locating explicit and implicit thesis statement

• Locating and Evaluating Thesis Statements

The following video offers a definition of thesis statements, and guidance for finding thesis statements as you read.

Pay attention to the difference between explicit thesis statements and implicit (or implied ) thesis statements .

(This video was made for a specific class, so it will make references to assignments that won’t apply to you. You can also stop watching at 6:00, since the video then proceeds to writing thesis statements, which is not our focus at the moment.)

• Video: Locating and Evaluating Thesis Statements. Provided by : Lumen Learning. License : CC BY: Attribution
• Locating, Evaluating, & Writing Thesis Statements. Authored by : H Ortiz. Located at : https://youtu.be/8a0T_ySxda8 . License : All Rights Reserved . License Terms : Standard YouTube License
• Table of Contents

Instructor Resources (available upon sign-in)

• Overview of Instructor Resources
• Quiz Survey

Reading: Types of Reading Material

• Introduction to Reading
• Outcome: Types of Reading Material
• Characteristics of Texts, Part 1
• Characteristics of Texts, Part 2
• Characteristics of Texts, Part 3
• Characteristics of Texts, Conclusion
• Self Check: Types of Writing

Reading: Reading Strategies

• Outcome: Reading Strategies
• The Rhetorical Situation
• Academic Reading Strategies
• Self Check: Reading Strategies

Reading: Specialized Reading Strategies

• Outcome: Specialized Reading Strategies
• Online Reading Comprehension
• How to Read Effectively in Math
• How to Read Effectively in the Social Sciences
• How to Read Effectively in the Sciences
• 5 Step Approach for Reading Charts and Graphs
• Self Check: Specialized Reading Strategies

Reading: Vocabulary

• Outcome: Vocabulary
• Strategies to Improve Your Vocabulary
• Using Context Clues
• The Relationship Between Reading and Vocabulary
• Self Check: Vocabulary

Reading: Thesis

• Outcome: Thesis
• The Organizational Statement
• Self Check: Thesis

Reading: Supporting Claims

• Outcome: Supporting Claims
• Types of Support
• Supporting Claims
• Self Check: Supporting Claims

Reading: Logic and Structure

• Outcome: Logic and Structure
• Rhetorical Modes
• Inductive and Deductive Reasoning
• Diagramming and Evaluating Arguments
• Logical Fallacies
• Evaluating Appeals to Ethos, Logos, and Pathos
• Self Check: Logic and Structure

Reading: Summary Skills

• Outcome: Summary Skills
• How to Annotate
• Paraphrasing
• Quote Bombs
• Summary Writing
• Self Check: Summary Skills
• Conclusion to Reading

Writing Process: Topic Selection

• Introduction to Writing Process
• Outcome: Topic Selection
• Starting a Paper
• Choosing and Developing Topics
• Back to the Future of Topics
• Developing Your Topic
• Self Check: Topic Selection

Writing Process: Prewriting

• Outcome: Prewriting
• Prewriting Strategies for Diverse Learners
• Rhetorical Context
• Working Thesis Statements
• Self Check: Prewriting

Writing Process: Finding Evidence

• Outcome: Finding Evidence
• Using Personal Examples
• Performing Background Research
• Listening to Sources, Talking to Sources
• Self Check: Finding Evidence

Writing Process: Organizing

• Outcome: Organizing
• Moving Beyond the Five-Paragraph Theme
• Introduction to Argument
• The Three-Story Thesis
• Organically Structured Arguments
• Logic and Structure
• The Perfect Paragraph
• Introductions and Conclusions
• Self Check: Organizing

Writing Process: Drafting

• Outcome: Drafting
• From Outlining to Drafting
• Flash Drafts
• Self Check: Drafting

Writing Process: Revising

• Outcome: Revising
• Seeking Input from Others
• Responding to Input from Others
• The Art of Re-Seeing
• Higher Order Concerns
• Self Check: Revising

Writing Process: Proofreading

• Outcome: Proofreading
• Lower Order Concerns
• Proofreading Advice
• "Correctness" in Writing
• The Importance of Spelling
• Punctuation Concerns
• Self Check: Proofreading
• Conclusion to Writing Process

Research Process: Finding Sources

• Introduction to Research Process
• Outcome: Finding Sources
• The Research Process
• Finding Sources
• What are Scholarly Articles?
• Finding Scholarly Articles and Using Databases
• Database Searching
• Advanced Search Strategies
• Preliminary Research Strategies
• Reading and Using Scholarly Sources
• Self Check: Finding Sources

Research Process: Source Analysis

• Outcome: Source Analysis
• Evaluating Sources
• CRAAP Analysis
• Evaluating Websites
• Synthesizing Sources
• Self Check: Source Analysis

Research Process: Writing Ethically

• Outcome: Writing Ethically
• Academic Integrity
• Defining Plagiarism
• Avoiding Plagiarism
• Using Sources in Your Writing
• Self Check: Writing Ethically

Research Process: MLA Documentation

• Introduction to MLA Documentation
• Outcome: MLA Documentation
• MLA Document Formatting
• MLA Works Cited
• Creating MLA Citations
• MLA In-Text Citations
• Self Check: MLA Documentation
• Conclusion to Research Process

Grammar: Nouns and Pronouns

• Introduction to Grammar
• Outcome: Nouns and Pronouns
• Pronoun Cases and Types
• Pronoun Antecedents
• Try It: Nouns and Pronouns
• Self Check: Nouns and Pronouns

Grammar: Verbs

• Outcome: Verbs
• Verb Tenses and Agreement
• Non-Finite Verbs
• Complex Verb Tenses
• Try It: Verbs
• Self Check: Verbs

Grammar: Other Parts of Speech

• Outcome: Other Parts of Speech
• Comparing Adjectives and Adverbs
• Adjectives and Adverbs
• Conjunctions
• Prepositions
• Try It: Other Parts of Speech
• Self Check: Other Parts of Speech

Grammar: Punctuation

• Outcome: Punctuation
• End Punctuation
• Hyphens and Dashes
• Apostrophes and Quotation Marks
• Brackets, Parentheses, and Ellipses
• Semicolons and Colons
• Try It: Punctuation
• Self Check: Punctuation

Grammar: Sentence Structure

• Outcome: Sentence Structure
• Parts of a Sentence
• Common Sentence Structures
• Run-on Sentences
• Sentence Fragments
• Parallel Structure
• Try It: Sentence Structure
• Self Check: Sentence Structure

Grammar: Voice

• Outcome: Voice
• Active and Passive Voice
• Using the Passive Voice
• Conclusion to Grammar
• Try It: Voice
• Self Check: Voice

Success Skills

• Introduction to Success Skills
• Habits for Success
• Critical Thinking
• Time Management
• Writing in College
• Computer-Based Writing
• Conclusion to Success Skills

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• Thesis Statement

Thesis Statements: How to Identify and Write Them

Students read about and watch videos about how to identify and write thesis statements. 

Then, students complete two exercises where they identify and write thesis statements. 

*Conditions of Use: While the content on each page is licensed under an  Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike  license, some pages contain content and/or references with other types of licenses or copyrights. Please look at the bottom of each page to view this information. 

Learning Objectives

By the end of these readings and exercises, students will be able to: 

• define the term thesis statement
• read about two recommended thesis statement models 
• practice identifying thesis statements in other texts
• write your own effective thesis statements

Attributions:

• The banner image is licensed under  Adobe Stock .
• The untitled image of a detective by Peggy_Marco is licensed under Pixabay . 

What is a thesis statement?

The thesis statement is the key to most academic writing. The purpose of academic writing is to offer your own insights, analyses, and ideas—to show not only that you understand the concepts you’re studying, but also that you have thought about those concepts in your own way and agreed or disagreed, or developed your own unique ideas as a result of your analysis. The  thesis statement  is the one sentence that encapsulates the result of your thinking, as it offers your main insight or argument in condensed form.

We often use the word “argument” in English courses, but we do not mean it in the traditional sense of a verbal fight with someone else. Instead, you “argue” by taking a position on an issue and supporting it with evidence. Because you’ve taken a position about your topic, someone else may be in a position to disagree (or argue) with the stance you have taken. Think about how a lawyer presents an argument or states their case in a courtroom—similarly, you want to build a case around the main idea of your essay. For example, in 1848, when Elizabeth Cady Stanton drafted “The Declaration of Sentiments,” she was thinking about how to convince New York State policymakers to change the laws to allow women to vote. Stanton was making an argument.

Some consider all writing a form of argument—or at least of persuasion. After all, even if you’re writing a letter or an informative essay, you’re implicitly trying to persuade your audience to care about what you’re saying. Your thesis statement represents the main idea—or point—about a topic or issue that you make in an argument. For example, let’s say that your topic is social media. A thesis statement about social media could look like one of the following sentences:

• Social media harms the self-esteem of American pre-teen girls.
• Social media can help connect researchers when they use hashtags to curate their work.
• Social media tools are not tools for social movements, they are marketing tools.

Please take a look at this video which explains the basic definition of a thesis statement further (we will be building upon these ideas through the rest of the readings and exercises): 

Attributions: 

• The content about thesis statements has been modified from English Composition 1 by Lumen Learning and Audrey Fisch et al. and appears under an  Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license. 
• The video "Purdue OWL: Thesis Statements" by the Purdue University Online Writing Lab appears under a YouTube license . 

The Two-Story Model (basic)

First, we will cover the two-story thesis statement model. This is the most basic model, but that doesn't mean it's bad or that you shouldn't use it. If you have a hard time with thesis statements or if you just want to keep things simple, this model is perfect for you. Think of it like a two-story building with two layers. 

A basic thesis sentence has two main parts:

• Topic:  What you’re writing about
• Angle:  What your main idea is about that topic, or your claim

Examples: 

When you read all of the thesis statement examples, can you see areas where the writer could be more specific with their angle? The more specific you are with your topic and your claims, the more focused your essay will be for your reader.

Thesis:  A regular exercise regime leads to multiple benefits, both physical and emotional.

• Topic:  Regular exercise regime
• Angle:  Leads to multiple benefits

Thesis:  Adult college students have different experiences than typical, younger college students.

• Topic:  Adult college students
• Angle:  Have different experiences

Thesis:  The economics of television have made the viewing experience challenging for many viewers because shows are not offered regularly, similar programming occurs at the same time, and commercials are rampant.

• Topic:  Television viewing
• Angle:  Challenging because shows shifted, similar programming, and commercials

Please watch how Dr. Cielle Amundson demonstrates the two-story thesis statement model in this video:

• The video "Thesis Statement Definition" by  Dr. Cielle Amundson  appears under a YouTube license . 

The Three-Story Model (advanced)

Now, it's time to challenge yourself. The three-story model is like a building with three stories. Adding multiple levels to your thesis statement makes it more specific and sophisticated. Though you'll be trying your hand with this model in the activity later on, throughout our course, you are free to choose either the two-story or three-story thesis statement model. Still, it's good to know what the three-story model entails. 

A thesis statement can have three parts: 

• Relevance : Why your argument is meaningful

Conceptualizing the Three-Story Model: 

A helpful metaphor based on this passage by Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.:

There are one-story intellects, two-story intellects, and three-story intellects with skylights. All fact collectors who have no aim beyond their facts are one-story men. Two-story men compare, reason, generalize using the labor of fact collectors as their own. Three-story men idealize, imagine, predict—their best illumination comes from above the skylight.

One-story theses state inarguable facts. Two-story theses bring in an arguable (interpretive or analytical) point. Three-story theses nest that point within its larger, compelling implications. 

The biggest benefit of the three-story metaphor is that it describes a process for building a thesis. To build the first story, you first have to get familiar with the complex, relevant facts surrounding the problem or question. You have to be able to describe the situation thoroughly and accurately. Then, with that first story built, you can layer on the second story by formulating the insightful, arguable point that animates the analysis. That’s often the most effortful part: brainstorming, elaborating and comparing alternative ideas, finalizing your point. With that specified, you can frame up the third story by articulating why the point you make matters beyond its particular topic or case.

Though the three-story thesis statement model appears a little bit differently in this video, you can still see how it follows the patterns mentioned within this section: 

• The content about thesis statements has been modified from Writing in College by Amy Guptill from Milne Publishing and appears under an  Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) license. 
• The video "How to Write a STRONG Thesis Statement" by Scribbr  appears under a YouTube license . 

Identifying Thesis Statements

You’ll remember that the first step of the reading process, previewing ,  allows you to get a big-picture view of the document you’re reading. This way, you can begin to understand the structure of the overall text. The most important step of understanding an essay or a book is to find the thesis statement.

Pinpointing a Thesis Statement

A thesis consists of a specific topic and an angle on the topic. All of the other ideas in the text support and develop the thesis. The thesis statement is often found in the introduction, sometimes after an initial “hook” or interesting story; sometimes, however, the thesis is not explicitly stated until the end of an essay. Sometimes it is not stated at all. In those instances, there is an  implied thesis statement.  You can generally extract the thesis statement by looking for a few key sentences and ideas.

Most readers expect to see the point of your argument (the thesis statement) within the first few paragraphs. This does not mean that it has to be placed there every time. Some writers place it at the very end, slowly building up to it throughout their work, to explain a point after the fact. Others don’t bother with one at all but feel that their thesis is “implied” anyway. Beginning writers, however, should avoid the implied thesis unless certain of the audience. Almost every professor will expect to see a clearly discernible thesis sentence in the introduction.

Shared Characteristics of Thesis Statements:

• present the main idea
• are one sentence
• tell the reader what to expect
• summarize the essay topic
• present an argument
• are written in the third person (does not include the “I” pronoun)

The following “How to Identify a Thesis Statement” video offers advice for locating a text’s thesis statement. It asks you to write one or two sentences that summarize the text. When you write that summary, without looking at the text itself, you’ve most likely paraphrased the thesis statement.

You can view the  transcript for “How to Identify the Thesis Statement” here (download).

Try it! 

Try to check your thesis statement identification skills with this interactive exercise from the Excelsior University Online Writing Lab. 

• The video "How to Identidy the Thesis Statement" by  Martha Ann Kennedy  appears under a YouTube license . 
• The "Judging Thesis Statements" exercise from the Purdue University Online Writing Lab appears under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license. 

Writing Your Own Thesis Statements

A thesis statement is a single sentence (or sometimes two) that provides the answers to these questions clearly and concisely. Ask yourself, “What is my paper about, exactly?” Answering this question will help you develop a precise and directed thesis, not only for your reader, but for you as well.

Key Elements of an Effective Thesis Statement: 

• A good thesis is non-obvious. High school teachers needed to make sure that you and all your classmates mastered the basic form of the academic essay. Thus, they were mostly concerned that you had a clear and consistent thesis, even if it was something obvious like “sustainability is important.” A thesis statement like that has a wide-enough scope to incorporate several supporting points and concurring evidence, enabling the writer to demonstrate his or her mastery of the five-paragraph form. Good enough! When they can, high school teachers nudge students to develop arguments that are less obvious and more engaging. College instructors, though, fully expect you to produce something more developed.
• A good thesis is arguable . In everyday life, “arguable” is often used as a synonym for “doubtful.” For a thesis, though, “arguable” means that it’s worth arguing: it’s something with which a reasonable person might disagree. This arguability criterion dovetails with the non-obvious one: it shows that the author has deeply explored a problem and arrived at an argument that legitimately needs 3, 5, 10, or 20 pages to explain and justify. In that way, a good thesis sets an ambitious agenda for a paper. A thesis like “sustainability is important” isn’t at all difficult to argue for, and the reader would have little intrinsic motivation to read the rest of the paper. However, an arguable thesis like “sustainability policies will inevitably fail if they do not incorporate social justice,” brings up some healthy skepticism. Thus, the arguable thesis makes the reader want to keep reading.
• A good thesis is well specified. Some student writers fear that they’re giving away the game if they specify their thesis up front; they think that a purposefully vague thesis might be more intriguing to the reader. However, consider movie trailers: they always include the most exciting and poignant moments from the film to attract an audience. In academic papers, too, a well specified thesis indicates that the author has thought rigorously about an issue and done thorough research, which makes the reader want to keep reading. Don’t just say that a particular policy is effective or fair; say what makes it is so. If you want to argue that a particular claim is dubious or incomplete, say why in your thesis.
• A good thesis includes implications. Suppose your assignment is to write a paper about some aspect of the history of linen production and trade, a topic that may seem exceedingly arcane. And suppose you have constructed a well supported and creative argument that linen was so widely traded in the ancient Mediterranean that it actually served as a kind of currency. 2  That’s a strong, insightful, arguable, well specified thesis. But which of these thesis statements do you find more engaging?

How Can You Write Your Thesis Statements?

A good basic structure for a thesis statement is “they say, I say.” What is the prevailing view, and how does your position differ from it? However, avoid limiting the scope of your writing with an either/or thesis under the assumption that your view must be strictly contrary to their view.

• focus on one, interesting idea
• choose the two-story or three-story model
• be as specific as possible
• write clearly
• have evidence to support it (for later on)

Thesis Statement Examples: 

• Although many readers believe Romeo and Juliet to be a tale about the ill fate of two star-crossed lovers, it can also be read as an allegory concerning a playwright and his audience.
• The “War on Drugs” has not only failed to reduce the frequency of drug-related crimes in America but actually enhanced the popular image of dope peddlers by romanticizing them as desperate rebels fighting for a cause.
• The bulk of modern copyright law was conceived in the age of commercial printing, long before the Internet made it so easy for the public to compose and distribute its own texts. Therefore, these laws should be reviewed and revised to better accommodate modern readers and writers.
• The usual moral justification for capital punishment is that it deters crime by frightening would-be criminals. However, the statistics tell a different story.
• If students really want to improve their writing, they must read often, practice writing, and receive quality feedback from their peers.
• Plato’s dialectical method has much to offer those engaged in online writing, which is far more conversational in nature than print.

You can gather more thesis statement tips and tricks from this video titled "How to Create a Thesis Statement" from the Florida SouthWestern State College Academic Support Centers: 

• The video "How to Create a Thesis Statement" by the Florida SouthWestern State College Academic Support Centers appears under a YouTube license . 

Additional, Optional Resources

If you feel like you might need more support with thesis statements, please check out these helpful resources for some extra, optional instruction: 

• "Checklist for a Thesis Statement"  from the  Excelsior University Online Writing Lab  which appears under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license. 
• "Developing Your Thesis" from Hamiliton College which appears under a copyright. 
• "Parts of a Thesis Sentence and Common Problems"  from the  Excelsior University Online Writing Lab  which appears under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.
• "Tips and Examples for Writing Thesis Statements" from the Purdue University Writing Lab which appears under a copyright. 
• "Writing Thesis Statements & Hypotheses" by Hope Matis from Clarkson University which appears under a copyright. 
• The content about these resources has been modified from English Composition 1 by Lumen Learning and Audrey Fisch et al. and appears under an  Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license. 
• The content about these resources has been modified from Writing in College by Amy Guptill from Milne Publishing and appears under an  Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) license. 
• The untitled image of the books by OpenClipart-Vectors is licensed under Pixabay . 

Exercise #1: Identify Thesis Statements

Throughout the readings, we have been learning what an effective thesis statement is and what it is not. Before we even get to writing our own thesis statements, let's look for real-world examples. It's your turn to locate and identify thesis statements!

Objectives/Goals

By completeting this exercise students will be able to: 

• identify the main ideas within a text 
• summarize the main ideas within a text
• choose one sentence from the text which you believe is the thesis statement
• argue why you believe that's the true thesis statement of the text

Instructions

• Any print or online text (probably something around a page in length) will be fine for this exercise. 
• If you have trouble finding a text, I recommend looking at this collection from  88 Open Essays – A Reader for Students of Composition & Rhetoric  by Sarah Wangler and Tina Ulrich. 
• Write the title of the text that you selected and the full name(s) of the author (this is called the full citation). 
• Provide a hyperlink for that text. 
• Write one paragraph (5+ sentences) summarizing the main points of the text. 
• Write one more argumentative paragraph (5+ sentences) where you discuss which sentence (make sure it appears within quotation marks, but don't worry about in-text citations for now) you think is the author's thesis statement and why. 

Submitting the Assignment

You will be submitting Exercise #1: Identify Thesis Statements within Canvas in our weekly module. 

Please check the assignment page for deadlines and Canvas Guides to help you in case you have trouble submitting your document. 

• "88 Open Essays - A Reader for Students of Composition & Rhetoric" by Sarah Wangler and Tina Ulrich from LibreTexts appears under an  Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) license. 

Exercise #2: Write Your Own Thesis Statements

Now that you've had some practice with locating and identifying thesis statements, you are ready to write some practice thesis statements yourself. 

• write a two-story thesis statement 
• write a three-story thesis statement
• reflect on your thesis statement skills
• Using the same text from Exercise #1, write a two-story thesis statement in response to that text. 
• Using the same text from Exercise #1, write a three-story thesis statement in response to that text. 
• Is it easy for you to identify thesis statements in other texts? Why or why not?
• What methods do you use to identify/locate thesis statements?
• In the past, how have you felt when you needed to write a thesis statement?
• How did you feel about writing your own thesis statements in Exercise #2?
• Which thesis statement writing strategies were the most beneficial to you? Why?
• What challenges did you face when you were writing you thesis statement for Exercise #2?

You will be submitting Exercise #2: Write Your Own Thesis Statements within Canvas in our weekly module. 

• The untitled image of the writing supplies by ptra  is licensed under Pixabay . 

Version History

Stating and Using a Thesis

Most pieces of effective writing are unified around one main point. That is, all the subpoints and supporting details are relevant to that point. Generally, after you have read an essay, you can sum up the writer’s main point in a sentence, even if the author has not stated it explicitly. We call this summary statement a thesis .

Explicit Thesis. Often a thesis will be explicit, plainly stated, in the selection itself. In “The Myth of the Latin Woman: I Just Met a Girl Named María” from The Latin Deli (University of Georgia Press, 1993), Judith Ortiz Cofer states her thesis at the end of the first paragraph: “You can leave the Island, master the English language, and travel as far as you can, but if you are a Latina, especially one like me who so obviously belongs to Rita Moreno’s gene pool, the Island travels with you.” This clear statement, strategically placed, helps readers see her point.

Implicit Thesis. Sometimes a thesis is implicit, indirectly suggested rather than directly stated. In “The Niceness Solution,” a selection from Bruce Bawer’s Beyond Queer (Free Press, 1996), Paul Varnell describes an ordinance “banning rude behavior, including rude speech,” passed in Raritan, New Jersey. After discussing a 1580 code of conduct, he identifies four objections to such attempts to limit free speech. He concludes with this sentence: “Sensibly, Raritan Police Chief Joseph Sferro said he would not enforce the new ordinance.” Although Varnell does not state his main point in one concise sentence, readers know that he opposes the Raritan law and any other attempts to legislate “niceness.”

The purpose of most academic and workplace writing is to inform, to explain, or to convince. To achieve any of these purposes, you must make your main point crystal clear. A thesis sentence helps you clarify your idea and stay on track as you write. It also helps your readers see your point and follow your discussion. Sometimes you may want to imply your thesis, but if you state it explicitly, you ensure that readers cannot miss it.

If you select the essays yourself, choose them from Chs. 4–12.

Learning by Doing Identifying Theses

Working in a small group, select and read five essays from this book (or read those your instructor has chosen). Then, individually, write out thesis for each essay. Some thesis statements are stated outright (explicit), but others are indirect (implicit). Compare and contrast thesis statements you identified with those your classmates found. How do you account for differences? Try to agree on a thesis statement for each essay.

How to Discover a Working Thesis

In Chs. 4–12, look for specific advice under headings that mention a thesis and for thesis Checklists. Also, watch for the red labels that identify thesis examples.

It’s rare for a writer to develop a perfect thesis statement early in the writing process and then to write an effective essay that fits it exactly. What you should aim for is a working thesi s—a statement that can guide you but that you will ultimately refine. Ideas for a working thesis are probably all around you.

Your topic identifies the area you want to explore. To convert a topic to a thesis, you need to add your own slant, attitude, or point. A useful thesis contains not only the key words that identify your topic but also the point you want to make or the attitude you intend to express.

Topic + Slant or Attitude or Point = Working Thesis

Suppose you want to identify and write about a specific societal change.

Now you experiment, testing ideas to make the topic your own.

Although your trial sentence emphasizes change, it’s still circular, repeating rather than advancing a workable point. It doesn’t say anything new about ol d- fashioned formal courtesy; it simply defines ol d- fashioned . You still need to state your own slant—maybe why things have changed.

For advice about revising a thesis, see R e- viewing and Revising in Ch. 23.

With this working thesis, you could focus on how changing societal attitudes toward gender roles have caused changes in courtesy. Later, when you revise, you may refine your thesis further—perhaps restricting it to courtesy toward the elderly, toward women, or, despite stereotypes, toward men. The chart under "How to State a Thesis" suggests ways to develop a working thesis.

Once you have a working thesis, be sure its point accomplishes the purpose of your assignment. Suppose your assignment asks you to compare and contrast two local newspapers’ coverage of a Senate election. Ask yourself what the point of that comparison and contrast is. Simply noting a difference won’t be enough to satisfy most readers.

Learning by Doing Discovering a Thesis

Write a sentence, a working thesis, that unifies each of the following groups of details. Then compare and contrast your theses with those of your classmates. What other information would you need to write a good paper on each topic? How might thesis statement change as you write the paper?

Recycling reduces waste and saves space in landfills.

Recycling reduces air and water pollution.

Recycling reduces our impact on forests, wetlands, and other homes for wildlife.

Manufacturing with recycled material saves energy.

Recycling programs create jobs.

Voter turnout among 1 8- to 2 5- yea r- olds is relatively low.

Because of this low turnout, young people’s interests may be underrepresented.

Voting, and other political involvement, can make a difference.

Young people who vote for civic leaders can help make sure that government truly represents their interests.

Young people who vote on policy issues can help shape a better future for themselves and others.

How to State a Thesis

Once you have a notion of a topic and main point, use these pointers to state or improve a thesis to guide your planning and drafting.

State thesis sentence exactly. Replace vague or general wording with concise, detailed, and dow n- t o- earth language.

Are you going to deal with all chemical wastes, throughout all of history, all over the world? Will you list all the troubles they can cause?

For an argument, you need to take a stand on a debatable issue that would allow others to take different positions. State yours exactly.

State just one central idea in thesis sentence. If your paper is to focus on one point, your thesis should state only one main idea.

State your thesis positively. You can usually find evidence to support a positive statement, but you’d have to rule out every possible exception in order to prove a negative one. Negative statements also may sound halfhearted and seem to lead nowhere.

Presenting the topic positively as a “challenge” might lead to a paper about an exciting quest. Besides, to show that researchers are working on the problem would be relatively easy, given an hour of online research.

Limit your thesis to a statement that you can demonstrate. A workable thesis is limited so that you can support it with sufficient convincing evidence. It should stake out just the territory that you can cover thoroughly within the length assigned and the time available, and no more. The shorter the essay, the less development your thesis should promise or require. Likewise, the longer the essay, the more development and complexity your thesis should suggest.

The first thesis above could inform a whole encyclopedia of music; the second would require that you explain why that symphony is your favorite, contrasting it with all the other musical compositions you know. The following thesis sounds far more workable for a brief essay.

Unlike a vague statement or a broad, unrestricted claim, a limited thesis narrows and refines a topic, restricting your essay to a reasonable scope.

For more on revising a thesis, see R e- viewing and Revising in Ch. 23.

If the suggestions in this chapter have helped you draft a working thesis—even an awkward or feeble one—you’ll find plenty of advice about improving it in the next few pages and more later about revising it. But what if you’re freezing up because your thesis simply won’t take shape? First, relax. Your thesis will emerge later on—as your thinking matures and you figure out your paper’s true direction, as peer readers spot the idea in your paper you’re too close to see, as you talk with your instructor and suddenly grasp how to take your paper where you want it to go. In the meantime, plan and write so that you create a rich environment that will encourage your thesis to emerge.

Learning by Doing Examining Thesis Statements

You have been assigned an essay of one thousand words (approximately four doubl e- spaced pages). Review the following thesis statements:

Violence in television shows or movies can be harmful to children.

Students have developed a variety of techniques to conceal inadequate study from their instructors.

I don’t know how to cook.

Volunteering at a women’s shelter gave me an inside look at the consequences of domestic abuse, and I learned how to incorporate volunteer work into my busy schedule.

Trophy hunting of animals should be outlawed.

No war is a just war.

The government’s “war on drugs” is a failure.

With your classmates, discuss each thesis statement and answer the following questions:

Is thesis stated clearly?

Does thesis state just one idea?

Is thesis stated positively?

Is thesis sufficiently limited for an essay of this size?

Is thesis too broad or too narrow?

Is thesis debatable?

How might thesis be improved?

How to Improve a Thesis

Simply knowing what a solid working thesis should do may not help you improve your thesis. Whether yours is a first effort or a refined version, turn to the Take Action chart to help you figure out how to improve your thesis. Skim down the lef t- hand column to identify questions you might ask about your working thesis. When you answer a question with “Yes” or “Maybe,” move straight across to Locate Specifics for that question. Use the activities there to pinpoint gaps, problems, or weaknesses. Then move across to Take Action. Use the advice that suits your problem as you revise.

Take Action Building a Stronger Thesis

Ask each question listed in the lef t- hand column of the chart to consider whether your draft might need work on that issue. If so, follow the ASK—LOCATE SPECIFICS—TAKE ACTION sequence to revise.

How to Use a Thesis to Organize

For more on using a thesis to develop an outline, see Organizing Your Ideas .

Often a good, clear thesis will suggest an organization for your ideas.

Just putting your working thesis into words can help organize you and keep you on track. A clear thesis can guide you as you select details and connect sections of the essay.

For more on key terms in college assignments, see A Process of Critical Thinking in Ch. 3 and Learning from Another Writer: Essay Exam in Ch. 16.

In addition, your thesis can prepare your readers for the pattern of development or sequence of ideas that you plan to present. As a writer, you look for key words (such as compare, propose, or evaluate ) when you size up an assignment. Such words alert you to what’s expected. When you write or revise your thesis, you can use such terms or their equivalents (such as benefit or consequence instead of effect ) to preview for readers the likely direction of your paper. Then they, too, will know what to expect.

As you write, however, you don’t have to cling to a thesis for dear life. If further investigation changes your thinking, you can change your thesis.

You can restate a thesis any time: as you write, revise, or revise again.

Learning by Doing Using a Thesis to Preview

Each of the following thesis statements is from a student paper in a different field. With your classmates, consider how each one previews the essay to come and how you would expect the essay to be organized into sections.

Although the intent of inclusion is to provide the best care for all children by treating both specia l- and genera l- education students equally, some people in the field believe that the full inclusion of disabled children in mainstream classrooms may not be in the best interest of either type of student. (From “Is Inclusion the Answer?” by Sarah E. Goers)

With ancient Asian roots and contemporary European influences, the Japanese language has continued to change and to reflect cultural change as well. (From “Japanese: Linguistic Diversity” by Stephanie Hawkins)

Manifest destiny was an expression by leaders and politicians in the 1840s to clarify continental extension and expansion and in a sense revitalize the mission and national destiny for Americans. (From ethnic studies examination answer by Angela Mendy)

By comparing the Aeneid with Troilus and Criseyde , one can easily see the effects of the code of courtly love on literature. (From “The Effect of the Code of Courtly Love: A Comparison of Virgil’s Aeneid and Chaucer’s Troilus and Criseyde ” by Cindy Keeler)

The effects of pollutants on the endangered Least Tern entering the Upper Newport Bay should be quantified so that necessary action can be taken to further protect and encourage the species. (From “Contaminant Residues in Least Tern [ Sterna antillarum ] Eggs Nesting in Upper Newport Bay” by Susanna Olsen)

Free Thesis Statement Finder

Take your academic writing to the next level with our unique thesis statement builder. Complete the form below and get the claim statement in a flash.

Result for thesis statement

Even though some studies show that school uniform’s adoption improves students’ performance, school uniform should not be adopted at schools because it limits students’ individuality, it is a burden for low-income families, and it restricts students’ physical activity.

Whereas some studies show that school uniform’s adoption improves students’ performance, school uniform should not be adopted at schools given that it limits students’ individuality, it is a burden for low-income families, and it restricts students’ physical activity.

How does a Thesis Statement Finder Work?

If you’re looking for a realiable and easy-to-use thesis creator—you’ve found it! Just follow these simple steps to get the perfect thesis statement for your paper:

Who Is this Thesis Statement Finder for?

You may use the thesis statement creator literally for any type of text: academic articles, essays, analytical reports, or research. Customize your ideas within a click!

Use our thesis statement maker for any essay type. It is free to use and can add the perfect value to your essay, research paper, or even thesis.

Writers and Journalists

Need to make a powerful article within a short time? Create a thesis statement in several clicks with the help of our online thesis maker. It will be helpful for blog writers, journalists, and everyone who creates meaningful content.

Researchers

Stuck while working on a research paper? Try our thesis writer. It will provide you with a perfect thesis statement for your article, regardless of the topic or genre.

Why Use Our Thesis Writer for an Essay?

You may find lots of free thesis statement generators online. But are they truthworthy? For an A+ paper, you need a tool that you can trust.

You don’t need to register or download any software—only complete the form above to get a thesis sentence.

Easy Access

No matter what device you use, our thesis statement generator will work hassle-free on any device.

Instant Results

Fill out the form above, and our AI-powered will generate a strong thesis statement in less than a minute.

100% Plagiarism-Free

Using our claim statement generator, you can be sure that you will get a completely unique text.

Thesis Statement Finder: The Benefits

Creating a thesis statement is often a hassle for students. You need to analyze a lot of data and conduct brainstorming to come up with workable ideas. Thus, it's always better to resort to automatic thesis generators like ours. Use this free and convenient tool whenever you need a thesis statement, as it can save you time and effort.

• Our app generates thesis statements for different essay types.
• Even newbies will find the tool user-friendly and simple.
• You can look at thesis statement examples while working with the tool.
• It's universally accessible through a browser – no downloads are needed.
• No registration or payment is required. The instrument is 100% free.

As you can see, it's a killer combo of free, convenient use and universal accessibility, a rare find for students and researchers. With this secret weapon, you won't ever ponder how to write a thesis anymore.

Steps to Find a Thesis Statement

To locate a thesis statement in an already written work, you'll typically need to go to the end of the introduction. A rule of thumb is to place a thesis as the final sentence of the first paragraph, which is a natural transition from a context-setting intro to the subject matter.

But why is it so important to locate a thesis, you might ask? This single sentence plays a big role in any academic work. Its functions are:

• Communicating the main idea of the paper. Whether you're writing a small essay or a lengthy dissertation, a thesis statement will wrap up the central message in a clear, readable manner.

Example: School uniform should be banned because it deprives students of diversity and fails to address students' socio-economic disparities.

• Limiting the content's scope. By looking at the thesis statement, you can get an idea of exactly what the text will be about. Let's analyze the thesis statement provided above. We'll see that the discussion relates to the cons of school uniforms, student diversity, and strategies to address different socio-economic statuses of students.
• Voicing the author's standpoint. The best thesis statement for an argumentative essay should offer a debatable topic. So, here we see a debatable issue – the pros and cons of urging students to wear a uniform.
• Laying out the evidential support for the author's standpoint. It's vital to outline the main arguments you'll use to argue your stand on the chosen subject. In the example we're analyzing, the subject is school uniforms, and the arguments cover the infringement on student diversity right and ineffectively addressing socio-economic differences.

Locating Explicit and Implicit Thesis Statements

Practice shows that sometimes you will need to go at length to locate a thesis statement. Some authors don't state their intention boldly, implying their central message instead. This type of thesis statement is called implicit, unlike the traditional, explicit thesis statement type.

• Explicit thesis statements are easy to find. They're directly formulated and located at the end of the introduction.
• Implicit thesis statements are harder to locate. But you can spot the main idea by reading the whole text, extracting its theme, and synthesizing the main idea from topic sentences.

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9.2: Locating and Evaluating Thesis Statements

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The following video offers a definition of thesis statements, and guidance for finding thesis statements as you read.

Pay attention to the difference between explicit thesis statements and implicit (or implied ) thesis statements .

(This video was made for a specific class, so it will make references to assignments that won’t apply to you. You can also stop watching at 6:00, since the video then proceeds to writing thesis statements, which is not our focus at the moment.)

A YouTube element has been excluded from this version of the text. You can view it online here: http://pb.libretexts.org/ec1/?p=98

• Video: Locating and Evaluating Thesis Statements. Provided by : Lumen Learning. License : CC BY: Attribution
• Locating, Evaluating, & Writing Thesis Statements. Authored by : H Ortiz. Located at : https://youtu.be/8a0T_ySxda8 . License : All Rights Reserved . License Terms : Standard YouTube License

Video: Explicit Versus Implicit Thesis Statements

The following video defines the key terms explicit and implicit, as they relate to thesis statements and other ideas present in what you read.  It also introduces the excellent idea of the reading voice and the thinking voice that strong readers use as they work through a text.

To help keep you on your toes, the author of this video challenges you to find her spelling mistake in one of her cards along the way!

According to author Pavel Zemliansky,

Arguments then, can be explicit and implicit, or implied. Explicit arguments contain noticeable and definable thesis statements and lots of specific proofs. Implicit arguments, on the other hand, work by weaving together facts and narratives, logic and emotion, personal experiences and statistics. Unlike explicit arguments, implicit ones do not have a one-sentence thesis statement. Instead, authors of implicit arguments use evidence of many different kinds in effective and creative ways to build and convey their point of view to their audience. Research is essential for creative effective arguments of both kinds.

Even if what you’re reading is an informative text, rather than an argumentative one, it might still rely on an implicit thesis statement.  It might ask you to piece together the overall purpose of the text based on a series of content along the way.

• Video: Explicit Versus Implicit Thesis Statements. Provided by : Lumen Learning. License : CC BY: Attribution
• Research Writing and Argument. Authored by : Pavel Zemliansky. Provided by : https://learn.saylor.org/mod/page/view.php?id=7163. Project : Methods of Discovery: A Guide to Research Writing. License : CC BY: Attribution
• explicit v implicit. Authored by : Michele Armentrout. Located at : https://youtu.be/eHjRogrFZ28 . License : All Rights Reserved . License Terms : Standard YouTube License

• school Campus Bookshelves
• menu_book Bookshelves
• perm_media Learning Objects
• login Login
• how_to_reg Request Instructor Account
• hub Instructor Commons
• Download Page (PDF)
• Download Full Book (PDF)
• Periodic Table
• Physics Constants
• Scientific Calculator
• Reference & Cite
• Tools expand_more
• Readability

selected template will load here

This action is not available.

9.2: Locating and Evaluating Thesis Statements

• Last updated
• Save as PDF
• Page ID 256952

The following video offers a definition of thesis statements, and guidance for finding thesis statements as you read.

Pay attention to the difference between explicit thesis statements and implicit (or implied ) thesis statements .

(This video was made for a specific class, so it will make references to assignments that won’t apply to you. You can also stop watching at 6:00, since the video then proceeds to writing thesis statements, which is not our focus at the moment.)

A YouTube element has been excluded from this version of the text. You can view it online here: http://pb.libretexts.org/ec1/?p=98

• Video: Locating and Evaluating Thesis Statements. Provided by : Lumen Learning. License : CC BY: Attribution
• Locating, Evaluating, & Writing Thesis Statements. Authored by : H Ortiz. Located at : https://youtu.be/8a0T_ySxda8 . License : All Rights Reserved . License Terms : Standard YouTube License