Page 62 - English Grammar and Composition-Student Textbook short

Study Section 17: Thesis Statements

17.1 Connect

A thesis statement is the most important element of any essay. A thesis
statement controls the content of the essay and tells the reader what the most
important point of the essay will be. It is like a topic sentence, but it controls the
entire course of your argument. A weak thesis statement will most likely mean a
weak paper.

17.2 Qualities of a well-crafted thesis statement:

• A thesis statement should identify a specific purpose, and oftentimes a
specific audience (depending on the type of essay).
• A thesis statement should assert something about the essay.
• A thesis statement should be easily identifiable by a reader and should be
clear and not ambiguous.
• A thesis statement should come toward the end of the introduction.

Example #1:

“In order to succeed in ministry, a pastor must continue to pray and search the scriptures.”

This thesis statement has a specific purpose (success in ministry), an audience (pastors), and the way
this would be accomplished (prayer and searching the scriptures).

Example #2:

“A national registration system for refugees needs to be implemented in order to improve
services for these people.”
This thesis statement also has a purpose (improving services to refugees), and a proposal
for carrying out the purpose (a national registration system). What this thesis does not
address is a specific audience. A thesis statement for an argument essay does not always
address a specific audience since it is written to a broader group of readers with the
attempt to persuade someone to agree with the author’s position.

Remember that a thesis statement is meant to shape the writing of a paper. However, as
the essay is developed, it may be necessary to adjust the thesis statement itself. Until the

61