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General Statement Vs. Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is a succinct statement of the arguments you'll be making in a paper and is a critical component of any well-written work. A general statement, by contrast, is any declarative sentence providing supporting information or transitioning to a new topic. While both sentence structures play an important role in writing, a paper without a thesis statement can end up poorly organized with no central argument.

Role in Paper

Your thesis defines the topic and focus of your paper. Even if your paper is not an argumentative paper, you'll still need a thesis that defines your scope. For example, in a paper summarizing "Romeo and Juliet," your thesis might briefly outline three general plot themes. Your general statements should then expand upon your thesis by giving supplemental information and commentary. In some papers, the primary thesis is in the first paragraph, and then each subsequent paragraph contains a mini-thesis. For example, the "Romeo and Juliet" paper might use one paragraph to outline each plot theme, with a mini-thesis at the beginning of the paragraph providing more information about the plot theme.

Your thesis makes a central argument upon which your paper will focus. General statements either lead up to this argument by providing background information or support the argument by presenting and analyzing data. General statements are also an important part of a conclusion. You can use them to outline directions for future research or to address unsettled research debates, for example. Some students mistakenly make a general statement when they need to make a thesis statement. For example, "Poverty is a social problem" is a general statement that does not outline an argument. On the other hand, "School programs designed to counteract the effect of poverty can help undermine the long-lasting effects of low family income" is a compelling thesis statement.

Paper Structure

Both your thesis statement and general statements play roles in structuring your paper. Your thesis limits your focus to a single argument or two, and general statements support this argument. In a sociology paper, your thesis might argue that childhood poverty is the best predictor of adult poverty. General statements might then give facts about childhood poverty, statements about how to end poverty or information on the psychological ramifications of poverty. However, your general statements should not veer outside of the limited focus of your thesis. A paragraph full of general statements about how teen pregnancy contributes to poverty would likely confuse the focus of your paper.

Supporting the Thesis

The primary role of a general statement is to support your thesis. In the introductory paragraph, general statements can also build up to your thesis by providing relevant background. You might, for example, make the general statement that "Philosophers have long debated when it is ethical to kill someone," then follow up with a thesis explaining when killing is ethical or how a particular philosopher attacks this ethical dilemma.

Purdue Online Writing Lab: Tips and Examples for Writing Thesis Statements
Indiana University Bloomington: How to Write a Thesis Statement
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: Writing Tips -- Thesis Statements
Louisiana Tech: Thesis Exercises -- What a Thesis Is Not

Van Thompson is an attorney and writer. A former martial arts instructor, he holds bachelor's degrees in music and computer science from Westchester University, and a juris doctor from Georgia State University. He is the recipient of numerous writing awards, including a 2009 CALI Legal Writing Award.

The Writing Center • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Thesis Statements

What this handout is about.

This handout describes what a thesis statement is, how thesis statements work in your writing, and how you can craft or refine one for your draft.

Introduction

Writing in college often takes the form of persuasion—convincing others that you have an interesting, logical point of view on the subject you are studying. Persuasion is a skill you practice regularly in your daily life. You persuade your roommate to clean up, your parents to let you borrow the car, your friend to vote for your favorite candidate or policy. In college, course assignments often ask you to make a persuasive case in writing. You are asked to convince your reader of your point of view. This form of persuasion, often called academic argument, follows a predictable pattern in writing. After a brief introduction of your topic, you state your point of view on the topic directly and often in one sentence. This sentence is the thesis statement, and it serves as a summary of the argument you’ll make in the rest of your paper.

What is a thesis statement?

A thesis statement:

tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion.
is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper.
directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself. The subject, or topic, of an essay might be World War II or Moby Dick; a thesis must then offer a way to understand the war or the novel.
makes a claim that others might dispute.
is usually a single sentence near the beginning of your paper (most often, at the end of the first paragraph) that presents your argument to the reader. The rest of the paper, the body of the essay, gathers and organizes evidence that will persuade the reader of the logic of your interpretation.

If your assignment asks you to take a position or develop a claim about a subject, you may need to convey that position or claim in a thesis statement near the beginning of your draft. The assignment may not explicitly state that you need a thesis statement because your instructor may assume you will include one. When in doubt, ask your instructor if the assignment requires a thesis statement. When an assignment asks you to analyze, to interpret, to compare and contrast, to demonstrate cause and effect, or to take a stand on an issue, it is likely that you are being asked to develop a thesis and to support it persuasively. (Check out our handout on understanding assignments for more information.)

How do I create a thesis?

A thesis is the result of a lengthy thinking process. Formulating a thesis is not the first thing you do after reading an essay assignment. Before you develop an argument on any topic, you have to collect and organize evidence, look for possible relationships between known facts (such as surprising contrasts or similarities), and think about the significance of these relationships. Once you do this thinking, you will probably have a “working thesis” that presents a basic or main idea and an argument that you think you can support with evidence. Both the argument and your thesis are likely to need adjustment along the way.

Writers use all kinds of techniques to stimulate their thinking and to help them clarify relationships or comprehend the broader significance of a topic and arrive at a thesis statement. For more ideas on how to get started, see our handout on brainstorming .

How do I know if my thesis is strong?

If there’s time, run it by your instructor or make an appointment at the Writing Center to get some feedback. Even if you do not have time to get advice elsewhere, you can do some thesis evaluation of your own. When reviewing your first draft and its working thesis, ask yourself the following :

Do I answer the question? Re-reading the question prompt after constructing a working thesis can help you fix an argument that misses the focus of the question. If the prompt isn’t phrased as a question, try to rephrase it. For example, “Discuss the effect of X on Y” can be rephrased as “What is the effect of X on Y?”
Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? If your thesis simply states facts that no one would, or even could, disagree with, it’s possible that you are simply providing a summary, rather than making an argument.
Is my thesis statement specific enough? Thesis statements that are too vague often do not have a strong argument. If your thesis contains words like “good” or “successful,” see if you could be more specific: why is something “good”; what specifically makes something “successful”?
Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? If a reader’s first response is likely to be “So what?” then you need to clarify, to forge a relationship, or to connect to a larger issue.
Does my essay support my thesis specifically and without wandering? If your thesis and the body of your essay do not seem to go together, one of them has to change. It’s okay to change your working thesis to reflect things you have figured out in the course of writing your paper. Remember, always reassess and revise your writing as necessary.
Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? If a reader’s first response is “how?” or “why?” your thesis may be too open-ended and lack guidance for the reader. See what you can add to give the reader a better take on your position right from the beginning.

Suppose you are taking a course on contemporary communication, and the instructor hands out the following essay assignment: “Discuss the impact of social media on public awareness.” Looking back at your notes, you might start with this working thesis:

Social media impacts public awareness in both positive and negative ways.

You can use the questions above to help you revise this general statement into a stronger thesis.

Do I answer the question? You can analyze this if you rephrase “discuss the impact” as “what is the impact?” This way, you can see that you’ve answered the question only very generally with the vague “positive and negative ways.”
Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? Not likely. Only people who maintain that social media has a solely positive or solely negative impact could disagree.
Is my thesis statement specific enough? No. What are the positive effects? What are the negative effects?
Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? No. Why are they positive? How are they positive? What are their causes? Why are they negative? How are they negative? What are their causes?
Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? No. Why should anyone care about the positive and/or negative impact of social media?

After thinking about your answers to these questions, you decide to focus on the one impact you feel strongly about and have strong evidence for:

Because not every voice on social media is reliable, people have become much more critical consumers of information, and thus, more informed voters.

This version is a much stronger thesis! It answers the question, takes a specific position that others can challenge, and it gives a sense of why it matters.

Let’s try another. Suppose your literature professor hands out the following assignment in a class on the American novel: Write an analysis of some aspect of Mark Twain’s novel Huckleberry Finn. “This will be easy,” you think. “I loved Huckleberry Finn!” You grab a pad of paper and write:

Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn is a great American novel.

You begin to analyze your thesis:

Do I answer the question? No. The prompt asks you to analyze some aspect of the novel. Your working thesis is a statement of general appreciation for the entire novel.

Think about aspects of the novel that are important to its structure or meaning—for example, the role of storytelling, the contrasting scenes between the shore and the river, or the relationships between adults and children. Now you write:

In Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain develops a contrast between life on the river and life on the shore.

Do I answer the question? Yes!
Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? Not really. This contrast is well-known and accepted.
Is my thesis statement specific enough? It’s getting there–you have highlighted an important aspect of the novel for investigation. However, it’s still not clear what your analysis will reveal.
Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? Not yet. Compare scenes from the book and see what you discover. Free write, make lists, jot down Huck’s actions and reactions and anything else that seems interesting.
Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? What’s the point of this contrast? What does it signify?”

After examining the evidence and considering your own insights, you write:

Through its contrasting river and shore scenes, Twain’s Huckleberry Finn suggests that to find the true expression of American democratic ideals, one must leave “civilized” society and go back to nature.

This final thesis statement presents an interpretation of a literary work based on an analysis of its content. Of course, for the essay itself to be successful, you must now present evidence from the novel that will convince the reader of your interpretation.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Anson, Chris M., and Robert A. Schwegler. 2010. The Longman Handbook for Writers and Readers , 6th ed. New York: Longman.

Lunsford, Andrea A. 2015. The St. Martin’s Handbook , 8th ed. Boston: Bedford/St Martin’s.

Ramage, John D., John C. Bean, and June Johnson. 2018. The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing , 8th ed. New York: Pearson.

Ruszkiewicz, John J., Christy Friend, Daniel Seward, and Maxine Hairston. 2010. The Scott, Foresman Handbook for Writers , 9th ed. Boston: Pearson Education.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Thesis and Purpose Statements

Use the guidelines below to learn the differences between thesis and purpose statements.

In the first stages of writing, thesis or purpose statements are usually rough or ill-formed and are useful primarily as planning tools.

A thesis statement or purpose statement will emerge as you think and write about a topic. The statement can be restricted or clarified and eventually worked into an introduction.

As you revise your paper, try to phrase your thesis or purpose statement in a precise way so that it matches the content and organization of your paper.

Thesis statements

A thesis statement is a sentence that makes an assertion about a topic and predicts how the topic will be developed. It does not simply announce a topic: it says something about the topic.

Good: X has made a significant impact on the teenage population due to its . . . Bad: In this paper, I will discuss X.

A thesis statement makes a promise to the reader about the scope, purpose, and direction of the paper. It summarizes the conclusions that the writer has reached about the topic.

A thesis statement is generally located near the end of the introduction. Sometimes in a long paper, the thesis will be expressed in several sentences or an entire paragraph.

A thesis statement is focused and specific enough to be proven within the boundaries of the paper. Key words (nouns and verbs) should be specific, accurate, and indicative of the range of research, thrust of the argument or analysis, and the organization of supporting information.

Purpose statements

A purpose statement announces the purpose, scope, and direction of the paper. It tells the reader what to expect in a paper and what the specific focus will be.

Common beginnings include:

“This paper examines . . .,” “The aim of this paper is to . . .,” and “The purpose of this essay is to . . .”

A purpose statement makes a promise to the reader about the development of the argument but does not preview the particular conclusions that the writer has drawn.

A purpose statement usually appears toward the end of the introduction. The purpose statement may be expressed in several sentences or even an entire paragraph.

A purpose statement is specific enough to satisfy the requirements of the assignment. Purpose statements are common in research papers in some academic disciplines, while in other disciplines they are considered too blunt or direct. If you are unsure about using a purpose statement, ask your instructor.

This paper will examine the ecological destruction of the Sahel preceding the drought and the causes of this disintegration of the land. The focus will be on the economic, political, and social relationships which brought about the environmental problems in the Sahel.

Sample purpose and thesis statements

The following example combines a purpose statement and a thesis statement (bold).

The goal of this paper is to examine the effects of Chile’s agrarian reform on the lives of rural peasants. The nature of the topic dictates the use of both a chronological and a comparative analysis of peasant lives at various points during the reform period. . . The Chilean reform example provides evidence that land distribution is an essential component of both the improvement of peasant conditions and the development of a democratic society. More extensive and enduring reforms would likely have allowed Chile the opportunity to further expand these horizons.

For more tips about writing thesis statements, take a look at our new handout on Developing a Thesis Statement.

specific thesis statement vs general statement

Writing Process and Structure

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

Getting Started with Your Paper

Interpreting Writing Assignments from Your Courses

Generating Ideas for Your Paper

Creating an Argument

Thesis vs. Purpose Statements

Developing a Thesis Statement

Architecture of Arguments

Working with Sources

Quoting and Paraphrasing Sources

Using Literary Quotations

Citing Sources in Your Paper

Drafting Your Paper

Introductions

Paragraphing

Developing Strategic Transitions

Conclusions

Revising Your Paper

Peer Reviews

Reverse Outlines

Revising an Argumentative Paper

Revision Strategies for Longer Projects

Finishing Your Paper

Twelve Common Errors: An Editing Checklist

How to Proofread your Paper

Writing Collaboratively

Collaborative and Group Writing

8.2 The Topic, General Purpose, Specific Purpose, and Thesis

Before any work can be done on crafting the body of your speech or presentation, you must first do some prep work—selecting a topic, formulating a general purpose, a specific purpose statement, and crafting a central idea, or thesis statement. In doing so, you lay the foundation for your speech by making important decisions about what you will speak about and for what purpose you will speak. These decisions will influence and guide the entire speechwriting process, so it is wise to think carefully and critically during these beginning stages.

Understanding the General Purpose

Before any work on a speech can be done, the speaker needs to understand the general purpose of the speech. The general purpose is what the speaker hopes to accomplish and will help guide in the selection of a topic. The instructor generally provides the general purpose for a speech, which falls into one of three categories. A general purpose to inform would mean that the speaker is teaching the audience about a topic, increasing their understanding and awareness, or providing new information about a topic the audience might already know. Informative speeches are designed to present the facts, but not give the speaker’s opinion or any call to action. A general purpose to persuade would mean that the speaker is choosing the side of a topic and advocating for their side or belief. The speaker is asking the audience to believe in their stance, or to take an action in support of their topic. A general purpose to entertain often entails short speeches of ceremony, where the speaker is connecting the audience to the celebration. You can see how these general purposes are very different. An informative speech is just facts, the speaker would not be able to provide an opinion or direction on what to do with the information, whereas a persuasive speech includes the speaker’s opinions and direction on what to do with the information. Before a speaker chooses a topic, they must first understand the general purpose.

Selecting a Topic

What important events are occurring locally, nationally, and internationally?
What do I care about most?
Is there someone or something I can advocate for?
What makes me angry/happy?
What beliefs/attitudes do I want to share?
Is there some information the audience needs to know?

Students speak about what is interesting to them and their audiences. What topics do you think are relevant today? There are other questions you might ask yourself, too, but these should lead you to at least a few topical choices. The most important work that these questions do is to locate topics within your pre-existing sphere of knowledge and interest. Topics should be ideas that interest the speaker or are part of their daily lives. In order for a topic to be effective, the speaker needs to have some credibility or connection to the topic; it would be unfair to ask the audience to donate to a cause that the speaker has never donated to. There must be a connection to the topic for the speaker to be seen as credible. David Zarefsky (2010) also identifies brainstorming as a way to develop speech topics, a strategy that can be helpful if the questions listed above did not yield an appropriate or interesting topic. Brainstorming involves looking at your daily activities to determine what you could share with an audience. Perhaps if you work out regularly or eat healthy, you could explain that to an audience, or demonstrate how to dribble a basketball. If you regularly play video games, you may advocate for us to take up video games or explain the history of video games. Anything that you find interesting or important might turn into a topic. Starting with a topic you are already interested in will make writing and presenting your speech a more enjoyable and meaningful experience. It means that your entire speechwriting process will focus on something you find important and that you can present this information to people who stand to benefit from your speech. At this point, it is also important to consider the audience before choosing a topic. While we might really enjoy a lot of different things that could be topics, if the audience has no connection to that topic, then it wouldn’t be meaningful for the speaker or audience. Since we always have a diverse audience, we want to make sure that everyone in the audience can gain some new information from the speech. Sometimes, a topic might be too complicated to cover in the amount of time we have to present, or involve too much information then that topic might not work for the assignment, and finally if the audience can not gain anything from a topic then it won’t work. Ultimately, when we choose a topic we want to pick something that we are familiar with and enjoy, we have credibility and that the audience could gain something from. Once you have answered these questions and narrowed your responses, you are still not done selecting your topic. For instance, you might have decided that you really care about breeds of dogs. This is a very broad topic and could easily lead to a dozen different speeches. To resolve this problem, speakers must also consider the audience to whom they will speak, the scope of their presentation, and the outcome they wish to achieve.

Formulating the Purpose Statements

By honing in on a very specific topic, you begin the work of formulating your purpose statement. In short, a purpose statement clearly states what it is you would like to achieve. Purpose statements are especially helpful for guiding you as you prepare your speech. When deciding which main points, facts, and examples to include, you should simply ask yourself whether they are relevant not only to the topic you have selected, but also whether they support the goal you outlined in your purpose statement. The general purpose statement of a speech may be to inform, to persuade, to celebrate, or to entertain. Thus, it is common to frame a specific purpose statement around one of these goals. According to O’Hair, Stewart, and Rubenstein, a specific purpose statement “expresses both the topic and the general speech purpose in action form and in terms of the specific objectives you hope to achieve” (2004). The specific purpose is a single sentence that states what the audience will gain from this speech, or what will happen at the end of the speech. The specific purpose is a combination of the general purpose and the topic and helps the speaker to focus in on what can be achieved in a short speech.

To go back to the topic of a dog breed, the general purpose might be to inform, a specific purpose might be: To inform the audience about how corgis became household pets. If the general purpose is to persuade the specific purpose might be: to persuade the audience that dog breeds deemed “dangerous” should not be excluded from living in the cities. In short, the general purpose statement lays out the broader goal of the speech while the specific purpose statement describes precisely what the speech is intended to do. The specific purpose should focus on the audience and be measurable, if I were to ask the audience before I began the speech how many people know how corgis became household pets, they could raise their hand, and if I ask at the end of my speech how many people know how corgis became household pets, I should see a lot more hands. The specific purpose is the “so what” of the speech, it helps the speaker focus on the audience and take a bigger idea of a topic and narrow it down to what can be accomplished in a short amount of time.

Writing the Thesis Statement

The specific purpose statement is a tool that you will use as you write your speech, but it is unlikely that it will appear verbatim in your speech. Instead, you will want to convert the specific purpose statement into a central idea, or thesis statement that you will share with your audience. Just like in a written paper, where the thesis comes in the first part of the paper, in a speech, the thesis comes within the first few sentences of the speech. The thesis must be stated and tells the audience what to expect in this speech. A thesis statement may encapsulate the main idea of a speech in just a sentence or two and be designed to give audiences a quick preview of what the entire speech will be about. The thesis statement should be a single, declarative statement followed by a separate preview statement. If you are a Harry Potter enthusiast, you may write a thesis statement (central idea) the following way using the above approach: J.K. Rowling is a renowned author of the Harry Potter series with a Cinderella-like story of a rise to fame.

Writing the Preview Statement

A preview statement (or series of statements) is a guide to your speech. This is the part of the speech that literally tells the audience exactly what main points you will cover. If you were to get on any freeway, there would be a green sign on the side of the road that tells you what cities are coming up—this is what your preview statement does; it tells the audience what points will be covered in the speech. Best of all, you would know what to look for! So, if we take our J.K Rowling example, the thesis and preview would look like this: J.K. Rowling is a renowned author of the Harry Potter series with a Cinderella-like rags-to-riches story. First, I will tell you about J.K. Rowling’s humble beginnings. Then, I will describe her personal struggles as a single mom. Finally, I will explain how she overcame adversity and became one of the richest women in the United Kingdom.

Writing the Body of Your Speech

Once you have finished the important work of deciding what your speech will be about, as well as formulating the purpose statement and crafting the thesis, you should turn your attention to writing the body of your speech. The body of your speech consists of 3–4 main points that support your thesis and help the audience to achieve the specific purpose. Creating main points helps to chunk the information you are sharing with your audience into an easy-to-understand organization. Choosing your main points will help you focus in on what information you want to share with the audience in order to prove your thesis. Since we can’t tell the audience everything about our topic, we need to choose our main points to make sure we can share the most important information with our audience. All of your main points are contained in the body, and normally this section is prepared well before you ever write the introduction or conclusion. The body of your speech will consume the largest amount of time to present, and it is the opportunity for you to elaborate on your supporting evidence, such as facts, statistics, examples, and opinions that support your thesis statement and do the work you have outlined in the specific purpose statement. Combining these various elements into a cohesive and compelling speech, however, is not without its difficulties, the first of which is deciding which elements to include and how they ought to be organized to best suit your purpose.

clearly states what it is you would like to achieve

“expresses both the topic and the general speech purpose in action form and in terms of the specific objectives you hope to achieve” (O'Hair, Stewart, & Rubenstein, 2004)

single, declarative sentence that captures the essence or main point of your entire presentation

It’s About Them: Public Speaking in the 21st Century Copyright © 2022 by LOUIS: The Louisiana Library Network is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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7.2 The Topic, General Purpose, Specific Purpose, and Thesis

Click below to play an audio file of this section of the chapter sponsored by the Women for OSU Partnering to Impact grant.

Selecting a Topic

Generally, speakers focus on one or more interrelated topics—relatively broad concepts, ideas, or problems that are relevant for particular audiences. The most common way that speakers discover topics is by simply observing what is happening around them—at their school, in their local government, or around the world. Student government leaders, for example, speak or write to other students when their campus is facing tuition or fee increases, or when students have achieved something spectacular, like lobbying campus administrators for lower student fees and succeeding. In either case, it is the situation that makes their speeches appropriate and useful for their audience of students and university employees. More importantly, they speak when there is an opportunity to change a university policy or to alter the way students think or behave in relation to a particular event on campus.

But you need not run for president or student government in order to give a meaningful speech. On the contrary, opportunities abound for those interested in engaging speech as a tool for change. Perhaps the simplest way to find a topic is to ask yourself a few questions, including:

• What important events are occurring locally, nationally and internationally? • What do I care about most? • Is there someone or something I can advocate for? • What makes me angry/happy? • What beliefs/attitudes do I want to share? • Is there some information the audience needs to know?

Once you have answered these questions and narrowed your responses, you are still not done selecting your topic. For instance, you might have decided that you really care about breeds of dogs. This is a very broad topic and could easily lead to a dozen different speeches. To resolve this problem, speakers must also consider the audience to whom they will speak, the scope of their presentation, and the outcome they wish to achieve.

Formulating the Purpose Statements

By honing in on a very specific topic, you begin the work of formulating your purpose statement . In short, a purpose statement clearly states what it is you would like to achieve. Purpose statements are especially helpful for guiding you as you prepare your speech. When deciding which main points, facts, and examples to include, you should simply ask yourself whether they are relevant not only to the topic you have selected, but also whether they support the goal you outlined in your purpose statement. The general purpose statement of a speech may be to inform, to persuade, to celebrate, or to entertain. Thus, it is common to frame a specific purpose statement around one of these goals. According to O’Hair, Stewart, and Rubenstein, a specific purpose statement “expresses both the topic and the general speech purpose in action form and in terms of the specific objectives you hope to achieve” (2004). For instance, the home design enthusiast might write the following specific purpose statement: At the end of my speech, the audience will learn the pro’s and con’s of flipping houses. In short, the general purpose statement lays out the broader goal of the speech while the specific purpose statement describes precisely what the speech is intended to do. Some of your professors may ask that you include the general purpose and add the specific purpose.

Writing the Thesis Statement

The specific purpose statement is a tool that you will use as you write your talk, but it is unlikely that it will appear verbatim in your speech. Instead, you will want to convert the specific purpose statement into a central idea, or thesis statement that you will share with your audience.

Depending on your instructor’s approach, a thesis statement may be written two different ways. A thesis statement may encapsulate the main points of a speech in just a sentence or two, and be designed to give audiences a quick preview of what the entire speech will be about. The thesis statement for a speech, like the thesis of a research-based essay, should be easily identifiable and ought to very succinctly sum up the main points you will present. Some instructors prefer that your thesis, or central idea, be a single, declarative statement providing the audience with an overall statement that provides the essence of the speech, followed by a separate preview statement.

If you are a Harry Potter enthusiast, you may write a thesis statement (central idea) the following way using the above approach: J.K. Rowling is a renowned author of the Harry Potter series with a Cinderella like story having gone from relatively humble beginnings, through personal struggles, and finally success and fame.

Writing the Preview Statement

However, some instructors prefer that you separate your thesis from your preview statement . A preview statement (or series of statements) is a guide to your speech. This is the part of the speech that literally tells the audience exactly what main points you will cover. If you were to open your Waze app, it would tell you exactly how to get there. Best of all, you would know what to look for! So, if we take our J.K Rowling example, let’s rewrite that using this approach separating out the thesis and preview:

J.K. Rowling is a renowned author of the Harry Potter series with a Cinderella like rags to riches story. First, I will tell you about J.K. Rowling’s humble beginnings. Then, I will describe her personal struggles as a single mom. Finally, I will explain how she overcame adversity and became one of the richest women in the United Kingdom.

There is no best way to approach this. This is up to your instructor.

Writing the Body of Your Speech

Once you have finished the important work of deciding what your speech will be about, as well as formulating the purpose statement and crafting the thesis, you should turn your attention to writing the body of your speech. All of your main points are contained in the body, and normally this section is prepared well before you ever write the introduction or conclusion. The body of your speech will consume the largest amount of time to present; and it is the opportunity for you to elaborate on facts, evidence, examples, and opinions that support your thesis statement and do the work you have outlined in the specific purpose statement. Combining these various elements into a cohesive and compelling speech, however, is not without its difficulties, the first of which is deciding which elements to include and how they ought to be organized to best suit your purpose.

clearly states what it is you would like to achieve

“expresses both the topic and the general speech purpose in action form and in terms of the specific objectives you hope to achieve" (O'Hair, Stewart, & Rubenstein, 2004)

single, declarative sentence that captures the essence or main point of your entire presentation

the part of the speech that literally tells the audience exactly what main points you will cover

Introduction to Speech Communication Copyright © 2021 by Individual authors retain copyright of their work. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Thesis Statement and Controlling Idea

So what? This is the question you will get asked if your thesis statement, or main idea, is not obvious in your paper. Your thesis statement is the most important part of your writing; without it, your paper doesn’t have a main point or stance. A thesis statement states the purpose and topic of your writing, and the controlling idea indicates the direction and, often, the writing strategy you will adopt.

Generally, your thesis is placed at the end of your introduction and is a concise and simple sentence that combines your topic and your position on the topic. Like a road map, your thesis lets your readers know what to expect from the rest of your paper. Your body paragraphs support it, and your essay lacks direction without it.

It is important to keep in mind that this early in your writing, your thesis statement is really a working thesis that you use to begin thinking about your topic. You may revise this thesis many times before you are finished thinking and ready to write your final draft. Below are some sample thesis statements.

YOUR TOPIC + POSITION ON TOPIC = THESIS STATEMENT

YOUR TOPIC	POSITION	THESIS STATEMENT
Internet use	Actions need to be taken to help maintain a balance because many people are addicted.	While some argue that daily technology use has little effect on wellbeing, research shows that physical, mental, and social repercussions are undeniable and drastic actions need to be taken to help young people find balance.
Fast food	Fast food causes health issues.	Consuming fast food regularly leads to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity and there are lifestyle solutions to prevent these health issues.
Global warming	There are many things we can do to slow global warming.	Global warming is a real threat to the world; as human beings, we can slow climate change by carpooling, using less energy at home, and eating a mostly plant-based diet.

Thesis Statement Do's and Don'ts

Present an argument, stance, or claim. Can your audience argue with it?

Provide a key to the organization of your paper. Can you construct body paragraphs that support it?

Mirror the assignment prompt. Are you following what is expected of you?

Present the thesis at the end of the introduction.

Answer the question: “so what?”

Present an argument that can be supported by reputable research. Is your argument logical?

Embrace the “how” and “why” elements. It’s a great strategy to present the problem, examine why it’s a problem, and show how it can be fixed.

Include announcement style language like “this paper will discuss” or “this will be shown in this essay.”

Be informative only with no argument or stance, such as, “Some high school seniors decide to take a gap year.”

Include overly broad or generalized statements like, “Kids of this generation are lazy.”

Force the reader to guess what the paper will prove or discuss

Be questions.

Key Takeaways

Your thesis is one statement at the end of your introduction and should be clear, concise, and arguable.

Without a thesis, your paper lacks direction and purpose.

Mailing Address: 3501 University Blvd. East, Adelphi, MD 20783 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License . © 2022 UMGC. All links to external sites were verified at the time of publication. UMGC is not responsible for the validity or integrity of information located at external sites.

Table of Contents: Online Guide to Writing

Chapter 1: College Writing

How Does College Writing Differ from Workplace Writing?

What Is College Writing?

Why So Much Emphasis on Writing?

Chapter 2: The Writing Process

Doing Exploratory Research

Getting from Notes to Your Draft

Introduction

Prewriting - Techniques to Get Started - Mining Your Intuition

Prewriting: Targeting Your Audience

Prewriting: Techniques to Get Started

Prewriting: Understanding Your Assignment

Rewriting: Being Your Own Critic

Rewriting: Creating a Revision Strategy

Rewriting: Getting Feedback

Rewriting: The Final Draft

Techniques to Get Started - Outlining

Techniques to Get Started - Using Systematic Techniques

Writing: Getting from Notes to Your Draft - Freewriting

Writing: Getting from Notes to Your Draft - Summarizing Your Ideas

Writing: Outlining What You Will Write

Chapter 3: Thinking Strategies

A Word About Style, Voice, and Tone

A Word About Style, Voice, and Tone: Style Through Vocabulary and Diction

Critical Strategies and Writing

Critical Strategies and Writing: Analysis

Critical Strategies and Writing: Evaluation

Critical Strategies and Writing: Persuasion

Critical Strategies and Writing: Synthesis

Developing a Paper Using Strategies

Kinds of Assignments You Will Write

Patterns for Presenting Information

Patterns for Presenting Information: Critiques

Patterns for Presenting Information: Discussing Raw Data

Patterns for Presenting Information: General-to-Specific Pattern

Patterns for Presenting Information: Problem-Cause-Solution Pattern

Patterns for Presenting Information: Specific-to-General Pattern

Patterns for Presenting Information: Summaries and Abstracts

Supporting with Research and Examples

Writing Essay Examinations

Writing Essay Examinations: Make Your Answer Relevant and Complete

Writing Essay Examinations: Organize Thinking Before Writing

Writing Essay Examinations: Read and Understand the Question

Chapter 4: The Research Process

Planning and Writing a Research Paper

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Ask a Research Question

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Cite Sources

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Collect Evidence

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Decide Your Point of View, or Role, for Your Research

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Draw Conclusions

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Find a Topic and Get an Overview

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Manage Your Resources

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Outline

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Survey the Literature

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Work Your Sources into Your Research Writing

Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found? - Human Resources

Research Resources: What Are Research Resources?

Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found?

Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found? - Electronic Resources

Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found? - Print Resources

Structuring the Research Paper: Formal Research Structure

Structuring the Research Paper: Informal Research Structure

The Nature of Research

The Research Assignment: How Should Research Sources Be Evaluated?

The Research Assignment: When Is Research Needed?

The Research Assignment: Why Perform Research?

Chapter 5: Academic Integrity

Academic Integrity

Giving Credit to Sources

Giving Credit to Sources: Copyright Laws

Giving Credit to Sources: Documentation

Giving Credit to Sources: Style Guides

Integrating Sources

Practicing Academic Integrity

Practicing Academic Integrity: Keeping Accurate Records

Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material

Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material - Paraphrasing Your Source

Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material - Quoting Your Source

Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material - Summarizing Your Sources

Types of Documentation

Types of Documentation: Bibliographies and Source Lists

Types of Documentation: Citing World Wide Web Sources

Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations

Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - APA Style

Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - CSE/CBE Style

Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - Chicago Style

Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - MLA Style

Types of Documentation: Note Citations

Chapter 6: Using Library Resources

Finding Library Resources

Chapter 7: Assessing Your Writing

How Is Writing Graded?

How Is Writing Graded?: A General Assessment Tool

The Draft Stage

The Draft Stage: The First Draft

The Draft Stage: The Revision Process and the Final Draft

The Draft Stage: Using Feedback

The Research Stage

Using Assessment to Improve Your Writing

Chapter 8: Other Frequently Assigned Papers

Reviews and Reaction Papers: Article and Book Reviews

Reviews and Reaction Papers: Reaction Papers

Writing Arguments

Writing Arguments: Adapting the Argument Structure

Writing Arguments: Purposes of Argument

Writing Arguments: References to Consult for Writing Arguments

Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Anticipate Active Opposition

Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Determine Your Organization

Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Develop Your Argument

Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Introduce Your Argument

Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - State Your Thesis or Proposition

Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Write Your Conclusion

Writing Arguments: Types of Argument

Appendix A: Books to Help Improve Your Writing

Dictionaries

General Style Manuals

Researching on the Internet

Special Style Manuals

Writing Handbooks

Appendix B: Collaborative Writing and Peer Reviewing

Collaborative Writing: Assignments to Accompany the Group Project

Collaborative Writing: Informal Progress Report

Collaborative Writing: Issues to Resolve

Collaborative Writing: Methodology

Collaborative Writing: Peer Evaluation

Collaborative Writing: Tasks of Collaborative Writing Group Members

Collaborative Writing: Writing Plan

General Introduction

Peer Reviewing

Appendix C: Developing an Improvement Plan

Working with Your Instructor’s Comments and Grades

Appendix D: Writing Plan and Project Schedule

Devising a Writing Project Plan and Schedule

Reviewing Your Plan with Others

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Knowledge Base
Dissertation
What Is a Thesis? | Ultimate Guide & Examples

What Is a Thesis? | Ultimate Guide & Examples

Published on September 14, 2022 by Tegan George . Revised on April 16, 2024.

A thesis is a type of research paper based on your original research. It is usually submitted as the final step of a master’s program or a capstone to a bachelor’s degree.

Writing a thesis can be a daunting experience. Other than a dissertation , it is one of the longest pieces of writing students typically complete. It relies on your ability to conduct research from start to finish: choosing a relevant topic , crafting a proposal , designing your research , collecting data , developing a robust analysis, drawing strong conclusions , and writing concisely .

Thesis template

You can also download our full thesis template in the format of your choice below. Our template includes a ready-made table of contents , as well as guidance for what each chapter should include. It’s easy to make it your own, and can help you get started.

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Thesis vs. thesis statement, how to structure a thesis, acknowledgements or preface, list of figures and tables, list of abbreviations, introduction, literature review, methodology, reference list, proofreading and editing, defending your thesis, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about theses.

You may have heard the word thesis as a standalone term or as a component of academic writing called a thesis statement . Keep in mind that these are two very different things.

A thesis statement is a very common component of an essay, particularly in the humanities. It usually comprises 1 or 2 sentences in the introduction of your essay , and should clearly and concisely summarize the central points of your academic essay .
A thesis is a long-form piece of academic writing, often taking more than a full semester to complete. It is generally a degree requirement for Master’s programs, and is also sometimes required to complete a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts colleges.
In the US, a dissertation is generally written as a final step toward obtaining a PhD.
In other countries (particularly the UK), a dissertation is generally written at the bachelor’s or master’s level.

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The final structure of your thesis depends on a variety of components, such as:

Your discipline
Your theoretical approach

Humanities theses are often structured more like a longer-form essay . Just like in an essay, you build an argument to support a central thesis.

In both hard and social sciences, theses typically include an introduction , literature review , methodology section , results section , discussion section , and conclusion section . These are each presented in their own dedicated section or chapter. In some cases, you might want to add an appendix .

Thesis examples

We’ve compiled a short list of thesis examples to help you get started.

Example thesis #1: “Abolition, Africans, and Abstraction: the Influence of the ‘Noble Savage’ on British and French Antislavery Thought, 1787-1807” by Suchait Kahlon.
Example thesis #2: “’A Starving Man Helping Another Starving Man’: UNRRA, India, and the Genesis of Global Relief, 1943-1947″ by Julian Saint Reiman.

The very first page of your thesis contains all necessary identifying information, including:

Your full title
Your full name
Your department
Your institution and degree program
Your submission date.

Sometimes the title page also includes your student ID, the name of your supervisor, or the university’s logo. Check out your university’s guidelines if you’re not sure.

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An abstract is a short summary of your thesis. Usually a maximum of 300 words long, it’s should include brief descriptions of your research objectives , methods, results, and conclusions. Though it may seem short, it introduces your work to your audience, serving as a first impression of your thesis.

Theoretical framework

Your literature review can often form the basis for your theoretical framework, but these are not the same thing. A theoretical framework defines and analyzes the concepts and theories that your research hinges on.

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George, T. (2024, April 16). What Is a Thesis? | Ultimate Guide & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved July 5, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/dissertation/thesis/

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What is a thesis statement? I need some examples, too.

What is a thesis statement?

A thesis statement clearly identifies the topic being discussed, includes the points discussed in the paper, and is written for a specific audience. Your thesis statement belongs at the end of your first paragraph, also known as your introduction. Use it to generate interest in your topic and encourage your audience to continue reading.

You can read chapter four of Schaum's Quick Guide to Writing Great Research Papers an eBook in our online collection, click the title to open: "How Do I Write a Thesis Statement?" .

Another option is to think of a thesis statement as one complete sentence that expresses your position .

Narrows the topic down to a specific focus of an investigation.
Establishes a direction for the entire paper.
Points forward to the conclusion.
Always stated in your introduction. (Usually at the end of the first paragraph).
Always take a stand and justify further discussion.

A thesis statement is not a statement of fact.

Your readers—especially your instructors—want to read writing that engages them. Consequently, you must write thesis statements that are arguable, not factual. Statements of fact seem easy to write about because, well, they are easy to prove. After all, they’re facts. The problem is that you cannot write engaging papers around statements of fact. Such theses prevent you from demonstrating critical thinking and analytical skills, which you want to show your instructor. If you were to write a paper around the next two statements, your writing would probably be quite dull because you would be restating facts that the general public already knows.

Thesis Statements always take a stand and justify further discussion.

In order to make your writing interesting, you should develop a thesis statement that is arguable. Sometimes you will be writing to persuade others to see things your way and other times you will simply be giving your strong opinion and laying out your case for it.

Take a look at the following examples:

Statement of fact:

Small cars get better fuel mileage than 4x4 pickup trucks.

Arguable thesis statement:

The government should ban 4x4 pickup trucks except for work-related use.

Foul language is common in movies.

The amount of foul language in movies is disproportionate to the amount of foul language in real life.

State ment of fact:

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease.

Arguable thesis statement/opening paragraph:

Researchers think the incidence of celiac disease is increasing in the USA not only because of an increase in the ability and awareness to diagnose it, but also because of changes in the agricultural system. In particular, they are looking at the increased use of pesticides, insecticides, and genetically modified wheat as culprits. Some of these theories are more likely to be valid than others.

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Comments (6)

this is really helpful by rita on Nov 14, 2021
Yes, thank you. This is really helpful. It's been YEARS since I have encountered the term "thesis statement", and I needed a refresher on what it was before beginning my final presentation for a college course. This page answered all of my questions! by Brigitte on Dec 06, 2021
Thank You. This helped by Deborah Smith on Mar 23, 2022
Great explanation. This will definitely help my writing, by Jack on Dec 15, 2022
This a very helpful website for me. Thank you by Catie on Jan 09, 2023
This is very helpful. Thank you by George Wilson on Jan 31, 2024

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Specific Thesis Statement

Ai generator.

Crafting a thesis statement is akin to laying the foundation stone of your argument. But how do you ensure that this foundation is unshakeable? The answer lies in specificity. A specific thesis not only presents your main point lucidly but also gives your readers a clear roadmap of your argument. Dive into our curated guide for specific thesis statement examples, expert writing techniques, and invaluable tips to sharpen your thesis-writing skills.

What is a Specific Thesis Statement?

A specific thesis statement is a concise assertion that clearly expresses a focused argument or point about a topic. Unlike broad or vague thesis statements, a specific thesis directly addresses the topic in detail, ensuring that readers understand the main idea and the direction the writer is taking. It serves as a roadmap for the reader, indicating what they can expect as they navigate through the content. You may also be interested in our Research hypothesis statement .

What is an example of a specific thesis statement?

Broad Thesis Statement: “Exercise is beneficial for health.” Specific Thesis Statement: “Engaging in cardiovascular exercises three times a week can help reduce the risk of heart diseases, improve mental health, and boost overall energy levels.”

100 Specific Thesis Statement Examples

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Crafting a specific thesis statement is pivotal in guiding the direction of your essay or paper, ensuring that your arguments remain focused and your readers remain engaged. A sharp, precise thesis sets clear boundaries for the topic you’re exploring and the argument you’re making. Here are 100 examples that illustrate the essence of specificity in thesis statements:

Instead of “Reading is beneficial,” opt for “Reading historical fiction cultivates empathy by immersing readers in different eras and perspectives.”
Instead of “Fast food is bad,” consider “Regular consumption of fast food can lead to obesity due to its high calorie and low nutrient content.”
“Meditation has multiple health benefits” becomes “Daily meditation reduces stress, enhances focus, and can lower blood pressure.”
Rather than “Social media affects relationships,” go for “Excessive use of social media can strain personal relationships due to decreased face-to-face interactions.”
“Dogs are helpful to humans” can be refined to “Service dogs aid visually impaired individuals by guiding them safely in public spaces.”
Instead of “Plants are essential,” say “Indoor plants can improve air quality by filtering common household pollutants.”
“Exercise benefits the elderly” becomes “Regular low-impact exercises, like walking or swimming, improve joint mobility and cardiovascular health in the elderly.”
Instead of “Travel broadens the mind,” consider “Traveling to culturally diverse countries fosters a deeper understanding of global perspectives and reduces ethnocentric views.”
“Solar energy is advantageous” can be specific as “Harnessing solar energy reduces a household’s carbon footprint and can result in significant savings on electricity bills.”
Instead of “Organic farming is good,” try “Organic farming, devoid of synthetic pesticides, provides consumers with healthier produce and promotes biodiversity.”
“Online learning is effective” becomes “Online learning offers flexibility, accessibility, and personalized pacing, making it an effective educational method for many students.”
Instead of “Drinking water is good,” opt for “Drinking at least 8 glasses of water daily aids digestion, hydrates the skin, and flushes out toxins.”
“Music benefits the brain” becomes “Listening to classical music can enhance cognitive functions and improve memory retention in students.”
Instead of “Diet affects health,” go for “A diet rich in antioxidants from fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of chronic diseases and boost immunity.”
“Technology impacts children” becomes “Excessive screen time can hinder physical activities and social interactions in children, potentially leading to developmental delays.”
“Hiking is beneficial” turns into “Hiking in nature at least once a week can alleviate symptoms of depression and improve cardiovascular health.”
Instead of “Pollution affects cities,” opt for “Air pollution in metropolitan areas exacerbates respiratory illnesses and diminishes the quality of urban life.”
“Corporate social responsibility is essential” becomes “Companies that actively engage in corporate social responsibility often witness improved brand reputation and customer loyalty.”
“Books are informative” can be refined to “Biographical books provide readers with in-depth insights into the lives, challenges, and accomplishments of historical figures.”
Instead of “Art impacts society,” consider “Street art in urban centers serves as a medium for social commentary, reflecting the concerns and values of the community.”
Rather than saying “Elections affect policies,” specify with “Presidential elections can lead to significant shifts in foreign policy, reflecting the elected leader’s stance on international relations.”
Instead of “Trees are vital,” say “Mature trees in urban areas act as carbon sinks, help in temperature regulation, and provide habitats for birds and insects.”
“Healthy sleep is crucial” becomes “Achieving 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep can enhance cognitive functions and boost the body’s immune response.”
Instead of “Vaccinations are essential,” choose “Childhood vaccinations prevent outbreaks of diseases like measles, mumps, and rubella, safeguarding community health.”
“History teaches us lessons” can be specific as “Studying the outcomes of World War II helps societies understand the dire consequences of political extremism.”
Instead of “Children’s movies convey morals,” suggest “Children’s movies, such as ‘The Lion King,’ often impart life lessons about courage, friendship, and responsibility.”
“Nutrition impacts athletic performance” becomes “Athletes following a balanced diet with adequate protein and complex carbohydrates often experience enhanced stamina and faster recovery times.”
Rather than “Climate change affects economies,” specify “Rising sea levels, a direct result of climate change, pose severe economic threats to coastal cities through potential property loss and tourism decline.”
“Gardening is therapeutic” is more specific as “Gardening activities, including planting and pruning, release endorphins which can alleviate symptoms of stress and anxiety.”
Instead of “Public transportation is beneficial,” consider “Using public transportation can reduce urban congestion, decrease carbon emissions, and offer an affordable commute alternative.”
Rather than “Museums are educational,” delve into “Museums, such as the Smithsonian, provide tactile learning opportunities by showcasing tangible artifacts from various epochs and cultures.”
“Remote work changes businesses” becomes “Adopting a remote work model can reduce a company’s overhead costs, enhance employee satisfaction, and tap into a global talent pool.”
Instead of “Stress affects health,” be specific with “Chronic stress can lead to physical ailments like hypertension, digestive issues, and a weakened immune system.”
“Bird-watching is beneficial” becomes “Bird-watching encourages patience, boosts observational skills, and fosters a deeper appreciation for wildlife.”
Instead of “Educational games help children,” opt for “Educational games, like ‘Math Bingo,’ enhance a child’s problem-solving skills and arithmetic fluency in a fun, interactive manner.”
“Cycling is advantageous” turns specific with “Cycling to work daily promotes cardiovascular health, reduces carbon emissions, and cuts down commuting costs.”
Instead of “Urban planning is crucial,” consider “Effective urban planning ensures sustainable city growth, efficient transportation systems, and enhanced living standards for residents.”
“Jazz music is influential” becomes “Jazz music, originating from the African-American communities, has profoundly influenced various music genres, including R&B, hip hop, and rock.”
Instead of “Bilingualism is beneficial,” say “Being bilingual enhances cognitive flexibility, improves multitasking abilities, and offers broader career opportunities.”
“Organic foods are healthful” can be refined to “Organic foods, free from synthetic chemicals, often contain higher levels of essential nutrients and antioxidants.”
Instead of saying “Reading is beneficial,” delve deeper with “Reading fiction novels can enhance empathy in readers, allowing them to understand and relate to diverse characters and cultures.”
Rather than stating “Technology impacts education,” be specific with “The introduction of interactive whiteboards in classrooms has revolutionized teaching methods, promoting collaborative learning and increasing student engagement.”
“Exercise is good for health” becomes “Engaging in aerobic exercise thrice a week can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and improve mental well-being.”
Instead of “Solar energy is the future,” opt for “Harnessing solar energy through advanced photovoltaic cells can drastically cut down greenhouse gas emissions and provide a sustainable energy solution.”
“Music affects emotions” is more refined as “Listening to classical music, especially pieces by Mozart, has been shown to improve mood and enhance spatial-temporal reasoning.”
Instead of “Pets benefit households,” consider “Owning pets, particularly dogs, can promote physical activity in owners, reduce feelings of loneliness, and increase overall happiness.”
“Tourism impacts economies” is better articulated as “Tourism in coastal regions, when sustainable, can bring in significant revenue, generate employment opportunities, and promote local culture and products.”
Instead of “Plants improve air quality,” specify with “Indoor plants like the Spider Plant and Peace Lily act as natural air purifiers, removing pollutants such as formaldehyde and benzene.”
“Digital learning is revolutionary” can be precise as “Digital learning platforms, like Coursera and Udemy, provide accessible education to millions globally, democratizing knowledge and offering specialized skillsets.”
Rather than “Diet influences health,” delve into “Following a Mediterranean diet, rich in olive oil, fish, and fresh vegetables, can reduce the risk of chronic diseases and improve longevity.”
Instead of “Art impacts society,” say “Renaissance art, epitomized by Da Vinci and Michelangelo, has shaped Western artistic conventions and reflected societal shifts towards humanism.”
“Green spaces in cities are essential” becomes “Urban green spaces, like parks and community gardens, foster biodiversity, reduce the urban heat island effect, and provide residents with recreational areas.”
Instead of “Startups change economies,” consider “Tech startups in Silicon Valley, such as Uber and Airbnb, have disrupted traditional industries, prompting rapid economic shifts and regulatory challenges.”
“Organic farming benefits agriculture” is elaborated as “Organic farming, devoid of chemical pesticides, enriches soil health, promotes biodiversity, and yields produce with higher nutritional value.”
Instead of “Meditation promotes well-being,” offer “Practicing mindfulness meditation for 20 minutes daily can decrease stress levels, improve focus, and bolster emotional resilience.”
“Public libraries are important” becomes “Public libraries serve as community hubs, providing free access to knowledge, fostering lifelong learning, and bridging socio-economic divides.”
Instead of “Yoga benefits the body,” articulate “Regular yoga practice enhances flexibility, improves posture, and aids in holistic mind-body wellness.”
“Community events foster unity” can be specified as “Community events, like local fairs and music festivals, strengthen neighborhood bonds and promote cultural exchange and understanding.”
Instead of “Travel broadens horizons,” choose “Traveling to culturally diverse destinations enables individuals to gain firsthand insights into different ways of life, promoting global understanding.”
“Historical films educate viewers” is clarified as “Historical films, when accurately portrayed, offer viewers insights into past events, shaping their understanding of significant milestones”
Instead of “Video games affect behavior,” be more specific with “Playing violent video games for extended periods can increase aggressive tendencies in teenagers, impacting their social interactions.”
Instead of “Cooking is therapeutic,” dive deeper with “Cooking, as a mindful activity, can act as a form of meditation, alleviating stress and fostering creativity in individuals.”
“Marine pollution has consequences” is better detailed as “Marine pollution, especially from plastic waste, poses a severe threat to marine life, leading to entanglement and ingestion issues in species like turtles and whales.”
Instead of “Space exploration is beneficial,” pinpoint with “Space exploration, as seen with NASA’s Mars missions, can unravel mysteries of our universe and pave the way for potential interplanetary colonization.”
“Online shopping has transformed commerce” is further detailed as “Online shopping, through platforms like Amazon, has shifted consumer behavior, emphasizing convenience and leading to the decline of brick-and-mortar stores.”
Instead of “Plastic reduction is vital,” state “Reducing plastic usage, especially single-use plastics, can significantly decrease environmental pollution and reduce harm to marine ecosystems.”
“Work-life balance affects productivity” can be refined to “Maintaining a healthy work-life balance ensures increased employee morale, reduced burnout, and overall improved productivity in professional settings.”
Instead of “Documentaries are informative,” express “Documentaries, such as those by David Attenborough, provide in-depth insights into environmental issues, raising awareness and prompting action towards conservation.”
“Urban planning impacts city life” is better as “Effective urban planning, prioritizing green spaces and public transport, can enhance the quality of life, reduce pollution, and foster community interactions.”
Instead of “Organic products are popular,” mention “Organic products, given their chemical-free cultivation, have gained popularity among health-conscious consumers, boosting demand in supermarkets globally.”
Rather than “Museums offer education,” detail with “Museums, housing artifacts and exhibits, serve as educational hubs, providing insights into historical, cultural, and scientific realms of knowledge.”
“Exercise aids mental health” can be specific as “Regular aerobic exercise, such as jogging, has been linked to reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety, boosting overall mental well-being.”
Instead of “Festivals promote culture,” elaborate “Festivals, like Diwali in India or Carnival in Brazil, play a pivotal role in showcasing and preserving cultural heritage, traditions, and communal unity.”
“E-learning affects education” is more specific as “E-learning platforms have democratized education, offering students from diverse backgrounds access to global content and facilitating lifelong learning.”
Instead of “Robotics is transforming industries,” say “Robotics, particularly in the manufacturing sector, has streamlined processes, reduced human error, and led to significant productivity enhancements.”
“Healthy diets impact longevity” becomes “Adopting plant-based diets rich in whole grains and vegetables has been linked to increased life expectancy and reduced risks of chronic diseases.”
Instead of “Social media influences politics,” pinpoint with “Social media platforms, like Twitter, play a critical role in shaping political narratives, influencing voter perceptions and mobilizing campaigns.”
“Art therapy aids healing” is refined to “Art therapy, employing creative mediums, provides individuals with an expressive outlet, aiding emotional healing and cognitive development.”
Instead of “Reforestation is crucial,” specify “Reforestation, especially in deforested Amazonian regions, plays a vital role in carbon sequestration and biodiversity restoration.”
“Dance is transformative” can be particularized as “Dance, as a form of expressive therapy, can offer both physical and emotional release, transforming mood and improving body coordination.”
Instead of saying “Migration impacts economies,” be more precise with “Migration, particularly skilled labor migration, can significantly boost economic growth in recipient countries while potentially leading to a brain drain in the source countries.”
Instead of “Urban gardens are beneficial,” articulate “Urban gardens, when integrated into city landscapes, not only enhance the aesthetic appeal but also promote local produce consumption and improve air quality.”
“Green energy is the future” can be detailed as “Transitioning to green energy sources like solar and wind can substantially reduce carbon footprints, curbing global warming and ensuring sustainable energy for the future.”
Instead of “Tourism affects local cultures,” say “Tourism, if unchecked, can lead to the commercialization of local cultures, but it can also be harnessed to preserve traditions and boost local economies.”
“Digital currencies are transforming finance” is better as “Digital currencies, particularly Bitcoin and Ethereum, are reshaping the financial landscape by offering decentralized, transparent, and potentially more efficient transaction methods.”
Instead of “Music impacts mood,” go deeper with “Music, especially specific genres like classical or jazz, has a profound influence on human emotions, potentially alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression.”
“Biotechnology is revolutionary” can be expounded as “Biotechnology, with its innovations in genetic engineering and CRISPR technology, holds the promise to revolutionize medicine, agriculture, and environmental conservation.”
Instead of “Literature reflects society,” say “Literature, from classics to contemporary novels, offers a mirror to societal values, conflicts, and transformations, enabling readers to contextualize their own experiences.”
“AI is changing job markets” can be specified as “Artificial Intelligence, with its automation capabilities, is reshaping job markets by rendering certain jobs obsolete while simultaneously creating new opportunities in tech and data analysis.”
Instead of “Meditation has health benefits,” express “Meditation, particularly mindfulness practices, have been scientifically proven to reduce stress levels, improve concentration, and boost overall mental well-being.”
Instead of “History teaches lessons,” elucidate with “History, with its myriad of events and outcomes, provides invaluable lessons on diplomacy, conflict, and the consequences of decisions, guiding future generations.”
“Gastronomy influences tourism” is more refined as “Gastronomy, with its unique local dishes and culinary experiences, plays a pivotal role in attracting tourists and making cultural connections.”
Instead of “Fashion reflects identity,” articulate “Fashion, as a medium of self-expression, allows individuals to project their identity, cultural background, and personal beliefs, shaping societal perceptions.”
“Online privacy is crucial” can be detailed as “Maintaining online privacy in today’s digital age is paramount to protect personal data from breaches and ensure freedom of expression without surveillance.”
Instead of “Recycling benefits the environment,” specify “Recycling, by reducing the need for raw materials and conserving energy, plays a vital role in cutting down pollution and minimizing waste in landfills.”
“Virtual reality enhances experiences” can be expressed as “Virtual reality, with its immersive 3D environments, revolutionizes user experiences in gaming, education, and even medical training, bridging the gap between digital and tangible.”
Instead of “Networking boosts careers,” say “Networking, whether digitally on platforms like LinkedIn or in-person, can open doors to job opportunities, collaborations, and industry insights, catalyzing career advancement.”
“Sleep affects productivity” becomes “Consistent, quality sleep is foundational for cognitive function, creativity, and mood regulation, directly influencing workplace productivity and overall well-being.”
Instead of “Sustainable fashion is emerging,” detail with “Sustainable fashion, prioritizing eco-friendly materials and ethical manufacturing, is gaining traction as consumers increasingly value environmental and social responsibility.”
“Space colonization is a possibility” is further articulated as “Space colonization, especially on planets like Mars, holds potential not just for human survival but also for expanding our understanding of life and the universe.

Specific Thesis Statement Examples for High School

Crafting an accurate thesis statement in high school essays is crucial, as it sets the tone for the rest of the paper, ensuring clarity, precision, and a well-defined topic for readers.

“Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ depicts the tragic consequences of feuding families, underlining the importance of reconciliation and understanding.”
“The Cold War, marked by espionage and proxy wars, showcases the political tensions between the U.S. and the USSR during the 20th century.”
“Photosynthesis in plants is a fundamental biological process that converts sunlight into energy, driving ecosystems worldwide.”
“The Great Depression, originating in the 1930s, altered the American economic landscape, leading to significant policy changes.”
“Symbolism in ‘The Great Gatsby’ reflects the disillusionment of the American Dream during the Roaring Twenties.”
“Geometry, with its shapes and formulas, plays a pivotal role in architecture and design worldwide.”
“Adolescent psychology emphasizes the developmental challenges and growth experienced during teenage years.”
“The Pythagorean theorem is foundational in trigonometry, influencing various real-world applications.”
“The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s aimed to end racial segregation and promote equality in America.”
“Literary devices in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ underscore the prevalent racial and social issues of the American South.”

Specific Thesis Statement Examples for College

In college, thesis statements require a deeper analytical approach, showcasing not only understanding but also critical thinking and perspective. In addition, you should review our college essay thesis statement .

“The concept of Quantum Physics, while intricate, revolutionizes our understanding of matter on a microscopic scale.”
“Feminism in Jane Austen’s novels subtly criticizes the socio-economic constraints placed on women during the 18th century.”
“Blockchain technology has the potential to revolutionize global finance, ensuring transparent and secure transactions.”
“Freud’s theory of psychoanalysis delves into the subconscious mind, shedding light on human behavior and motivations.”
“Climate change, accelerated by human activity, necessitates immediate global intervention to ensure sustainability.”
“The Renaissance era marked a rebirth of art, culture, and knowledge, setting the stage for modern Western thought.”
“The geopolitics of oil impacts international relations, leading to alliances, conflicts, and strategic decisions.”
“Nihilism in Dostoevsky’s works reflects the spiritual emptiness and moral crises of 19th-century Russia.”
“Neural networks in artificial intelligence mimic human brain functioning, leading to breakthroughs in machine learning.”
“Post-colonial literature explores themes of identity, cultural conflict, and the legacy of colonialism.”

Specific Thesis Statement Examples for Academic Essay

For an academic essay, the thesis should succinctly present a focused argument or insight that invites further exploration and discussion.

“The migration patterns of monarch butterflies offer insights into effects of climate change on insect behavior.”
“Economic sanctions, while politically driven, can have unintended humanitarian consequences on the affected population.”
“The Gothic elements in Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’ critique the dangers of unchecked scientific ambition.”
“Rapid urbanization in developing countries highlights the challenges and opportunities of sustainable city planning.”
“Bilingualism not only enhances cognitive abilities but also promotes cultural appreciation and understanding.”
“Dark matter, while elusive, constitutes a significant portion of the universe, influencing its structural formation.”
“Consumer behavior in digital marketing is heavily influenced by psychological triggers and social validation.”
“The ethical implications of cloning touch upon fundamental questions of identity, morality, and human intervention.”
“Renaissance humanism, emphasizing individualism and learning, laid the foundation for modern human rights ideologies.”
“The portrayal of AI in media reflects societal anxieties and hopes regarding future technological advancements.”

Specific Thesis Statement Examples for Research Paper

Research papers demand precision, with the thesis statement indicating the paper’s hypothesis or central claim that will be substantiated with evidence.

“A correlation exists between prolonged screen time and sleep disturbances among adolescents.”
“Sustainable farming practices significantly enhance soil quality, leading to increased agricultural yields.”
“Neuroplasticity in adults indicates the brain’s ability to adapt and recover even post-injury.”
“Early exposure to multiple languages enhances cognitive flexibility and problem-solving skills in children.”
“A direct link can be traced between deforestation in the Amazon and global climate anomalies.”
“Vaccination campaigns in sub-Saharan Africa have led to a marked decrease in child mortality rates.”
“The portrayal of mental health in cinema influences societal perceptions and stigmas.”
“Nano-technology in medicine offers promising strategies for targeted drug delivery and cellular repair.”
“Oral traditions in indigenous communities play a vital role in preserving history, culture, and environmental knowledge.”
“The gut microbiome has a profound influence on human mood, behavior, and overall health.”

Specific Thesis Statement Examples for Academic Writing

In academic writing, the thesis should provide a clear, well-researched perspective, underpinned by evidence, forming the crux of the discussion.

“Ancient Egyptian mummification practices highlight the civilization’s beliefs about the afterlife and spiritual preservation.”
“Childhood nutrition significantly influences cognitive development and academic performance.”
“The rise of the Ottoman Empire showcases a blend of military strategy, religious fervor, and administrative prowess.”
“Coral reef bleaching, primarily driven by global warming, threatens marine biodiversity.”
“Modernist literature, characterized by fragmented narratives and stream of consciousness, reflects the tumult of the early 20th century.”
“Artificial photosynthesis, mimicking natural processes, holds potential for sustainable energy production.”
“Greek tragedies, with their tragic heroes and moral dilemmas, delve deep into the human psyche and societal norms.”
“Ocean currents, regulated by temperature and salinity gradients, play a crucial role in global climate systems.”
“Social media algorithms, designed for user engagement, can inadvertently create echo chambers and polarization.”
“The Silk Road, beyond trade, facilitated cultural, technological, and knowledge exchange between the East and the West.

What is a General and Specific Thesis Statement?

A thesis statement is the central claim or main argument of an essay or paper. Depending on the focus and detail level, thesis statements can be categorized as either general or specific.

General Thesis Statement: These provide a broad overview of the topic at hand. While they might be suitable for introductory sections, they often lack detail, and as a result, they don’t provide a clear direction for the essay. For example, “Technology has transformed our lives.”
Specific Thesis Statement: Contrary to general thesis statements, specific thesis statements offer a clear, precise claim or argument about a focused topic. These statements guide readers smoothly through the writer’s reasoning and evidence. For example, “Smartphone technology has altered our communication habits, leading to shorter attention spans and a preference for visual content.”

How Do You Write a More Specific Thesis?

Narrow Down Your Topic: Start with a broad topic or idea and then narrow it down. For instance, if you’re writing about “pollution,” you might focus specifically on “plastic pollution in the world’s oceans.”
Ask Specific Questions: Challenge your topic by asking who, what, where, when, and why. This can guide you to more specific areas of discussion.
Include a Point of Argument or Insight: Ensure that your thesis statement isn’t just stating a fact but provides an argument or a unique insight that can be further discussed.
Mention the Subtopics: If possible, hint at the subtopics or categories you’ll discuss. For instance, “The impact of the French Revolution was profound, affecting political, social, and economic facets of Europe.”
Revise and Refine: After drafting your thesis statement, reread it. Does it offer clarity? Can it be made more specific? Continually refining your thesis will ensure precision.

Tips for Writing a Specific Thesis Statement

Stay Focused: Keep your entire essay or paper in mind. Ensure that your thesis statement is aligned with the content and isn’t too broad for what you’re discussing.
Avoid Vague Language: Words like “many,” “things,” “good,” or “bad” can often be replaced with more specific terms or rephrased for clarity.
Make It Debatable: A good thesis statement is not a plain statement of fact but something that can be argued against. This makes your content more engaging.
Seek Feedback: After crafting your thesis, ask a peer or mentor to review it. They might offer insights or perspectives that can make your statement more specific.
Practice and Patience: Crafting the perfect specific thesis statement might not always come immediately. With practice, you’ll get better at honing in on the specifics of any topic.

Crafting a specific thesis statement is an art that elevates the clarity and impact of any academic work. By focusing on precision and avoiding ambiguity, writers provide readers with a clear roadmap of their argument. With practice and adherence to the provided tips, one can master the skill of developing compelling, specific thesis statements that captivate and inform. You should also take a look at our thesis statement for review .

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Developing Strong Thesis Statements

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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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Introduction How to get an essay started

Getting started can often be difficult. Even professional writers say that the hardest part of writing is the beginning. Writing an introduction to an essay can therefore seem a daunting task, though it need not be so difficult, as long as you understand the purpose and the structure of the introduction. An example essay has been given to help you understand both of these, and there is a checklist at the end which you can use for editing your introduction.

Purpose of the introduction

When writing an introduction to an academic essay, it is useful to remember the main purpose of the introduction. In general, the introduction will introduce the topic to the reader by stating what the topic is and giving some general background information. This will help the reader to understand what you are writing about, and show why the topic is important. The introduction should also give the overall plan of the essay.

In short, the main purpose of the introduction is to:

introduce the topic of the essay;
give a general background of the topic;
indicate the overall plan of the essay.

This last purpose is perhaps the most important, and is the reason why many writers choose to write the introduction last , after they have written the main body , because they need to know what the essay will contain before they can give a clear plan.

Structure of the introduction

Although essays vary in length and content, most essays will have the same overall structure, including the introduction. The structure is related to the purpose mentioned above. The introduction to an essay should have the following two parts:

general statements (to introduce the topic and give the background);
a thesis statement (to show the structure).

General statements

The general statements will introduce the topic of the essay and give background information. The background information for a short essay will generally just be one or two sentences. The general statements should become more and more specific thesis statement , which is the most specific sentence of the introduction--> as the introduction progresses, leading the reader into the essay (some writers talk about "attracting the readers' attention", though for an academic essay, this is less important). For longer essays, the general statements could include one or more definitions , or could classify the topic, and may cover more than one paragraph.

The following is an example of background statements for a short essay ( given below ):

These sentences introduce the topic of the essay (cars) and give some background to this topic (situation in the past, the situation now). These sentences lead nicely into the thesis statement (see below).

Thesis statement

The thesis statement is the most important part of the introduction. It gives the reader clear information about the content of the essay, which will help them to understand the essay more easily. The thesis states the specific topic, and often lists the main (controlling) ideas that will be discussed in the main body. It may also indicate how the essay will be organised, e.g. in chronological order, order of importance, advantages/disadvantages, cause/effect. It is usually at the end of the introduction, and is usually (but not always) one sentence long.

In short, the thesis statement:

states the specific topic of the essay;
often lists the main (controlling) ideas of the essay;
may indicate the method of organisation of the essay;
is usually at the end of the introduction;
is usually one sentence.

Here is an example of a thesis statement with no subtopics mentioned:

While cars have undoubted advantages, they also have significant drawbacks.

This thesis statement tells us the specific topic of the essay (advantages and disadvantages of cars) and the method of organisation (advantages should come first, disadvantages second). It is, however, quite general, and may have been written before the writer had completed the essay.

In the following thesis statement, the subtopics are named:

While cars have undoubted advantages, of which their convenience is the most apparent, they have significant drawbacks, most notably pollution and traffic problems.

This thesis gives us more detail, telling us not just the topic (advantages and disadvantages of cars) and the method of organisation (advantages first, disadvantages second), but also tells us the main ideas in the essay (convenience, pollution, traffic problems). This essay will probably have three paragraphs in the main body.

Example essay

Below is a discussion essay which looks at the advantages and disadvantages of car ownership. This essay is used throughout the essay writing section to help you understand different aspects of essay writing. Here it focuses on the thesis statement and general statements of the introduction (mentioned on this page), topic sentences , controlling ideas, and the summary and final comment of the conclusion. Click on the different areas (in the shaded boxes to the right) to highlight the different structural aspects in this essay.

Although they were invented almost a hundred years ago, for decades cars were only owned by the rich. Since the 60s and 70s they have become increasingly affordable, and now most families in developed nations, and a growing number in developing countries, own a car. While cars have undoubted advantages, of which their convenience is the most apparent, they have significant drawbacks, most notably pollution and traffic problems . The most striking advantage of the car is its convenience. When travelling long distance, there may be only one choice of bus or train per day, which may be at an unsuitable time. The car, however, allows people to travel at any time they wish, and to almost any destination they choose. Despite this advantage, cars have many significant disadvantages, the most important of which is the pollution they cause. Almost all cars run either on petrol or diesel fuel, both of which are fossil fuels. Burning these fuels causes the car to emit serious pollutants, such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrous oxide. Not only are these gases harmful for health, causing respiratory disease and other illnesses, they also contribute to global warming, an increasing problem in the modern world. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists (2013), transportation in the US accounts for 30% of all carbon dioxide production in that country, with 60% of these emissions coming from cars and small trucks. In short, pollution is a major drawback of cars. A further disadvantage is the traffic problems that they cause in many cities and towns of the world. While car ownership is increasing in almost all countries of the world, especially in developing countries, the amount of available roadway in cities is not increasing at an equal pace. This can lead to traffic congestion, in particular during the morning and evening rush hour. In some cities, this congestion can be severe, and delays of several hours can be a common occurrence. Such congestion can also affect those people who travel out of cities at the weekend. Spending hours sitting in an idle car means that this form of transport can in fact be less convenient than trains or aeroplanes or other forms of public transport. In conclusion, while the car is advantageous for its convenience , it has some important disadvantages, in particular the pollution it causes and the rise of traffic jams . If countries can invest in the development of technology for green fuels, and if car owners can think of alternatives such as car sharing, then some of these problems can be lessened.

Union of Concerned Scientists (2013). Car Emissions and Global Warming. www.ucsusa.org/clean vehicles/why-clean-cars/global-warming/ (Access date: 8 August, 2013)

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Below is a checklist for an essay introduction. Use it to check your own writing, or get a peer (another student) to help you.


The essay begins with , which introduce the topic
The introduction ends with a
The shows the main ideas of the essay
The shows how the essay will be organised (e.g. chronological, compare/contrast, advantages/disadvantages)

Next section

Find out how to structure the main body of an essay in the next section.

Previous section

Go back to the previous section about essay structure .

Author: Sheldon Smith ‖ Last modified: 26 January 2022.

Sheldon Smith is the founder and editor of EAPFoundation.com. He has been teaching English for Academic Purposes since 2004. Find out more about him in the about section and connect with him on Twitter , Facebook and LinkedIn .

Compare & contrast essays examine the similarities of two or more objects, and the differences.

Cause & effect essays consider the reasons (or causes) for something, then discuss the results (or effects).

Discussion essays require you to examine both sides of a situation and to conclude by saying which side you favour.

Problem-solution essays are a sub-type of SPSE essays (Situation, Problem, Solution, Evaluation).

Transition signals are useful in achieving good cohesion and coherence in your writing.

Reporting verbs are used to link your in-text citations to the information cited.

COMMENTS

General Statement Vs. Thesis Statement
General Statement Vs. Thesis Statement. A thesis statement is a succinct statement of the arguments you'll be making in a paper and is a critical component of any well-written work. A general statement, by contrast, is any declarative sentence providing supporting information or transitioning to a new topic. While both sentence structures play ...
Thesis Statements
A thesis statement: tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion. is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper. directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself.
Developing a Thesis Statement
A thesis statement . . . Makes an argumentative assertion about a topic; it states the conclusions that you have reached about your topic. Makes a promise to the reader about the scope, purpose, and direction of your paper. Is focused and specific enough to be "proven" within the boundaries of your paper. Is generally located near the end ...
General & Specific Statements
The general statement will introduce the topic, and the specific statements will provide more information about the subject. General statements can also be used in the conclusion paragraph of an ...
Thesis and Purpose Statements
A thesis statement makes a promise to the reader about the scope, purpose, and direction of the paper. It summarizes the conclusions that the writer has reached about the topic. A thesis statement is generally located near the end of the introduction. Sometimes in a long paper, the thesis will be expressed in several sentences or an entire ...
How to Write a Thesis Statement
Step 2: Write your initial answer. After some initial research, you can formulate a tentative answer to this question. At this stage it can be simple, and it should guide the research process and writing process. The internet has had more of a positive than a negative effect on education.
6.1: The Topic, General Purpose, Specific Purpose, and Thesis
The general purpose statement of a speech may be to inform, to persuade, to celebrate, or to entertain. Thus, it is common to frame a specific purpose statement around one of these goals. According to O'Hair, Stewart, and Rubenstein, a specific purpose statement "expresses both the topic and the general speech purpose in action form and in ...
The Writing Center
A thesis statement is: The statement of the author's position on a topic or subject. Clear, concise, and goes beyond fact or observation to become an idea that needs to be supported (arguable). Often a statement of tension, where the author refutes or complicates an existing assumption or claim (counterargument).
8.2 The Topic, General Purpose, Specific Purpose, and Thesis
The thesis statement should be a single, declarative statement followed by a separate preview statement. If you are a Harry Potter enthusiast, you may write a thesis statement (central idea) the following way using the above approach: J.K. Rowling is a renowned author of the Harry Potter series with a Cinderella-like story of a rise to fame.
7.2 The Topic, General Purpose, Specific Purpose, and Thesis
The general purpose statement of a speech may be to inform, to persuade, to celebrate, or to entertain. Thus, it is common to frame a specific purpose statement around one of these goals. According to O'Hair, Stewart, and Rubenstein, a specific purpose statement "expresses both the topic and the general speech purpose in action form and in ...
5.1: Developing a Strong, Clear Thesis Statement
A strong thesis statement contains the following qualities. Specificity. A thesis statement must concentrate on a specific area of a general topic. As you may recall, the creation of a thesis statement begins when you choose a broad subject and then narrow down its parts until you pinpoint a specific aspect of that topic.
Writing: Thesis Statement and Controlling Idea
A thesis statement states the purpose and topic of your writing, and the controlling idea indicates the direction and, often, the writing strategy you will adopt. Your thesis is like a road map, guiding your readers so that they know what to expect. Generally, your thesis is placed at the end of your introduction and is a concise and simple ...
Difference Between Thesis and Purpose Statements
Purpose Statements. Purpose statements are used to let the reader know what the paper is about and what to expect from it. You can tell a purpose statement by the way it's written. A purpose statement, unlike a thesis statement, doesn't discuss any conclusions. It must also be concise and specific. For example, the sentence can begin with ...
What Is a Thesis?
A thesis statement is a very common component of an essay, particularly in the humanities. It usually comprises 1 or 2 sentences in the introduction of your essay, and should clearly and concisely summarize the central points of your academic essay. A thesis is a long-form piece of academic writing, often taking more than a full semester to ...
PDF Thesis Statements and Topic Sentences
•A thesis statement also often previews the structure of the rest of the essay ... these are general guidelines for constructing a strong thesis statement and topic sentences in a thesis driven essay; always refer to your assignment or sample text from your field for specific expectations about the role and placement of a thesis statement. ...
What is a thesis statement? I need some examples, too.
A thesis statement clearly identifies the topic being discussed, includes the points discussed in the paper, and is written for a specific audience. Your thesis statement belongs at the end of your first paragraph, also known as your introduction. Use it to generate interest in your topic and encourage your audience to continue reading.
PDF Thesis Statements
A good thesis statement clearly suggests an essay's direction, emphasis, and scope. A thesis statement should not make promises that the essay will not fulfill. It should suggest how ideas are related and where the emphasis will lie. A good thesis statement is neither too broad nor too narrow. The thesis determines the scope of an essay.
Specific Thesis Statement
Specific Thesis Statement: Contrary to general thesis statements, specific thesis statements offer a clear, precise claim or argument about a focused topic. These statements guide readers smoothly through the writer's reasoning and evidence. For example, "Smartphone technology has altered our communication habits, leading to shorter ...
Writing
The main idea, thesis statement, and topic sentences all provide structure to an essay. It is important for both readers and writers to understand the roles of each of these in order to maintain ...
Strong Thesis Statements
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.
Difference between Thesis Statement and Purpose Statement
The goal of a purpose statement is to announce the purpose, direction and the general scope of the paper. Nevertheless, unlike a thesis statement, purpose statement does not provide particular ...
Introduction paragraph
These sentences lead nicely into the thesis statement (see below). Thesis statement. The thesis statement is the most important part of the introduction. It gives the reader clear information about the content of the essay, which will help them to understand the essay more easily. The thesis states the specific topic, and often lists the main ...

General Statement Vs. Thesis Statement

Role in Paper

Paper Structure

Supporting the Thesis

Thesis Statements

Introduction

What is a thesis statement?

How do I create a thesis?

How do I know if my thesis is strong?

Works consulted

Thesis and Purpose Statements

Thesis statements

Purpose statements

Sample purpose and thesis statements

Writing Process and Structure

Getting Started with Your Paper

Creating an Argument

Working with Sources

Drafting Your Paper

Revising Your Paper

Finishing Your Paper

Writing Collaboratively

8.2 The Topic, General Purpose, Specific Purpose, and Thesis

Understanding the General Purpose

Selecting a Topic

Formulating the Purpose Statements

Writing the Thesis Statement

Writing the Preview Statement

Writing the Body of Your Speech

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7.2 The Topic, General Purpose, Specific Purpose, and Thesis

Selecting a Topic

Formulating the Purpose Statements

Writing the Thesis Statement

Writing the Preview Statement

Writing the Body of Your Speech

Share This Book

Online Guide to Writing and Research

YOUR TOPIC + POSITION ON TOPIC = THESIS STATEMENT

Thesis Statement Do's and Don'ts

Key Takeaways

Table of Contents: Online Guide to Writing

Appendix A: Books to Help Improve Your Writing

Appendix B: Collaborative Writing and Peer Reviewing

Appendix C: Developing an Improvement Plan

Appendix D: Writing Plan and Project Schedule

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Developing Strong Thesis Statements

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

The thesis statement or main claim must be debatable

The thesis needs to be narrow

Types of claims

Introduction How to get an essay started