How to write a thesis statement?

You're sitting at your desk all ready to begin writing your essay but you don't know where to start.

It seems like there is so much information about your topic, and to make it worse, you're finding it difficult to decide what is important and what is not.

This is how we all feel at the beginning, however, what can make the essay writing process so much better is making sure we develop a clear thesis statement.

What is a thesis statement, you ask?

In every day speak, a thesis statement is your main argument, the statement that you are going to prove with every one of your paragraphs. It becomes the guiding focus of your entire essay.

For example, let's say you are asked to respond (in an essay format) to the following question:

To what extent is aggressive behaviour the result of nature or nurture?

In response to the above question, you have two major options, you can argue that aggressive behaviour is mostly influenced by nature, or nurture, or you can argue that it is a combination of both. What response you choose will determine the direction of your essay.

Let's say, for arguments sake, that you choose to prove that aggressive behaviour is influenced by nurture and not nature. The first thing you will need to do is respond to the question by stating your opinion. You could do this by simply rewording the question into an answer, such as:

Aggressive behaviour is the product of nurture.

This thesis statement is an argument, as the statement makes an assertion that will need to be proved. However, it could be written in a way that makes it sound not like a rewording of the question (as if the writer really knows what they are talking about), such as:

An analysis of identical twins behaviour reveals that aggressive behaviourial traits are the product of an individuals' upbringing rather than their genetic predisposition.

In this example, the writer has provided a response that sounds like they have researched the data available, and come to an informed position on the topic.

Now, you are probably thinking, what about essay questions that are not singular. What happens when a lecturer asks multiple questions? This is very common, and can cause students frustration because they are not sure where to focus.

For example, let's say that the question...

To what extent is agressive behaviour the result of nature or nurture?

...is accompanied by another question:

Are criminals born or are they victims of circumstance?

This latter question is an extension of the first. What the lecturer is doing is probing the student to investigate the topic further but ultimately the first (former) question is the dominant focus. The student will need to focus on responding to the first question but ensure that they address the second question in their essay outline.

See How to write an essay outline?