{"id":8350,"date":"2013-10-29T21:13:34","date_gmt":"2013-10-29T21:13:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/?page_id=8350"},"modified":"2026-03-25T15:20:39","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T20:20:39","slug":"thesis-statements","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/thesis-statements\/","title":{"rendered":"Thesis Statements"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t<div id=\"mmDeferVideoEncompass_TRdFMFesVKo\" style=\"position: relative;\">\n\t\t\t<picture>\n\t\t\t\t<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.webp\" type=\"image\/webp\">\n\t\t\t\t<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.png\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"> \n\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" id=\"videoThumbnailImage_TRdFMFesVKo\" data-source-videoID=\"TRdFMFesVKo\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.png\" alt=\"Thesis Statements Video\" height=\"464\" width=\"825\" class=\"size-full\" data-matomo-title = \"Thesis Statements\">\n\t\t\t<\/picture>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<style>img#videoThumbnailImage_TRdFMFesVKo:hover {cursor:pointer;} img#videoThumbnailImage_TRdFMFesVKo {background-size:contain;background-image:url(\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/935-thesis-statements-1.webp\");}<\/style>\n\t\t\t<script defer>\n\t\t\t  jQuery(\"img#videoThumbnailImage_TRdFMFesVKo\").click(function() {\n\t\t\t\tlet videoId = jQuery(this).attr(\"data-source-videoID\");\n\t\t\t\tlet helpTag = '<div id=\"mmDeferVideoYTMessage_TRdFMFesVKo\" style=\"display: none;position: absolute;top: -24px;width: 100%;text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-style: italic;font-size: small;border-top: 1px solid #fc0;\">Having trouble? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v='+videoId+'\" target=\"_blank\">Click here to watch on YouTube.<\/a><\/span><\/div>';\n\t\t\t\tlet tag = document.createElement(\"iframe\");\n\t\t\t\ttag.id = \"yt\" + videoId;\n\t\t\t\ttag.src = \"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/\" + videoId + \"?autoplay=1&controls=1&wmode=opaque&rel=0&egm=0&iv_load_policy=3&hd=0&enablejsapi=1\";\n\t\t\t\ttag.frameborder = 0;\n\t\t\t\ttag.allow = \"autoplay; fullscreen\";\n\t\t\t\ttag.width = this.width;\n\t\t\t\ttag.height = this.height;\n\t\t\t\ttag.setAttribute(\"data-matomo-title\",\"Thesis Statements\");\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoEncompass_TRdFMFesVKo\").html(tag);\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoEncompass_TRdFMFesVKo\").prepend(helpTag);\n\t\t\t\tsetTimeout(function(){jQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoYTMessage_TRdFMFesVKo\").css(\"display\", \"block\");}, 2000);\n\t\t\t  });\n\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t<\/script>\n\t\t\n<p><script>\nfunction zI4_Function() {\n  var x = document.getElementById(\"zI4\");\n  if (x.style.display === \"none\") {\n    x.style.display = \"block\";\n  } else {\n    x.style.display = \"none\";\n  }\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n<div class=\"moc-toc hide-on-desktop hide-on-tablet\">\n<div><button onclick=\"zI4_Function()\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/toc2.svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"show or hide table of contents\"><\/button><\/p>\n<p>On this page<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<nav id=\"zI4\" style=\"display:none;\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Elements_of_a_Strong_Thesis\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Elements of a Strong Thesis<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Bad_Thesis_Statement_Example_1\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Bad Thesis Statement Example 1<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Good_Thesis_Statement_Example_1\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Good Thesis Statement Example 1<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Bad_Thesis_Statement_Example_2\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Bad Thesis Statement Example 2<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Good_Thesis_Statement_Example_2\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Good Thesis Statement Example 2<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"accordion\"><input id=\"transcript\" type=\"checkbox\" class=\"spoiler_button\" \/><label for=\"transcript\">Transcript<\/label>\n<div class=\"spoiler\" id=\"transcript-spoiler\">\n<p>Hi, and welcome to this video on thesis statements!<\/p>\n<p>A thesis statement is a sentence or two, usually found in the first paragraph of your paper, that briefly explains the <a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/purpose\/\">purpose<\/a> of the text, the argument you will be making, and the evidence you\u2019ll use to support it. Thesis statements are important because they act as an outline for the paper so the reader knows at a glance what the content of the paper will be.<\/p>\n<p>Before you write your thesis, a great deal of research on your potential topic must be done. This will allow you to fine-tune your argument with counter-arguments or evidence to make your thesis stronger.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Elements_of_a_Strong_Thesis\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Elements of a Strong Thesis<\/h2>\n<p>\nLet\u2019s look at the elements of a strong thesis statement.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Answer the prompt\/question<\/strong>. If you are provided with a prompt or question to answer, the thesis should clearly state your answer to that prompt.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Take a position\/makes a statement that challenges an idea<\/strong>. A thesis will have an identifiable perspective on the subject you are writing about. The reader will know your stance on the subject and how you will explain it in greater detail in the paper.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Be clear and specific<\/strong>. Making your thesis a vague blanket statement will cause confusion for the reader. What are you actually writing about? Be specific about what your subject is and make sure your content thereafter follows your thesis.<\/p>\n<p>Here are some examples of good and bad thesis statements:<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Bad_Thesis_Statement_Example_1\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Bad Thesis Statement Example 1<\/h2>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\">Smoking is proven to negatively impact your health.<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nThis thesis is very broad. The writer didn\u2019t mention what they would talk about in regard to smoking. Do they agree? Will they counter this argument? What are the health risks? Why should the reader care about this subject? These are all questions that could make this thesis stronger. Let\u2019s try it again.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Good_Thesis_Statement_Example_1\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Good Thesis Statement Example 1<\/h2>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Because of the health risks associated with smoking and unethical methods for harvesting tobacco, smokers should strive to quit the habit.<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nIn this example thesis, the writer is much more specific. They not only give their stance that smokers should quit smoking but give two reasons why they should quit. <\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s look at another example.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Bad_Thesis_Statement_Example_2\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Bad Thesis Statement Example 2<\/h2>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\">Standardized tests are not useful for students.<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nThis sentence gives a stance, but it doesn\u2019t state what else the writer will say about standardized tests nor does it mention evidence to support their statement that these tests are not useful. This could be a decent temporary thesis you can use until you do more research, but it needs more detail. Let\u2019s see what a strong example looks like.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Good_Thesis_Statement_Example_2\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Good Thesis Statement Example 2<\/h2>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\" style=\"text-align: left;\">Standardized tests should not be the sole factor to determine a student\u2019s ability, because these tests have a history of bias, and using these scores alone can hinder students from potential educational opportunities.<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nThis thesis is very thorough. It not only gives the stance and tells what the paper will be about, but it also gives reasons to support their stance that they will talk about in detail later in the paper.<\/p>\n<p>Thesis statements are the solid foundation writers need to compose clear and detailed academic papers. Doing research and having your argument and <a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/supporting-details\/\">supporting evidence<\/a> planned out can help you fine-tune your thesis into a specific topic your readers can easily follow. <\/p>\n<p>Thanks for watching, and happy studying!<\/p>\n<ul class=\"citelist\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/writingcenter.unc.edu\/tips-and-tools\/thesis-statements\/\"target=\"_blank\">\u201cThesis Statements.\u201d 2019. Unc.edu<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/examples.yourdictionary.com\/thesis-statement-examples.html\"target=\"_blank\">\u201cThesis Statement Examples.\u201d YourDictionary. July 10, 2017.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/owl.purdue.edu\/owl\/general_writing\/the_writing_process\/thesis_statement_tips.html\"target=\"_blank\">\u201cCreating a Thesis Statement, Thesis Statement Tips \/\/ Purdue Writing Lab.\u201d<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"home-buttons\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/writing\/\">Return to Writing Videos<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Return to Writing Videos<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":100039,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-8350","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"page_category-video-pages-for-study-course-sidebar-ad","7":"page_category-writing-videos","8":"page_type-video","9":"subject_matter-english"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8350","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8350"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8350\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":261133,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8350\/revisions\/261133"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/100039"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8350"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}