Answering "What is this essay about and what will it prove?" is the job of a thesis statement, also known as a thesis claim.

If this question isn't answered in the first paragraph (or the first several paragraphs, in the case of a lengthy paper or dissertation), the reader will have no incentive to keep on reading.

Teachers have to read your papers, but they still want to know what they're reading and why. College professors often look for a thesis statement at the beginning of a paper, but as we will see, some essays require a thesis statement towards the end.

Not only can learning when and how to incorporate a thesis statement in your writing help you obtain better scores on papers, but it will also prepare you to write in settings when your audience will not be compensated for their time.

Where Does the Thesis Statement Go?

Thesis statements for academic essays can either go at the beginning (for a deductive essay) or at the endnductive essay).

An inductive essay presents supporting evidence and context before focusing on a central argument, which is often presented towards the end of the paper (thus the term "delayed thesis"). Do not utilize the inductive model unless instructed to do so.

“Academic writing prizes clarity and information offered in an ordered and incremental manner.”

The deductive model is the one most commonly used in academic writing, in which an essay makes a claim and then proceeds to provide evidence to back up that argument.

Academic writing prioritizes clarity and knowledge presented in an organized and gradual manner, in contrast to the nuance, opacity, purposeful misdirection, or other attempts to mislead the reader that may be prized in creative writing.

Weak vs. Strong Thesis Statements

An argument is required in the thesis of nearly all collegiate essays. A thesis statement that is only descriptive or that expresses the author's personal viewpoint is likely to be ineffective. Talk to your teacher if you have doubts about the viability of your argument.

A reasonable person can agree or disagree with a claim made in an argument. Value claims can also originate from one's own unique take on the world or a particular topic.

At other occasions, the claim will be of a more abstract intellectual nature, offering academic proof to alter or contribute to the current state of knowledge on a given subject.

One that lacks a strong, arguable claim is this:

Weak Thesis Statement:

"Many archaic civilizations had clearly defined social classes."

This thesis emphasizes an empirical truth that the student can show by citing instances, making it appropriate for an expository paper or a report; nevertheless, it would be poor for an argumentative essay, as no reasonable person could potentially disagree with it.

Strong Thesis Statement:

"Archaic civilizations with clearly defined social classes produced more successful warriors than those without.”

This more specific thesis statement makes various arguments in an effort to prove a link between social status and victorious warriors.

No matter how well the writer argues their point, there will always be those who disagree with them for valid reasons. It's also possible for the student to rebut the points of their opponents.

To engage in such a philosophical discussion is to demonstrate the value of a well-developed thesis statement in an academic setting.

Thesis statements that make an argument are shown below, along with two additional instances of similar statements.

To show how diverse perspectives may be taken on the same topic, I shifted the emphasis from sociology to archaeology and geography. The portions in italics represent the arguments being made.

“It is a known fact that archaic civilizations with clearly defined social classes often survived longer than those without.

One anomaly is seventh-century XXX. Close analysis of the cultural artifacts of the XXX region reveals that a social system that operates on exploitation, rather than sharing, will always fail. This lack of inclusion actually leads to a society's downfall.”

“Modern-day sociology scholars have argued that class exploitation ensured the success of archaic civilizations. It is my contention, however, that access to food played an equally important role.

Archaic civilizations that had food-growing opportunities and systems survived better than those that did not, regardless of the existence of class exploitation.”

Don't freak out if you're just a freshman and the samples above look more like what you'd write for a dissertation than what your professors demand from you.

You should be aware, however, that regardless of the level of education you seek, you will be required to craft arguments that reach beyond the surface or literal meaning of a topic.

Using the First Person to Enhance Your Thesis Claim

Pronouns like "I" and "you" are rarely used in professional writing. The essay's beginning stands out as an exception, though.

Aside from the hook, instructors often tell students to never use the pronoun "you" and to use the pronouns "I" and "my" just once each.

Inserting just one sentence in the first person at a pivotal point in the introduction may do wonders for the clarity of your argument and the authority of your voice.

Notice that in none of the four instances of thesis statements above did I use any second-person pronouns (such as "you," "your," or "yours"); yet, in the fourth example ("It is my position, however, that..."), I did employ a first-person pronoun.

The juxtaposition of "my" and "yet" in this statement emphasizes the uniqueness of my perspective in comparison to that of the sociologists indicated in the preceding sentence.

“This single use of the first person — inserted at a crucial moment in the introduction — can go a long way toward sharpening your argument.”

The usage of the pronoun "my" alerts the reader that the thesis assertion is about to be presented in the next phrase. The paragraph's final phrase elaborates on this point.

The one-sentence thesis statement that you were probably trained to write isn't always practical for lengthier or more complex research projects.

You can use as many words as you need to make your point, but be careful not to repeat yourself or appear inconsistent.

Do not forget the importance of being clear. The more effort you put into your beginning, the more evident your thesis will be to you and the reader, and the more narrowly you will be able to concentrate the body of your essay.

Organizing Your Introduction and Thesis Statement

An effective beginning not only lays out the groundwork for the essay to come, but also addresses the issue, "How will the essay prove this claim?"

In the same way that giving a map to a motorist on unfamiliar terrain makes the trip more manageable and pleasurable, so too does providing a framework for the reader's understanding of the material you'll be addressing.

Students frequently contribute to the "what" question by answering the "how" question. That is to say, they work on their thesis assertion, which is the backbone of every good college paper.

Let's look again at the third sample thesis statement from earlier:

“It is a known fact that archaic civilizations with clearly defined social classes often survived longer than those without. One anomaly is seventh-century XXX.

Close analysis of the cultural artifacts of the XXX region reveals that a social system that operates on exploitation, rather than sharing, will always fail. This lack of inclusion actually leads to a society's downfall.

Excavated military objects, remnants of tapestries and clay pots, and the poetry of the era all demonstrate the clash between exploitation and sharing, with the former leading to loss and the latter leading to success.”

This last phrase tells the reader that the essay will begin with a discussion of military relics, move on to tapestries and clay artifacts, and end with an examination of literature.

It also makes it clear that the student will be relying on artifacts to back up the argument that they have made, namely, that members of this culture consider sharing to be advantageous and exploiting or excluding others to be detrimental.

“The sequence of the topics listed in the introduction should match how they’re laid out in the body of the essay.”

The learner should check the introduction to make sure that literary analysis is presented first if that is where they choose to begin their investigation.

The order in which you provide your arguments in the essay's body should correspond to the order in which you present them in the introduction.

This structure ensures that the student will provide three separate pieces of evidence in support of the thesis, making for a very robust and compelling essay.

However, this isn't the only solution to the "how" puzzle. Now, let's go back to the fourth thesis sample we looked at earlier:

“Modern-day sociology scholars have argued that class exploitation ensured the success of archaic civilizations. It is my contention, however, that access to food played an equally important role.

Archaic civilizations that had food-growing opportunities and systems survived better than those that did not, regardless of the existence of class exploitation.”

This thesis's "hows" deconstruct the claim into its constituent elements, comparing and contrasting the evidence of class hierarchy with the evidence of food production to show which was more persuasive.

The opening and thesis statement of your essay might be organized in a number of different ways. The key is that the simpler the rest of the essay is to write and read, the better the opening must be.