Rules for writing a thesis statement

What is a thesis statement?

A thesis statement is a sentence that summarizes the main points or themes of your essay. Not only does it establish the core of your argument, every point you make in your essay should reinforce it. To write a strong thesis statement, you should know where to put it, what it should include, and how long it should be.

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Follow these rules to create a strong thesis statement.

Know what to include in your thesis statement

Use this checklist as a guide to ensure you write a strong thesis statement right from the beginning. A good thesis statement should:

• Be debatable
• Can be supported
• Makes a clear, specific point
• Make the reader care about your stance
• Answer the essay’s prompt or question
• Not contain a question

Here’s an example of a weak thesis statement:

• Access to clean water is a serious concern that should be considered.

Why is this weak? The above thesis doesn’t contain a persuasive argument or specific, compelling facts.

Here’s an example of a strong thesis statement:

• Improving irrigation, recycling wastewater, and developing better water conservation technologies are essential to providing people around the world with clean water.

Why is this strong? This thesis makes clear, specific points that can be supported with facts.

Use a confident tone

For a powerful thesis statement, write with a confident tone. Especially when writing a persuasive essay or an argumentative essay, confidence goes a long way. Make sure to research your points and back them with supporting facts throughout your essay. Simply “doing your homework” can push you to write with more certainty.

Know where to put your thesis statement

A thesis statement should always go at the end of your introductory paragraph. In this position, the statement captures the audience’s attention and sets the stage for what they can expect in the following paragraphs.

Make your thesis statement the right length

Concise and to the point, effective thesis statements are usually only one sentence long. The length of your thesis may vary depending on the prompt and complexity of your paper. There’s no specific rule as to how many words your thesis statement should be, but 20 to 50 words is a common length.

Use the correct punctuation

Don’t use question marks. A thesis statement should not be raised in the form of a question—so question marks have no place in an effective thesis.

Similarly, while you may be excited about your thesis statement, don’t use exclamation points either. This is standard for most common forms of academic writing as well.

Avoid quotations

While tempting, don’t use a quote as your thesis statement. Unfortunately, one of the rules of thesis writing is that you can’t use quotes in it. Your thesis statement should reflect the points discussed in your paper as well as the stance you are taking, and it’s unlikely you can find a single quote that can do that.

Use a third-person voice

Don’t use phrases like “I think,” “I feel,” or “I believe” in your thesis statement, as using first-person phrases can weaken the impact of your thesis. In general, most academic papers require writing in the third person.

Writing a thesis statement can feel challenging but knowing the seven different rules that go into creating one will make the process easier. Next, explore how you can master the art of essay writing.