A thesis statement provides the foundation for your entire research paper or essay. This statement is the central assertion that you want to express in your essay. A successful thesis statement is one that is made up of one or two sentences clearly laying out your central idea and expressing an informed, reasoned answer to your research question. Usually, the thesis statement will appear at the end of the first paragraph of your paper. An expository essay "exposes" the reader to a new topic; it informs the reader with details, descriptions, or explanations of a subject.
How to Write a Good Thesis Statement
What Is a Thesis in an Essay? | Pen and the Pad
Think of yourself as a member of a jury, listening to a lawyer who is presenting an opening argument. You'll want to know very soon whether the lawyer believes the accused to be guilty or not guilty, and how the lawyer plans to convince you. Readers of academic essays are like jury members: before they have read too far, they want to know what the essay argues as well as how the writer plans to make the argument. After reading your thesis statement, the reader should think, "This essay is going to try to convince me of something.
What Is a Thesis in an Essay?
Here are some tips and examples to follow. It is not a mere statement of fact. Rather, it is an idea, a claim, or an interpretation, one that others may dispute. Your job as a writer is to persuade the reader—through the careful use of examples and thoughtful analysis—that your argument is a valid one. A thesis statement is, essentially, the idea that the rest of your paper will support.
Without a thesis, your argument falls flat and your information is unfocused. That type of thesis is a long, well-written paper that takes years to piece together. This sentence can tell a reader whether your essay is something they want to read. Just as there are different types of essays, there are different types of thesis statements. The thesis should match the essay.