In middle school, students are just beginning to learn how to write formal essays. One of the most important parts of an essay is the thesis statement because it tells the reader what the essay is about.
A thesis statement should be a single sentence that states the main argument or claim of the essay. It should be specific and clear, and it should be supported by the evidence in the essay.
What Makes a Good Thesis Statement?
There are a few things that make a good thesis statement. First, it should be arguable. This means that it should not be a fact or an opinion, but rather a claim that can be debated.
Second, a good thesis statement should be specific. It should not be a general statement about a topic, but rather a specific claim about a particular aspect of the topic.
Third, a good thesis statement should be supported by evidence. The evidence in the essay should support the claim made in the thesis statement.
Finally, a good thesis statement should be interesting. It should make the reader want to read the essay to learn more about the topic.
How to Write a Thesis Statement
Writing a thesis statement can be difficult, but there are a few steps that you can follow to make it easier. First, start by brainstorming your topic. What are the main points that you want to make about the topic?
Once you have a few ideas, start to narrow down your focus. What is the specific claim that you want to make about the topic? Once you have a specific claim, you can start to write your thesis statement.
The first step is to write a topic sentence. This sentence should state the main idea of your essay. Once you have a topic sentence, you can start to add details and support to create your thesis statement.
Example Thesis Statements
Here are a few examples of good thesis statements:
“The death penalty is not an effective deterrent to crime.”
“The United States should adopt a single-payer healthcare system.”
“Climate change is the most serious threat facing our planet today.”
These thesis statements are all arguable, specific, supported by evidence, and interesting. They make the reader want to read the essay to learn more about the topic.
Conclusion
A thesis statement is an important part of an essay. It tells the reader what the essay is about and what the main argument is. A good thesis statement should be arguable, specific, supported by evidence, and interesting.
If you are having trouble writing a thesis statement, there are a few steps that you can follow to make it easier. Start by brainstorming your topic and narrowing down your focus. Once you have a specific claim, you can start to write your thesis statement.
