How to Write a Thesis Statement
Blinn College – Bryan Writing Center
Spring 2023
How to Write a Thesis Statement
The word thesis is not one that is commonly used in our everyday speech; in fact, you probably do not
hear the term outside of school. However, if you look closely, you will find that nearly every written and
visual communication contains a thesis—a claim or assertion through which the author or visual media
artist attempts to influence the audience to understand, believe, or act in a certain way.
As a student researcher and writer, your job is to present a persuasive argument about your own topic
that will convince your audience to “listen” to you and believe what you say. To do so, you must state an
arguable claim—the thesis—and support it with sufficient evidence along with well-developed
interpretations of that evidence. In addition to making a claim, your thesis organizes your essay. The
number of points supported by evidence that you include in the thesis depends upon your instructor’s
requirements for the assignment. The thesis is usually located in the introduction of the essay, often
appearing at the end of the paragraph; check with your instructor regarding his or her guidelines for the
placement of your thesis.
Below you will find a breakdown of the different components of a thesis statement, guidelines for
constructing an effective thesis statement, and criteria with which to evaluate your thesis statement to
ensure that it is both properly constructed and effective.
Anatomy of a Thesis Statement
There are three parts to a thesis statement: topic + claim + evidence. The diagram below provides
examples of different types of topics, claims, and evidence. The way you construct your thesis
statement will vary depending upon the type of argument essay your instructor has asked you to
write. (See the Writing Center handout “Thesis Statement Types & Models.”)
Topic: Issue, Problem, Situation, Title of written or visual piece
The topic is the subject about which you
are writing.
Examples:
Climate change
Rise in autism rates
"Letter from Birmingham Jail"
Main causes of the Civil War
Hamlet
Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken"
Claim: A debatable assertion
Explores an issue, or
Proposes a solution, or
Takes a position, or
Examines cause and effect, or
Presents pros and cons, or
Evaluates the efficacy of an argument, or
Defines or categorizes something, or
Interprets a literary work.
Evidence: Supports the claim
Credible; verifiable
Statistics
Scholarly books and journals
Government and university reports and
studies
Experts
Documented field research
Personal experience
Reliable testimony
Graphs, charts, and maps
How to Write a Thesis Statement
Blinn College – Bryan Writing Center
Spring 2023
Constructing an Effective Thesis Statement
There are several steps involved in writing a strong and viable thesis statement. Check off each step as
you complete it. (See A Writer’s Reference pp. 86-89 for further tips and examples.)
❑ Determine your research question. What do you want to learn more about? What intrigues you or
interests you about this topic? What do you want your audience to understand about this topic?
Your thesis should answer a question, explore an issue, resolve a problem, or take a position in a
debate. Having a clear research question will help to guide your research, thus saving you time.
Example research question: What are the effects of the administration’s strict immigration policies
on U.S.-citizen children whose parents face deportation?
Example thesis statement: Children whose undocumented immigrant parents face deportation
experience an increase in depression and other mental health disorders, disrupted education,
financial stress, and communication difficulties.
❑ Become familiar with the topic. The more you read and research about the topic, the more
confident and prepared you will be in taking a stand and writing a clear thesis.
❑ Make sure there is enough information available on your topic in order to do sufficient research. A
lack of adequate research will result in a weak paper; it will also be harder to write.
❑ Make sure you are using credible sources. Your instructor and the librarians can help you find
sources, or the Writing Center tutors can help you decide if they are credible sources.
❑ Begin with a basic idea and be prepared to revise your thesis statement as your paper evolves. A
tentative or working thesis will help you to organize your draft. Do not be concerned about the
exact wording just yet.
Evaluating Your Thesis Statement
Use the following criteria to make sure your thesis statement is both well-crafted and effective. Check
off each item after you have answered it.
❑ Is your topic is too narrow or too broad? A topic that is too narrow usually cannot present new
information. A topic that is too broad offers too many options and can be vague, which makes it
difficult to stay with one central idea. Limit your essay to explaining one major idea.
❑ Does your thesis statement make a clear claim? A claim takes an arguable position (more than one
viewpoint) or expresses a unique perspective.
❑ Does your thesis pass the “so what?” test? If your thesis seems obvious or ordinary, it probably
needs more work.
❑ Does your thesis statement use clear and specific wording rather than broad generalizations?
❑ Do you need to revise your thesis statement? As you work on your essay, the evidence to prove your
claim may change, or you may discover a more interesting approach to your specific topic.
