A thesis statement is usually a single sentence somewhere in your first paragraph that presents the main argument in your paper. The remainder of your paper will gather and organize your research to persuade the reader that your thesis is correct. Having a well-defined thesis will help you organize your argument and will guide you to the conclusion.
A thesis statement should...
- be revised throughout the paper writing process to reflect the evidence you actually find (not what you expect to find)
- tell your reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion
- be a road map for the paper
- directly answer the question asked of you
- present an argument
Weak Thesis Statement
World hunger has many causes.
While an accurate statement, this topic is way too broad and vague. Hunger around the world has many causes and depends on specific circumstances which are too complicated to cover in one paper. Plus, this statement doesn't give the reader any kind of a roadmap for how the paper will develop.
Strong Thesis Statement
Hunger persists in Unhappyville because jobs are scarce and farming in the infertile soil is rarely profitable.
This is a strong thesis statement because it is more specific and lists specific causes