A thesis statement is a sentence or two that clearly and concisely summarizes the main point or argument of an essay or research paper. Here are the steps to follow to write a strong thesis statement:
- Choose your topic: Decide on a specific topic that you want to write about. It should be something that you are interested in and that you can research thoroughly. Let’s say you want to write about climate change.
- Research: Conduct research to gather information about your topic. This will help you to develop your thesis statement. You could start by reading articles and books on climate change, exploring the causes and effects of it, and looking at current and past efforts to mitigate it.
- Identify the main idea: Think about what the main idea of your paper is. What are you trying to prove or argue? What is the most important message you want to convey? After researching, you may come to the conclusion that the main idea you want to convey is that climate change is a serious global issue that needs urgent attention.
- Narrow it down: Once you have identified the main idea, try to narrow it down to a specific argument or claim that you can defend in your paper. You could narrow down your main idea to a specific argument, such as: Governments and corporations must take immediate and drastic action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to avoid catastrophic consequences of climate change.
- Make it specific: Your thesis statement should be specific and clear. Avoid vague or general statements that don’t say much. Instead, use concrete language and be as specific as possible. Here’s an example of a specific thesis statement: “The world’s leading governments and corporations must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% within the next decade in order to prevent irreversible damage to our planet’s ecosystems, economies, and societies.”
- Make it arguable: A good thesis statement should be arguable. This means that it should be something that someone could potentially disagree with. Avoid making statements that are too obvious or that everyone would agree with. An example of an arguable thesis statement could be: “While some argue that individual actions such as reducing plastic waste or driving less can help combat climate change, the reality is that systemic change through government policies and corporate accountability is necessary to significantly reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and avert a climate catastrophe.”
- Revise: After drafting your thesis statement, you can revise it to make sure it meets all the criteria. You may want to adjust the language, add more specifics or evidence, or tweak the wording to ensure it’s clear and concise.
Here’s an example of a strong thesis statement:
Topic: The effects of climate change on environmental sustainability
“The urgent need to mitigate the devastating effects of climate change requires immediate and drastic action by governments, corporations, and individuals to significantly reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and transition to sustainable, low-carbon economies.”
This thesis statement is strong for several reasons:
- It is specific: The statement clearly identifies the main issue (climate change) and outlines the actions that need to be taken (reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to sustainable economies).
- It is arguable: While some may argue that the effects of climate change are not as severe as projected, or that the transition to sustainable economies would be too costly, the thesis statement takes a clear stance that immediate and drastic action is needed.
- It is evidence-based: The thesis statement is supported by scientific evidence that shows the devastating effects of climate change on the planet, as well as the feasibility of transitioning to sustainable economies through renewable energy and green technologies.
- It is relevant: The urgency of climate change and the need for action is a relevant and pressing issue that affects every individual and community, making the thesis statement a timely and important contribution to the ongoing discussion on climate change.
Overall, this thesis statement effectively conveys a clear, specific, and evidence-based argument about the urgent need to address climate change, making it a strong statement.