1. UNT Dallas
  2. Learning Commons
  3. Writing
  4. Topic Sentences
  5. Thesis Statements

Thesis Statements

What is a thesis statement?

A thesis statement is a sentence (sometimes more than one sentence) in the introduction that tells the reader the following information:

  • What the topic of the paper is
  • How the writer intends to discuss that topic
  •  It gives a blueprint for how the essay will be structured
  •  How the writer intends to prove or demonstrate his or her main points.

Think of your paper as a human body, and your thesis statement as the spinal cord. Without it, there is no structure.

 

For you as the writer, the thesis statement:

  • Develops through the interrelationship of thinking, reading, and writing;

  • Limits your research by providing you with one controlling main idea that intrigues you;

  • Narrows your writing to one specific claim that you can develop or prove;

  • Organizes your ideas so you know the important points you want to make in your paper; and

  • Clarifies your writing by keeping you on target to fulfill your proposed purpose.

 

For your readers, the thesis statement:

  •  Identifies the main point and sub-points of your essay clearly and quickly;

  • Functions as a road map so your readers can easily follow your ideas; and

  • Gives satisfaction at the conclusion of the paper when your readers discover you have fulfilled your promise by proving or developing your main point.

 

Characteristics of Effective Thesis Statements

An effective thesis statement must be factual and narrow.

 

1. Facts

An effective thesis statement prepares readers for facts and details, but it cannot itself be a fact. It must always be an inference that demands proof or further development. These proofs come from the literature. 

UNT Dallas campus has two buildings.

Not factual enough: The UNT Dallas campus is the perfect size.

Just Right: While some might see small universities as a disadvantage, the small campus of UNT Dallas holds many advantages for students, including a close-knit campus community, smaller class sizes, and better support from professors.

 

2. Narrow Topic

A good thesis should be narrow, and not too broad or too vague. If the topic is too broad, you won’t be able to cover the entire topic in your paper.  If it’s too narrow, you might not be able to find research, and your paper probably won’t be long enough. 

Too Broad: College students have a lot of responsibilities.

Too Narrow: Student workers in the Learning Commons at UNT Dallas have many responsibilities in their course work and tutoring. 

Just Right: College students who are financially independent have many responsibilities as they must maintain good grades, pay living expenses, and balance work and school.

 

Remember, a thesis statement is not: 

  • A question: Should NASA get more funding? 
    • Instead, you should argue, based on facts and literature, why or why not NASA should receive more funding. 
  • A subjective opinion: Of all flavors, chocolate is the best.
    • Ask yourself--can I find anything in literature to prove this point, or is this MY opinion? 
    • Instead, you should argue why or why not people like chocolate OR why or why not chocolate is healthy for you based on facts and literature findings. 
  • A religious or political belief: Religion X is better than religion Y. Political party X is better than party Y. 
    • Similar to the subjective opinion, ask yourself is this statement is based on facts and literature findings or if this is YOUR opinion. Although it is ok to have your own opinion, professors usually do not like to read articles about beliefs (students have been writing about these for years and years). 
    • Instead, you could discuss theories about politics or religions and use literature to prove or disprove those theories.
  • A statement of fact: The Himalayas were formed from a collision of tectonic plates.
    • This is too factual (the Himalayas WERE formed from a collision of tectonic plates), and there is nothing to discuss because this IS a fact in itself. 
    • Instead, you could compare and contrast the tectonic plate formation of different mountains. 

 

Examples of Thesis Statements

 

A thesis statement for a 5 paragraph essay contains three parts:

1. A Topic: the main idea of the essay

2. The Controlling Idea: what you want to say about the topic

3. The subtopics: usually 3 examples/reasons you will discuss in your paper

 

Here is an example  of a thesis statement.

Ex: Regularly visiting the Writing Center at UNT Dallas will help you become the best writer on the planet because it offers superhero tutors, current technology, and fantastic handouts.

The main topic explores the idea that regularly vsiting the writing center will help you become the best writer on the planet, and the subtopics further expand this opinion with three distinct examples: 1) tutors, 2) technology, and 3) the handouts.

 

Outline Example

The paper should be organized around the subtopics.  For example, for the thesis written above, the writer would write one body paragraph about the tutors, one about technology, and one about the handouts. 

Here is a sample essay outline based on this thesis:

  1. Introduction (paragraph 1)
    1. Introduce the topic of tutoring
    2. Thesis (last sentence of intro): Regularly visiting the Writing Center at UNT Dallas will help you become the best writer on the planet because it offers superhero tutors, current technology, and fantastic handouts.
  2. Body Paragraphs
    1. Paragraph 2: the tutors
      1. topic sentence
      2. examples
    2. Paragraph 3: technology
      1. topic sentence
      2. examples
    3. Paragraph 4: the handouts
      1. topic sentence
      2. examples
  3. Conclusion (paragraph 5)
    1. Restate thesis
    2. Concluding remarks

For further assistance with the structure, see our handouts on Introductions and Conclusions and Topic Sentences.

A thesis statement for a LONG ESSAY contains two parts:
A Topic: the main idea of the essay
The Controlling Idea: what you want to say about the topic 

Throughout the paper, your thesis promises your readers that you will prove specific facts or develop certain ideas; therefore, every paragraph, sentence, and word in your paper must relate to this controlling idea.

 

Here are some examples of thesis statements.

  • Baseball, once a national pastime and even an addiction, has lost its popularity because of the new interest in more violent sports.
  • Since the space program has yet to provide the American people with any substantial, practical returns, it is a waste of money and should be dissolved.
  • To stop the alarming rise in the number of violent crimes committed every year, our courts must hand out tougher sentences.
  • Detective stories appeal to the basic human desire for thrills.
  • Hemingway's war stories helped to create a new prose style.
  • Bronte utilizes light and fire to symbolize the emotional expressions of the characters.

 

Outline Example

Here is a suggested outline for a long essay and how that would look in terms of your thesis statement, topic, and controlling ideas:

  1. Introduction
    1. Introduce the novel Jane Eyre and the topic of symbolism
    2. Thesis (last sentence of intro): Bronte utilizes light and fire to symbolize the emotional expressions of the characters.
  2. Body Paragraphs
    1. For each paragraph, discuss a different symbolism example
      1. topic sentence
      2. textual examples and elaboration
  3. Conclusion
    1. Restate thesis
    2. Concluding remarks