reasonable people will agree to like “ Violence is bad for society ”. To be debatable, a thesis statement should be a summary of your own conclusions, which can be debated or refuted by the reader.
Neither a short essay nor even a thesis is able to cover all the controversies of a large topic. Thus, an essay topic and, consequently, a thesis statement should be narrowed. This means that instead of arguing that “ People should avoid sexism ”, you can argue that “ The X country should start regulating sexism in job proposals and on job interviews ”.
- Written using a nice parallel structure
If you include reasons in your thesis statement, it becomes a rather long sentence. To facilitate reading and understanding, make sure your thesis statement has a parallel structure. For example, “The United States should refuse from capital punishment overall, as this practice is irreversible , extremely expensive for the state, and painful for the victims’ relatives” or “Capital punishment should be forbidden as it allows killing people, whose innocence may be proven later, triggers enormous expenses, and causes suffering to the victims’ relatives due to long and repetitive trials”.
Thesis Statement for an Argumentative Essay
A thesis statement for an argumentative essay should show your position – the claim you make regarding the controversial topic. There are three types of claims you can make:
- claim of fact (X happens/is true/is false)
- claim of value (X is bad/good)
- claim of policy (we/everyone/the state should/should not do X)
Mind, in most cases you have to avoid using personal pronouns; thus, you can’t write, “I think the Internet ruins our mind.” Instead, you write a claim you make, “the Internet ruins the human mind”, and support it with several arguments.
Therefore, here are the best patterns to use:
Because of A, B, and C, the claim is such. The claim is such as it (is) A, B, C.
Using such a pattern is great, for it helps you structure your essay and add logic and coherence to it, as each supporting point becomes a topic sentence of a paragraph developing the idea . For example, the essay on capital punishment can have three paragraphs beginning with such sentences:
1 para: There have been many cases when people, executed for a crime, were eventually proven not guilty. 2 para: The experts emphasize that capital punishment does not reduce the level of crime, so the enormous expenses associated with the trial and execution are not justified. 3 para: Furthermore, a long process of conviction puts extra pressure on victims’ relatives and keeps their wounds sore.
You may also formulate a thesis statement around several aspects of the issue . For example,
“Contrary to concerns , the Internet promotes both individual intelligence and the collective intelligence of society.”
Thesis Statement for Other Types of Academic Essays
The purpose of thesis statements is to inform the reader what your essay wants to say. As different types of essays accomplish different missions, their thesis statements will differ.
A thesis statement for a school essay/ Toefl or IELTS essay should state your opinion and present the supporting points just like an argumentative essay. The main difference is that you can freely use “I” and include personal facts as reasons supporting your position. For example,
I believe it is better to live in the city because A, B, C.
A thesis statement for a compare and contrast paper has to show the actual similarities and/or differences you have found in the pieces you have been comparing. For example,
Although Edmund Wall and Vaughana Feary both consider harassment an unwelcome statement or conduct of a sexual character, their ideas differ in several important points, which makes the scholars view cases of (possible) sexual harassment differently.
A thesis statement for a rhetorical analysis essay should state whether the author has created a persuasive argument and what made him (not)succeed in doing so. For example,
The author managed to build a persuasive argument in favor of … due to the effective use of ethos, logos and pathos. or The author has started with an effective argument in favor of a gun carry, but later focus on emotional appeal with little factual support has weakened the author’s argument.
When your task is to analyze a poem, a short story or an article , your thesis statement should explain what the text communicates and how (what supporting points the author uses in his argument). For example,
The poem … creates a vivid image of war due to A, B, C (e.g. the use of metaphors, alliteration, etc.) In the article …, Author creates an effective argument against the use of technology at school.
A thesis statement for a response paper should give your evaluation of the source, tell what you consider its core strengths and weaknesses. For example,
I consider the article by … to be biased and based on unsupported generalizations. The chapter … gives a very good insight of …
A thesis statement for a literature review should provide a conclusion you have made. Note, this is not a conclusion on separate sources, it is a conclusion on the existing knowledge on the topic. Here are some examples of such thesis statements:
Despite the long history of enquire into the effect of TV viewing on children, the topic remains controversial. According to research, parental divorce has a particularly negative impact on children.
A thesis statement for the problem and solution essay has to state what solution is best to the problem you consider:
Investing in the healthcare of developing nations is the most humane and effective way to tackle overpopulation .
A thesis statement for a cause and effect essay should either identify the cause for a particular effect or an effect for a particular cause. For example,
A growing rate of divorces is the consequence of A, B, C (changing society values, poor communication skills, unrealistic expectations of marriage, etc.). Bullying has multiple long-term effects such as A, B, C (lower self-esteem, inability to trust people, etc.)
Place and Length of a Thesis Statement
A thesis statement usually appears at the end of an introduction and is usually one sentence .
When you are allowed or expected to be creative, you may violate this rule and finish with something emphatic. Consider the following example. Here, a thesis statement is a last but one sentence so that an introduction finishes with an emphatic direct quotation:
Though there are theories of the future, where the humans benefit from the merge with robots, the prospects of humans to be the governing force in this new form of life are rather doom. As Lev Grossman puts it, “You don’t have to be a super-intelligent cyborg to understand that introducing a superior life-form into your own biosphere is a basic Darwinian error”.
If you include a roadmap for the paper, place it at the end of the first paragraph, after a thesis statement.
Do not confuse a thesis statement with a roadmap!
A roadmap is a description of what the paper will consider; it is a short plan of the paper, which helps the reader not to get lost. It is usually included only in longer works with several sections or even chapters. A roadmap may look like this,
Chapter 1 will be devoted to … Chapter 2 will look into … Therefore, Chapter 3 will consider … A Conclusion will …
“This paper will look into the effect of the Internet on people’s mind” is neither a thesis nor a roadmap. Forget this pattern once and for all!
In a better case, if the paper was meant to investigate the debate over the effect of the Internet, the statement will be considered a weak thesis statement. However, if you had to write an argumentative essay, you can get F (yes, Fail ) because the main purpose of an argumentative essay is to argue and make a claim.
How do I write a thesis statement?
First, do your research: do a rhetorical analysis of a persuasive piece you have chosen, analyze two texts you are comparing and note similarities and differences, analyze several different positions that writers of credible sources take and note, which argument sounds more convincing for you, etc. If you have made your research right, you might already have a clue about what to include in your thesis statement using one of the above examples as a sample.
Can you help me with my thesis statement?
Yes, for sure. You may ask for support in this Facebook group I have created. If you order editing , I will add or revise your thesis statement, and I will leave a recommendation concerning the appropriateness and strength of your thesis statement when proofreading your essay .
What is the formula for a thesis statement?
One formula of thesis statement won’t help, as a thesis statement is different for different types of academic essays. Even if you manage to find a ready-made thesis statement example for your topic, I would not recommend using it. Your thesis statement should summarise the arguments you are going to make – the ones, for which you have found support in credible sources. Using someone’s else thesis statement might make the process of research longer.
How do you write a thesis statement in APA format?
The process of writing a thesis statement is similar for all formatting styles. A thesis statement does not require any specific formatting: bolding, italics, etc. It is just a normal sentence that you include at the end of your introduction.
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- Your thesis must make an argument. It is the road map to the argument you will subsequently develop in your paper.
- The organizational structure of the United Nations, namely consensus voting in the security council, makes it incapable of preventing war between major powers."
The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Thesis Statement
A thesis statement is a sentence in a paper or essay (in the opening paragraph) that introduces the main topic to the reader. As one of the first things your reader sees, your thesis statement is one of the most important sentences in your entire paper—but also one of the hardest to write!
In this article, we explain how to write a thesis statement in the best way possible. We look at what to include and the steps to take for writing your own, along with plenty of thesis statement examples to guide you.
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What is a thesis statement?
The goal of a thesis statement is to let your reader know what your paper or essay is about. It helps your reader understand the greater context and scope of your topic, plus it lets your readers know what to expect from the rest of the work.
A secondary benefit of a thesis statement is that it makes it easier to search for papers on a particular topic, especially in the realm of academic writing like research papers and thesis papers (which are sometimes known as dissertations when written for doctoral degrees). For example, if you’re writing a paper of your own, you’ll want to look up other papers to use as evidence and sources . You can simply scan the thesis statements of several papers to see which match your topic and could be worthwhile sources to cite.
The thesis statement is located at the beginning of a paper, in the opening paragraph, making it an essential way to start an essay . A thesis statement isn’t necessarily the first sentence in an essay; typically you’ll want to hook the reader in an engaging way in the opening sentence before inserting your central idea or argument later in the first paragraph. A thesis statement is often confused with a topic sentence , the first sentence in a paragraph, because they both introduce the central idea of what follows. You can think of thesis statements as the topic sentence of your entire paper.
What to include in a thesis statement (with examples)
Thesis statements are a necessary part of paper and essay writing , but different formats have different rules and best practices. Below, we break down how to write a thesis statement for the most common types of papers.
How to write a thesis statement for expository and argumentative essays
Expository and argumentative essays are some of the most common types of academic papers. Because they don’t have a formal abstract like research papers, they rely on their thesis statements to provide an overview of what’s discussed.
Thesis statements for argumentative and expository essays should use strong and decisive language; don’t be wishy-washy or uncertain. You want to take a stand right in the opening so that your readers understand what your paper is trying to show.
Moreover, thesis statements for these essays should be specific, with some minor details to hint at the rest of the paper. It’s not enough to merely make your point; you also want to provide some basic evidence or background context to paint a full picture.
If your paper dives into different subtopics or categories, try to fit them into the thesis statement if you can. You don’t have to get into details here, but it’s nice to mention the different sections at the top so that the reader knows what to expect.
Thesis statement examples
Despite the taboo, insects make an excellent food source and could stem humanity’s looming food shortage, based on both their protein output and the sustainability of farming them.
The backlash to rock ’n’ roll music in the ’50s by religious groups and traditionalists actually boosted the genre’s popularity instead of diminishing it as intended.
How to write a thesis statement for persuasive essays
Similar to argumentative essays, persuasive essays follow many of the same guidelines for their thesis statements: decisive language, specific details, and mentions of subtopics.
However, the main difference is that, while the thesis statements for argumentative and expository essays state facts, the thesis statements for persuasive essays state clear opinions . Still, the format is the same, and the opinions are often treated like facts, including conclusive language and citing evidence to support your claims.
Furthermore, unlike with other essays, it’s appropriate to make emotional connections in a thesis statement in persuasive essays. This can actually be a clever strategy to start your essay off on a more personal, impactful note.
Advertising should not be allowed in public schools because it’s a distraction from studies and may lead to misguided priorities among the school board, to say nothing of the materialist culture it promotes.
Exotic pets provide the same love and companionship as conventional pets, so the laws regulating which animals can and cannot be kept as pets should be more relaxed.
How to write a thesis statement for compare-and-contrast essays
Thesis statements for compare-and-contrast essays are tricky because you have at least two topics to touch on instead of just one. The same general guidelines apply (decisive language, details, etc.), but you need to give equal attention to both your topics—otherwise, your essay will seem biased from the start.
As always, your thesis statement should reflect what’s written in the rest of your essay. If your essay spends more time comparing than contrasting, your thesis statement should focus more on similarities than differences.
It sometimes helps to give specific examples as well, but keep them simple and brief. Save the finer details for the body of your essay.
Sean Connery and Daniel Craig are the two most popular actors to portray James Bond, but both have their own distinct and at times contradictory interpretations of the character.
While capitalism and communism are often viewed as diametric opposites, the truth is that, in practice, both ideologies tend to “borrow” principles from one another.
How to write a thesis statement in 3 steps
Now that you know what you’re aiming for, it’s time to sit down and write your own thesis statement. To keep you on track, here are three easy steps to guide you.
1 Brainstorm the best topic for your essay
You can’t write a thesis statement until you know what your paper is about, so your first step is choosing a topic.
If the topic is already assigned, great ! That’s all for this step. If not, consider the tips below for choosing the topic that’s best for you:
- Pick a topic that you’re passionate about. Even if you don’t know much about it, it’ll be easier to learn about it while writing if you’re genuinely interested.
- Narrow down your topic to something specific; otherwise, your paper will be too broad and perhaps too long. Just make sure it’s not too specific, or you won’t have enough to write about. Try to find a happy medium.
- Check beforehand that there are enough strong, credible sources to use for research. You don’t want to run out of referential material halfway through.
Once you’ve chosen a topic—and the angle or stance you want to take—then it’s time to put the idea for your thesis sentence into words.
2 Phrase your topic as a question and then answer it
It’s not always easy to fit your entire thesis into just one sentence, let alone one that’s written clearly and eloquently. Here’s a quick technique to help you get started.
First, phrase your topic as a question. For example, if you want to write about Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy, ask yourself, “What influences did Gandhi have on society after his death?”
If you already know the answer, write it down—that’s a good start for your thesis statement. If you don’t know the answer, do some preliminary research to find out; you can certainly use what you discover as evidence and sources in your essay’s body paragraphs .
3 Add some polish
Chances are, your first attempt at a thesis statement won’t be perfect. To get it to its best, try revising , editing , and adding what’s missing.
Remember the core traits for thesis statements we mentioned above: decisive language, a happy medium of specific but not too specific details, and mention of subtopics. If you’re struggling to contain everything in a single sentence, feel free to move the secondary information to the following sentence. The thesis statement itself should only have what’s most necessary.
If you’re in doubt, read your thesis statement to a friend and ask them what they think your paper is about. If they answer correctly, your thesis statement does its job.
Next comes the hard part—writing the rest! While the bulk of the writing lies ahead, at least you’ve nailed down your central idea. To plot out your supporting argument, follow our advice on essay structure and let your ideas flow.
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Keeping Unbiased Language in your Argument Essay
When choosing a topic for your argument essay, it’s always best to choose an issue that you’re interested in and passionate about. There’s nothing worse than spending an entire term researching and writing about something that you have little interest in. But it’s also just as important to be fair and unbiased as you write your essay. The language you choose to communicate your points can work to either persuade – or alienate – your audience.
While it’s okay to feel excited or even enraged about a topic, your audience requires careful respect and consideration. Too much wrath and fury, or on the other side, too much praise and approval, will cause your reader to doubt your reliability, and could turn your audience against you.
Avoid Moralistic Language
A fine line exists between persuasive and opinionated , and it all comes down to word choice. In order for readers to feel sympathetic toward your position, a balance must be struck. In the example below, consider how your reader will react:
An added tax should be placed on all surgery drinks, including sodas, and is the only way to encourage healthy alternatives.
At first glance, many health-conscious readers might think this is a good idea. Added federal and state taxes are placed on another unhealthy – though popular – product, cigarettes, so why not sugary drinks?
But this statement implies that all surgery drinks harm our health. Most fruit juices, however, have as much, if not more, sugar than a can of Coke! But some fruit juices have no sugar added ; the sugar content comes naturally from the fruit. Are fruit juices high in sugar? Yes. Is fruit juice as harmful as soda? Many would heartily disagree, and juice-drinking readers might feel targeted.
Avoid Superlatives and Exaggerations
Note the use of “only way” in the above example. The phrase, “is the only way to encourage healthy alternatives” implies that higher taxation will automatically push consumers to choose healthier options. The language of “the only way. . .” is a superlative that might turn off a reader by the moralistic tone. It could be one way, but not necessarily the only way.
Superlatives are terms that suggest the highest degree of something, such as the best way the worst way should always should never
Using superlatives paints the writer into an absolute corner and has no room for compromise.
Alternative : An added tax should be placed on all surgery drinks, including sodas, and could be one way to encourage healthy alternatives.
Example : Legalizing marijuana is the best way to decrease prison overcrowding.
Alternative : Legalizing marijuana might be one way to decrease prison overcrowding.
Example : Embryonic cell research is the perfect solution for finding a cure for Alzheimer’s.
Alternative : Embryonic cell research is one of the best options to find a cure for Alzheimer’s.
Notice the difference in tone? Superlatives and exaggerations come off as dramatic and often biased and opinionated. By simply changing the language, your reader will be more apt to consider your points and consider your position as credible, whether or not they agree with you in the end.
When constructing an argument, consider how your language might be interpreted by varying audiences. While those who agree might not be offended, neutral or opposing audiences might be turned off by the language and opinionated tone.
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Using Thesis Statements
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When you are asked to write an essay that creates an argument, your reader will probably expect a clear statement of your position. Typically, this summary statement comes in the first paragraph of the essay, though there is no rigid rule about position. Here are some characteristics of good thesis statements, with samples of good and poor ones. Note that the better examples substitute specific argumentative points for sweeping general statements; they indicate a theoretical basis and promise substantial support. (See Some Myths About Thesis Statements, below, for a discussion of times not to use a thesis statement. See also the file General Advice on Essay Writing .)
1. It makes a definite and limited assertion that needs to be explained and supported by further discussion:
2. it shows the emphasis and indicates the methodology of your argument:, 3. it shows awareness of difficulties and disagreements:, some myths about thesis statements.
- Every paper requires one . Assignments that ask you to write personal responses or to explore a subject don’t want you to seem to pre-judge the issues. Essays of literary interpretation often want you to be aware of many effects rather than seeming to box yourself into one view of the text.
- A thesis statement must come at the end of the first paragraph. This is a natural position for a statement of focus, but it’s not the only one. Some theses can be stated in the opening sentences of an essay; others need a paragraph or two of introduction; others can’t be fully formulated until the end.
- A thesis statement must be one sentence in length, no matter how many clauses it contains . Clear writing is more important than rules like these. Use two or three sentences if you need them. A complex argument may require a whole tightly-knit paragraph to make its initial statement of position.
- You can’t start writing an essay until you have a perfect thesis statement . It may be advisable to draft a hypothesis or tentative thesis statement near the start of a big project, but changing and refining a thesis is a main task of thinking your way through your ideas as you write a paper. And some essay projects need to explore the question in depth without being locked in before they can provide even a tentative answer.
- A thesis statement must give three points of support . It should indicate that the essay will explain and give evidence for its assertion, but points don’t need to come in any specific number.
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How To Write An Argumentative Essay And Remain Unbiased
I learn this text the evening before my examination and took notes and it actually helped me examine as me English trainer had not taken this however had stated that it will be a half of the examination. You can select considered one of these or mix them to create your individual argument paper. Support each of those reasons with logic, examples, statistics, authorities, or anecdotes.
Thatâs understandable, as a outcome of some individuals imagine that thereâs no difference between a declare and a thesis assertion. In spite of this, in case you are feeling caught or are unable to start your argumentative essay, you can attain out to us at Writers Per Hour. Our essay writing experts will allow you to put collectively an impactful introduction that can set a robust basis for the argumentative essay. You have to current your arguments, justifications, proof, and examples in the corresponding physique paragraphs. Every paragraph could be devoted to a single argument or declare.
As you possibly can see, this could be a different strategy than the one for essay introduction or something you’ll use in different body paragraphs. Of course, you must use this step for any argument paper, future analysis essay, analysis paper, or argumentative essay variations you could need to work on. You will use it when writing in APA type or any other and yes, it is mandatory. A concluding paragraph brings worth to your paper, and it can make a distinction. As you’ll be able to see in all persuasive essay conclusion examples or conclusion paragraph examples including new concepts into this part just isn’t smart. An essay conclusion have to be to the point, and every argumentative conclusion must just current your final opinion.
Argumentative writing is an evidence-based writing style, so the process is largely primarily based around the assortment of various forms of proof via analysis. In some writing styles, the writer could start writing or conceptualizing their thesis before conducting the bulk of their analysis. However, on this fashion, it’s the first and most necessary stage. Toronto movers have perfected the relocation process . You’ll be spending lots of time researching and writing this paper. So it is necessary for you to select a topic that you simply discover fascinating from the start.Avoid selecting a topic that has been overdone, or, then again, one that is too obscure .
Browse them and make certain you select a related subject to debate in your writing. Picking the proper funny subjects will boost the ambiance in school and stir up a number of laughs. Here are some ideas to assume about before you decide on the subject of your subsequent paper. For a middle-school student, selecting the correct topic in your upcoming essay can be a real problem.
It also reveals that you have thought of each side of the controversy, which strengthens your position. When you read, ask your self questions like âWhat is the author trying to prove? As you get used to studying critically, you’ll begin to see the typically hidden agendas of different writers, and you can use this ability to enhance your personal ability to craft effective arguments.
You can also verify web pages like ProCon.org, which current 2 or three sides to present controversial topics. Influences affecting the event of studentsâ critical considering abilities. An integrative evaluate of strategies of study and evaluation in schooling. All claims expressed in this article are solely these of the authors and don’t essentially symbolize those of their affiliated organizations, or these of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers.
Here you donât bombard the reader with tons of data however define information clearly and concisely. Whatever declare sort you choose, your objective might be to argue for it in your argumentative essay successfully. To write a compelling essay that persuades your reader, start with a powerful argument. Start with a topic that you simply https://writemyessaytoday.us/blog/dbq-essay/ really feel strongly about and assemble an argument with reasons and proof. Remember, that to persuade your reader, your argument needs to be nicely thought out and researched. It should have a major level, but also, several reasons why.
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You’ve spent years preparing for your master’s degree or PhD. You’ve read, studied and spent hours of time and energy writing papers. Now you’ve arrived at the culmination of all this effort: writing your thesis.
A good thesis statement is a single sentence contained in the introduction of a paper that provides the reader with some idea of what the writer is trying to convey in the body of the paper. The thesis statement is a condensed summary of th...
Narrative statements, also called personal statements, vary in content but should be consistent, have a main focus, include engaging and creative content, avoid generalizations, convey knowledge of a certain academic subject area or job ski...
Start at the Source · Be Objective · Rely on Logic · Choose Your Words Wisely · Avoid Sweeping Generalizations · Maintain Third-Person Voice · Avoid Emotional Pleas.
An argumentative or persuasive piece of writing must begin with a debatable thesis or claim. In other words, the thesis must be something that people could
Typically, however, it is only one concise sentence. It does contain at least two clauses, usually an independent clause (the opinion) and a dependent clause (
Important – Even though students write thesis statements for class papers
If your goal is to argue, a thesis statement should present an argument; if your goal is to compare, it compares, and so on. If you need to analyze a debate on
The essay that follows it should offer facts that prove the ideas in the thesis statement. It's important to note that the thesis is broad and
1. Thesis statements must make a claim or argument. They are not statements of fact. Statement of fact: "A candidates ability to afford television advertising
Moreover, thesis statements for these essays should be specific, with some minor details to hint at the rest of the paper. It's not enough to
Notice the difference in tone? Superlatives and exaggerations come off as dramatic and often biased and opinionated. By simply changing the
Using Thesis Statements · 1. It makes a definite and limited assertion that needs to be explained and supported by further discussion: trite, irrelevant · 2. It
You have to current your arguments, justifications, proof, and examples in the corresponding physique paragraphs. Every paragraph could be