Thesis Statements
Thesis Statement
 It’s a thesis statement, not a thesis question.
 Your thesis statement should be a declarative sentence.
Make a claim.
 Your thesis statement should make a specific claim that
is clearly for or against something.
 A good thesis statement is controversial. Not everyone
should agree with your thesis statement. (Otherwise, why
would you write an argumentative essay supporting it?)
Express your opinion.
 Your thesis statement is your opinion, but don’t refer to
yourself in your thesis statement (or anywhere else in
your essay).
 Do not write “I think…” “I feel...” or “I will argue...”
we
me
I
my
our
Be specific.
 Your thesis statement should not be vague or
ambiguous in any way.
 Your thesis statement should be written in concrete, not
abstract, language. Avoid figurative language like
similes and metaphors.
 Your thesis statement shouldn’t be too broad.
Examples
❌ “During his first week in college, a new student is
impressed by many things.”
Too vague.
✅ “The new college student must adjust to campus life,
course difficulty level, and an increased workload.”
Examples
❌ “When choosing a career, one has to decide what she
wants to be.”
That’s obvious.
✅ “Talking with a counselor is an important first step in
deciding upon a career.”
Examples
❌ “The United States has serious energy problems.”
Too broad.
✅ “People are seriously considering solar energy as a
supplementary source of heat for their homes.”
Examples
❌ “People who cannot get along with others have wrong
attitudes.”
Unclear, not specific.
✅ “Shyness, insecurity and social skills are reasons why
some people have difficulty communicating with others.”
Examples
❌ “Where instructors are concerned, all that glitters is not
gold.”
Ambiguous, figurative language.
✅ “The best scholars are not always the best teachers.”