The thesis statement generally appears at the end of your or .


As you revise your paper, try to phrase your thesis or purpose statement in a precise way so that it matches the content and organization of your paper.


A thesis statement is a sentence that makes an assertion about a topic and predicts how the topic will be developed. It does not simply announce a topic: it says something about the topic.

A thesis statement or purpose statement will emerge as you think and write about a topic. The statement can be restricted or clarified and eventually worked into an introduction.

Example of an expository (explanatory) thesis statement:

A thesis statement makes a promise to the reader about the scope, purpose, and direction of the paper. It summarizes the conclusions that the writer has reached about the topic.

A strong thesis statement is often not created all at once but will rather go through stages of revision. A thesis statement in its early form is called a “working thesis.” While honing and tightening your working thesis, ask yourself these questions:

A thesis statement is generally located near the end of the introduction. Sometimes in a long paper, the thesis will be expressed in several sentences or an entire paragraph.

Effective thesis statements directly and boldly articulate a complex, arguable or surprising argument (or arguments) of your own which will need to develop throughout the essay. They should be intelligent, well thought-out responses to a question or problem your essay will address.


A strong thesis statement should tell the reader:

Argumentative essays ask students to make the case for a particular perspective, or to persuade the reader to agree with the writer’s point of view by the time they reach the essay’s conclusion. In these essays, a thesis statement should be a clear picture of the argument you will make over the course of your essay.

The answer to the question is the thesis statement for the essay.

In a psychology class, your assignment is an essay that analyzes the connection between depression and childhood trauma based on several studies you’ve researched. Your thesis statement might read,

You start out with a thesis statement like this:

Expository essays ask writers to provide an informational breakdown of a topic, educating readers using specific details. It may be hard to understand how a thesis statement is of use in an expository essay because expository writing often does not advance an argument. Even so, a controlling statement near the beginning of the essay that summarizes your point is useful. By communicating clearly what the intention of your writing is, you can ensure that each new piece of information supports the central idea you are building.

You revise your thesis statement to look like this:

In literature, the thesis statement derives from the theme of the story. Remember, the theme is the message the author is sending you, the reader. For example, we might decide that the theme of "Romeo and Juliet" is: "Passions that cannot be controlled, whether those are of hate or love, inevitably lead to some form of self-destruction". We can agree, disagree, or argue both sides of the point. One thesis statement could be: "Shakespeare failed to take into consideration the bad advice and societal pressures that actually led Romeo and Juliet to their terrible fate. Their deaths were really the fault of the nurse, the priest, and Juliet’s parents." You clearly disagree with the theme. Another might be: "Shakespeare's excellent message is exemplified in the hatred of the warring families, the impetuous marriage of the two young lovers, and the hot blood of young men that causes Tybalt and Romeo to commit murder." This thesis agrees with the theme. Or you might even interpret the message as: "Shakespeare was actually using this play as a metaphor to portray the tragic and bloody civil war between Catholics and Protestants during the reign of Elizabeth I." This is obviously a much more complicated thesis statement to support.

An example of a thesis is here:

In a biochemistry class, you’ve been asked to write an essay explaining the impact of bisphenol A on the human body. Your thesis statement might say,