Thesis Statements

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Almost every college paper you write will have a thesis statement, which communicates the main point or purpose of the paper. Regardless of the topic, your thesis needs to be supported. 

What are some functions of a thesis statement?

• To make a claim (argument)
• To present an issue
• To explore a research topic

Why is a thesis statement important for your readers?

• Establishes your topic
• Presents your argument
• Gives some idea of the structure of your paper
• Highlights the importance of your paper

How does a thesis statement help you as a writer?

• Provides you with a road map to follow when organizing your paper
• Gives you a tool to critically evaluate your content. If it supports or offers an important counterargument to your thesis, it’s in. If not, it’s out.

Examples of thesis statements:

1. Utilizing the services of the TTU writing center leads to better student outcomes, including retention, engagement, and positive learning. 
   
   Note that this is an argument which can be defended or disputed.
2. Student life at TTU includes a variety of activities designed to promote student growth, such as arts, athletics, and cultural awareness. 
   
   Although this is less of an argument and more of a description, it still serves as the focus of the paper. Each section or paragraph would focus on one of those activities.

Tips for writing a thesis statement:

• Ask yourself what you want your paper to do – persuade, explain, analyze? Your thesis is the sentence that tells your reader what you’re going to do. 
• By listing the subtopics of the paper in the thesis, you can outline the organization of the rest of the paper for your reader. 
• If you’re making an argument, your reader should be able to point to that argument in the thesis. The rest of the paper should support that argument, providing evidence that backs up your argument.