How to Write a Thesis Statement: What Makes a Thesis Statement Weak?

Almost everyone scans the opening lines of an essay for a one- or two-sentence summary of the argument the article is presenting. We do this even if we are not consciously doing so. Therefore, as a writer, you need a thesis statement, whether you’re composing an informational, argumentative, or a compare/contrast essay. Your argument will be weak, and your content will be disorganized without a thesis statement.

The deficiency of technical knowledge is one of the primary reasons learners have trouble with their thesis statements. It can be challenging to understand that the thesis is the most crucial phrase in the overall document. The remainder of the essay comprises arguments that back up this statement. Because of its essence, this article expounds on how to write a thesis statement. Please keep reading and gain vital knowledge and skills on how to write a perfect one.

How to Write the Perfect Thesis Statement

There is a need to understand a thesis statement before diving into the actual action of understanding how to write one. A thesis statement is a principal argument in a paper intended to be supported by logical or emotional reasons.

The entirety of your paper develops out of it; it is the foundation. Therefore, the objective of a thesis-based paper is to state an assertion about the vital subject under discussion and support it with reasoning, analysis, and external substantiation. Below is a guide to help you write the perfect thesis statement for your essay.

Also see: Can a thesis statement be a question? 

1. Select a Topic for Your Paper

Selecting a topic is your first approach. Remember, you can only develop a thesis statement after you comprehend what your paper will be about. You are lucky if the subject to cover in your essay is already assigned. In such a scenario, you can skip his step. However, if your tutor has yet to choose a topic, it should be your first step to select one.

Choose a subject that you are zealous about. If you’re sincerely interested in something, even if you don’t understand much about it, it will be simpler to study it while writing. Then, focus on a single aspect of your theme; else, your essay will be too broad and possibly too complex. Once you’ve selected a topic, you will be one step closer to creating a flawless thesis statement.

2. Research on Your Selected Topic

Research is critical in writing any document. When you conduct adequate research on the topic you select, you will be able to know the angle to focus easily. Then, you can compose a thesis statement that corresponds to that angle.

From researching the topic, you can formulate a research question that will guide you in developing a thesis statement for your paper. Furthermore, you gather material and evidence that you will apply in supporting the thesis statement.

3. Draft Your Thesis Statement

When drafting your thesis statement, there are several issues to consider. They include:

• Begin with a question, then use the response as your thesis.
• Tune your thesis to the kind of paper you are composing. Not all essays are meant to instruct or persuade. You can choose the ideal thesis statement by considering the objectives of your writing.
• Adopt a specific position to make your thesis statement stronger. For you to adequately support your arguments in the paper’s body, you should go into considerable depth about just one subject.
• Make sure your thesis statement is substantial. Don’t think up your thesis and then research it later. Remember, your writing should commence with the thesis statement. Therefore, use a thesis that you can genuinely support with facts.

4. Polish it and Make it Perfect

Likely, your initial thesis statement will be flawed. Try modifying, incorporating what’s lacking, and refining it to make it as good as possible.

If you’re unsure, have a buddy review it and then ask them what they believe your article is going to be about. If they answer the question correctly, you will have accomplished the task. Now, you can proceed to write the rest of your paper.

What Makes a Thesis Statement Strong?

Below are some of the critical qualities of a strong thesis statement.

• Precise and Specific

A compelling thesis statement is specific enough to provide a convincing argument and maintain the issue at hand. It focuses on a particular facet of a broad subject. Furthermore, the thesis statement uses no more words than are essential. Such a statement enables you to confine your work to a feasible subject and will demonstrate what the article will focus on.

Remember, the thesis statement needs to be as specific as possible while also tying together the supporting points and arguments in the paper. The thesis must address every issue in the article because it serves as the foundation for them all.

• It is Factual

Although it cannot be a fact, a strong thesis statement prepares readers for facts and information. It should always be an implied conclusion that calls for support or more information. This evidence is drawn from the literature.

• It is Argumentative

Every thesis statement should have the ability to be argumentative. A strong thesis statement is an argument that readers can agree or disagree with. Therefore, a thesis statement should not be a literal fact because such a statement is impossible to refute and makes it challenging to make a good argument.

• It Encompasses the Whole Essay

A solid thesis statement covers every topic covered in the essay as a whole. The statement should only discuss something explicitly stated in the thesis or at least implied within the paper.

What Makes a Thesis Statement Weak?

A thesis statement is considered weak if it displays the following elements.

• It is too Broad and Vague

A weak thesis statement raises a compelling issue or query without articulating a streamlined argument. As mentioned earlier, a thesis statement should be specific.

The main reason why many papers are unsuccessful is that the writer tries to write about a topic that is too broad for him to discuss appropriately. Therefore, as a writer, focus on a subject that intrigues you, is supported by sources and that you can sufficiently address in the time allotted.

It is not Argumentative

A weak thesis statement mentions bare facts and the apparent truth instead of articulating an argumentative claim. Such a statement is not debatable; building an argument out of it is almost impossible.

It Lacks a Purpose

The objective of the essay should be reflected in the thesis statement. Therefore, the thesis statement should be crafted to meet the essay’s goal: spread awareness, entertain, or convince readers to agree with the article. It is a weak thesis statement if it fails to meet this quality.

Conclusion

As a student, it is vital to understand that a thesis statement is the foundation of any paper. Therefore, learning how to write a thesis statement is necessary. Please utilize the information explained in this article to avoid composing weak and vague thesis statements. All the best!