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Learn How to Write a Thesis Statement With The Homework Help Show
Learning how to write a thesis statement will help you make sure that you have an A+ paper. This is the heart of your paper, no matter what type of essay you need to write. And that’s why it is so important.
If you look at any of your grading rubric materials throughout the duration of your university or college education, you’ll likely see that the thesis statement always accounts for a large percentage of your overall mark. Your professor is looking specifically to see how you use a good thesis to set the tone and message of the paper, because this is an important way to structure and organize your work. Without that structure, you just have an essay that doesn’t get a point across, and that is probably hard to read.
Do you want to learn how to write a thesis statement that will impress your professor, get you the grade, and make you feel genuinely proud of your work? We can help. Keep reading for our expert tips, and for some advice from Cath Anne, top writer and host of The Homework Help Show.
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Why is a Strong Thesis Statement so Important?
A good thesis statement guides the rest of your paper, and it helps you when you’re writing the rest of the content. It lets the reader know what the topic of your paper will be, what your argument is, and what you’re going to talk about. Essentially, you’re setting up the entire paper.
Once you set up a solid thesis statement, you’ll know exactly what you need to research and what type of credible sources you’ll need to find. You can use your thesis statement like an outline, letting you know which information should go where in your essay for best flow.
When you have a weak thesis statement, your readers won’t be able to respond to your arguments and the whole point of your paper may not be clear to them. For example, a weak thesis statement may include something generic, such as “Abraham Lincoln was a good leader in U.S. history.” A revised thesis would be, “Abraham Lincoln was a good leader in U.S. history because he ended slavery, improved the economy, and strengthened the federal government.”
So, now that you know how important a good thesis statement is, it’s time to get started on yours.
How a Thesis Statement Works
In the first paragraph of your paper, your introduction, you will introduce the subject and include your thesis statement. Start broad, and then narrow down to your thesis statement. The points you make in your thesis will be reflected in each body paragraph, expanding on your supporting arguments.
Think of it like a purpose statement. Why are you writing this paper? What is it you want your readers to know about your research topic? What kind of questions will you make people think about? Asking questions like this before you start helps you form your argument and make a strong statement about your topic.
How to Write a Thesis Statement: Start From The Beginning
Before we dive in to what makes a good thesis, it’s important to make sure you understand what you need to do. What type of paper are you writing?
Here are just some of the types of papers your professor may assign to you:
● Expository essays
The reason that knowing what type of paper you’re writing is important is because this forms the basis for your argument, and subsequently, your thesis statement. For example, in a research paper, you may be asked to take a neutral position on your topic and provide more general information about it. So when you go to write a good thesis statement for that research paper, it will need to be written with a neutral perspective and a more overview-based tone. In contrast, when writing an argumentative essay, your thesis statement will need to clearly outline the position you’ll be arguing and the evidence that makes you believe that position.
Here is the difference: When writing a research paper, the thesis statement may be, “Julius Caesar rose to power in Ancient Rome during the first century B.C., and contributed to the development of the empire through political, economic, and military developments.” Meanwhile, the thesis statement for an argumentative paper may be something like, “Julius Caesar was a tyrant and enforced a rule of political oppression, military destruction, and ruthless dictatorship.”
No matter what type of paper you’re writing, it will have to be a persuasive essay that positions your topic one way or another.
If you’re already feeling a little lost, don’t worry. We’re going to help you learn how to write a thesis statement with more examples to help break it down for you.
Decide on a Topic For Your Essay
Now that you understand what type of paper you’re writing, and how important your thesis statement is, it’s time to gather your thoughts. What are you going to write about? You’ll need to know this before diving into how to write a thesis statement.
Choosing a paper topic can be stressful if your teacher has given you broad guidelines or instructions. Think about what interests you. Most of the time, you’ll already have a great starting argument if you’re passionate about the topic, which translates to a really strong thesis statement. If you’re assigned a topic you’re not quite interested in, do a little research to find something about it that you may want to learn more about.
You should also think about the four Ws. Answering the who, what, where, when, and why questions about a specific topic can help you narrow down why people should care. Your thesis statement will also cover some of this information about your paper, such as why you feel the way you do or why the reader should agree with your position.
It’s okay if you’re not quite sure yet, or if you have a general topic that still needs to be narrowed down. Cath Anne is going to help you get to the bottom of that when she talks more about writing and creating thesis statements in this episode of the Homework Help Show.
Additional Tips For Writing a Thesis Statement
Follow some of these tips when it’s time to get started writing a paper and nailing down your thesis statement. They will help guide your work and ensure you have everything covered for an excellent essay.
● Start with a topic outline, where you include your tentative thesis statement and arguments.
● Pay attention to sentence structure. Your supporting arguments are stronger when they’re written properly and effectively.
● Avoid overusing passive voice. While passive voice is more acceptable to use in academic essay writing, using active voice can make everything easier to read.
● Stay away from using cliches in the first paragraph or anywhere else in the paper.
● Get someone to look over your first draft before you begin your final draft. Having extra eyes on your work helps you review your overall argument and its effectiveness for your readers.
● Take advantage of the writing resources on our YouTube page. We offer many tips and tricks that will help you throughout the entire writing process.
Get Ready to Write a Good Thesis Statement!
The next step in learning how to write a thesis statement is getting ready to sit down and write. You may be a little nervous starting this part, and it’s probably where you’re going to find the most writer’s block. That’s where we come in. With our tips and advice, you’ll be able to ace your essay and understand exactly how to finish up your paper.
Are you ready to create a solid thesis statement? Then let’s dive in with top writer and host, Cath Anne, and The Homework Help Show!
Watch EP 61 of The Homework Help Show Now
So, what is a thesis statement anyway?
Writing a thesis statement is a skill all students should have. It takes practice, and the right combination of components to write a strong thesis statement. Join Cath Anne on Episode 61 of The Homework Help Show as she shows you how to write a thesis statement, with examples!
Looking for study tips, help with essay writing, or advice on how to be a better student? Welcome to The Homework Help Show, a weekly show where we teach, assist, and offer valuable insights for student life. From study hacks to writing tips, discussions about student mental health to step-by-step guides on academic writing and how to write a resume, we’ve got you covered. Want your questions answered? Write them below or join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #askHHG
TRANSCRIPT:
Cath Anne: [00:00:00] Hi guys and welcome back to our channel. I hope it is super sunny and nice where you are and now you’re getting a chance to enjoy your well-earned summer vacation. Today on the show we are going to talk about how to write a thesis statement. And if you’re new here welcome. This is The Homework Help Show and my name is Cath Anne. This is episode sixty-one of the show. Here on the show we provide you with valuable content for your academic and student life. Now, let’s talk about how to write a thesis statement.
Cath Anne: [00:00:43] What is a thesis statement anyway? A thesis statement is a statement that you make at the beginning of your essay that helps the reader to know what your essay is going to be about. So it explains the focus of your essay how you feel about the topic and then provides some reasoning as to why you feel that way.
Cath Anne: [00:01:08] Now remember, a thesis statement is one of the most important components of your essay. So that means you really want to focus on getting it right and that’s why we have so many videos on The Homework Help Show about how to write an effective thesis statement. So today we’re going to talk about the thesis statement and I’m also going to provide you with a few examples. So make sure you stay tuned so that you can get a sense of how to implement the thesis statement into your essay.
Cath Anne: [00:01:38] Now, every thesis statement needs three things:
[00:01:42] One
[00:01:43] Two
[00:01:43] Three
Cath Anne: [00:01:44] Number one: what is the topic of your essay? So basically what are you going to be talking about in your essay.
Cath Anne: [00:01:50] Number two: how do you feel about that topic? What is it that you believe about the topic at hand?
Cath Anne: [00:01:59] And number three: Can you provide some evidence? Usually three reasons that you feel that way about that specific topic.
Cath Anne: [00:02:08] OK now let’s break down how to write a thesis. Begin by asking a question.
Cath Anne: [00:02:15] So for example, does recycling really help the environment? That’s a good ,pertinent topic. It’s really on trend right now. People are looking and questioning the environment and how we can contribute to making the environment more sustainable and our actions more sustainable and preventing climate change. So definitely a pertinent topic something that we’ll want to discuss and that will peak the interest of your reader.
Cath Anne: [00:02:42] Now second you’ll want to create a declaration. So in other words, how do you feel about recycling and how do you feel about whether recycling impacts the environment? So for example you might say something like, “recycling does help the environment. However we must make long term changes to impact climate change.” So do you see what I did there? You are starting with a topic question of does recycling help the environment. And now I’ve decided that recycling does help the environment. And I’ll discuss that in my essay. However I’m going to focus on some other reasons that recycling doesn’t address so I’m going to incorporate some other reasonings and some other issues that we have to deal with in order to truly impact climate change.
Cath Anne: [00:03:38] And then finally as you’re developing your thesis statement, you’re going to want to look at three reasons that recycling does not fully address climate change and you’re going to provide those. And then in turn we’ll write our strong thesis statement.
Cath Anne: [00:03:54] So let’s discuss three reasons why we have to do more than just recycling to impact climate change over the long term. For example my first reason is that China no longer purchases our recycling products from the US and Canada. So we have to look for an alternative solution. Second, when we continue to buy plastic and packaged products we are contributing to waste. A more sustainable option is to reduce our waste altogether while also recycling the waste that we do produce. But focusing on waste reduction is a more sustainable approach. And my third reason is to support organizations and businesses that are providing sustainable long term solutions to climate change.
Cath Anne: [00:04:47] So those are my three reasons. And just a note you’re always going to want to pick reasons that you can back up with evidence so definitely do a bit of research before you write this portion of your thesis statement and in turn you’ll already have a little bit of research done for your essay in advance.
Cath Anne: [00:05:07] So now the final step is that we want to combine and write our thesis statement. So how might that look altogether. Now that we’ve completed those three steps. So for example my thesis statement is going to be in two sentences:.
Cath Anne: [00:05:24] Recycling is one step that we can take to help the environment, but we must look at and consider other long term solutions because China is no longer purchasing our recycling from the US and Canada. Focusing on reducing our waste, and supporting organizations that are looking for long term, sustainable alternatives to recycling, are beneficial options that will support the environment in the long term.
Cath Anne: [00:05:54] So here I have written a two sentence thesis statement that provides a topic, which is recycling. And the environment. It provides my position on the topic and it provides three pieces of evidence that support my position.
Cath Anne: [00:06:12] Okay guys I really hope that was helpful for you. Just a walk through and break it down that way. This was a little bit more of a casual video. Please let me know if you enjoy this style of video. And you know what. I’d love to hear from you and I’d love to hear how you use these steps to develop your own thesis statement. So make sure to jump into the comments below or connect with us on social media and share your thesis statement with us. We always love to hear from you and I’d love to hear how you put these steps into action if you like this video. Make sure to give it a like and to subscribe to our channel. And as always. If you want to connect with us on any of our social media platforms all of the information is linked and listed in the description box below. I hope you guys are having a great summer. Can’t wait to talk to you again soon. Talk soon and take care.
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