How to Write a Thesis

Big-Picture Thesis Statement Considerations 



1. Write a complete sentence, rather than a phrase or clause that cannot stand alone. 
2. Avoid simply making an announcement of the topic or explicitly referring to “this paper” (e.g., This paper will examine a particular education theory.). 
3. Eliminate first-person pronouns as part of an introductory narration of what you will accomplish in the paper (e.g., In this paper, I will examine…”).
4. State a claim or primary conclusion that will be substantiated in the body of the paper through supporting evidence. 

The thesis statement sets the literary stage for transforming assertions into arguments backed by evidence, while also anticipating counterarguments. 

It should be:
  • One sentence.
  • Declarative
  • The last sentence of the introduction paragraph.

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