Creating Thesis Statements
Most essays are focused on and controlled by a single main idea that the writer wants to communicate to its
readers – a central point to which all generalities and specifics of the essay relate. The main idea, thesis
statement, encompasses the writer’s attitude toward the topic and the purpose in writing. A thesis
statement consists of the following:
• Subject – identifies the author and title of the piece being written about
• Method – identifies the identifies the literary technique or device being written about
• Message – conveys the idea or lesson the author seeks to have the reader consider
In order to create a thesis statement for an imaginary literary essay on the text, follow this template:
In ___________________________________________, ____________________________________
(title of piece)
(author’s name)
employs ______________________________ to reveal _____________________________________.
(method)
(message)
Below is a student example of a thesis statement and reflection on William Stafford’s poem “Traveling
Through the Dark.”
Thesis Statement:
William Stafford in his poem “Traveling Through the Dark” uses symbolism and word choice to convey the
idea that all choices have an end and beginning and that we should make them carefully for they not only
affect us directly but also others indirectly.
Other examples of thesis statements:
Lincoln delayed emancipating any slaves until 1863 because his primary goal was to restore and preserve
the Union, with or without slavery.
If it hopes to win the technological race, the United States must make higher education possible for any
student who qualifies academically.
Strip-mining should be tightly controlled in this region to reduce its pollution of water resources, its
permanent destruction of the land, and its devastating effects on people’s lives.
Although television cannot transmit all the excitement of being in a crowd during a game, its close-ups and
slow-motion replays more than compensate.
Check your thesis statement:
Does it make an assertion about your topic?
Does it convey your purpose, your opinion, and your attitude?
Is it limited to an assertion of only one idea?
Is the assertion specific?
Is the sentence unified in that the parts relate to each other?
Copeland, Matt. Socratic Circles: Fostering Critical and Creative Thinking in Middle and High School. Stenhouse Publishers, 2005.
Fowler, H.R. and Aaron, J.E. The Little Brown Handbook. Scott Foresman and Company, 1989.