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• Escola Politècnica Superior d'Enginyeria de Manresa
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Study of the aerodynamic behaviour of a Formula 1 front wing following the 2022 technical regulation

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• Escola Politècnica Superior d'Enginyeria de Manresa - Grau en Enginyeria d'Automoció (Pla 2017) [130]

FORMULA 1 RACE CAR PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT BY OPTIMIZATION OF THE AERODYNAMIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE FRONT AND REAR WINGS

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Formula One Racing: Driver vs. Technology

• Stephanie Young

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The Williams Racing team’s two car cars leading Mercedes at the British Grand Prix in 2015. Image from a 2015 issue of F1 Racing .

Wilson Fittipaldi sits on Brazil’s first ever Formula One car. He ran the Fittipaldi Formula One team between 1974 and 1982. Image from the October 24, 1974 issue of Autosport .

View of the track at Circuit of the Americas 2015 in Austin, Texas. Photo courtesy of Circuit of the Americas.

Lotus E22 is a Formula One racing car designed by Lotus to compete in the 2014 Formula One season. Image from a 2014 issue of F1 Racing .

Charles LeClerc and his pit crew (team Ferrari, car number 16). Image courtesy Ferrari S.p.A.

1970s Shell ad in the October 24, 1974 issue of Autosport .

Daniel Ricciardo, driving the number 3 Aston Martin Red Bull Racing RB14 TAG Heuer, makes a pit stop for new tires during the F1 Grand Prix of China in Shanghai. Image courtesy TotalPoster.

Frank Hopper leads the pack in Crossles, circa 1974. Image from the October 24, 1974 issue of Autosport .

The 2017 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix broadcast on television at a home in New Forest, Britain. Photography by Stan Papior.

Fernando Alonso of Spain driving the number 14 McLaren F1 Team MCL33 Renault crashes with Charles Leclerc of Monaco driving the number 16 Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team C37 Ferrari at the start during the Formula One Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on August 26, 2018. Photography by Mark Thompson/Getty Images.

Semi-retired motorsport commentator Murray Walker watching Formula 1 at his home. Photography by Stan Papior.

Amoco advertising they are the superior motor oil for Formula One racing in the October 24, 1974 issue of Autosport .

Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF90 pit stop for front wing change after contact with Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB15. Sunday, July 14, 2019. Photography by Mark Sutton/ Motorsport Images.

Vern Schuppan wins final Rothmans F5000 race. Image from the October 24, 1974 cover of Autosport .

Brehanna Daniels is the first African American woman in a NASCAR Cup Series pit crew. Photography by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images.

Emerson Fittipaldi, winner of the 1974 Formula One World Championship. Image from the October 24, 1974 issue of Autosport .

One of the biggest names in IndyCar and NASCAR, Team Penske took on the world and won when it entered Formula One in the 1970s. Image from a 2015 issue of F1 Racing .

FORMULA ONE AND ARCHITECTURE: On Ingenuity, Engineering, And Processing Environmental Data

By oluwatobiloba ajayi.

Like many of us, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, I developed a quarantine hobby. I am quite unsure as to how I arrived at that side of cable, but one lazy Sunday afternoon, I began watching Formula One . On the TV screen was an inundation of graphically represented statistical information. The bottom right corner showed the track layout, with multicolored dots constituting the relative positions of cars on the track. On the left side of the screen, the drivers were arranged from 1st to 20th position, with their intervals ever-changing by tenths of seconds. 

To put it lightly: I was confused, but I was also completely enamored by a sport that required so much data processing. Graphics revealed the driver's tyre pressure , a percentage I soon learnt was dependent on weather conditions and the heat of the track. Every so often the commentator’s voices would be muted, in their place, a radio check-in revealing the mid-race strategy negotiations between a driver and their primary engineer. All this information felt like a personal gift, this was a sport enriched by the distinctive circumstances of its given environment, and I was being given all the information necessary to understand it. I felt taken care of; and football has never made me feel like that.

In an attempt to cater to American cultural literacy, F1 could be thought of as NASCAR’ s posher, wealthier, and more fashionable sibling. The European-born championship is the top-tier of motor racing, where ten teams and 20 drivers compete to come out on top — earning millions of dollars in the process. Mercedes Benz, Ferrari, and Red Bull; one of these is not like the others, but all of these brands form the holy trinity of teams at the top of the auto racing championship giant that is Formula One (F1). The sport is filthy rich, of course Red Bull wants apiece.

Each team in Formula One produces two identical cars, one for each of their two drivers. The teams compete on a point-based system where the higher up a driver places at the end of the race, the more points they score for themselves, and their team. Simply enough, the driver with the most points wins the driver’s championship, and the team with the most points — based on the performance of both of their driver’s vehicles — wins the constructor’s championship . We might consider each circuit as a site, and the driver akin to the ‘starchitect’: the face of the well-oiled machine.

The secret of Formula One is that what happens on the track is only half the story. The cars are built from scratch in labs during the off-season, and the driver and on-site team are tasked with bringing that engineering to life. F1, like architecture, is an intensely collaborative practice. In architecture this practice can become tied to one figure and likewise in F1, the success of a team is all too often pinned on the driver alone.

The Formula One World Championship was established in 1950, the same year Zaha Hadid was born. Hadid would later be known as one of the most important starchitects of our time, and the same questions of celebrity and authorship that surround the term starchitect would soon be applied to discussions of the role of a Formula One driver. The spirit of F1 is carried by its drivers, and the sheer diversity of the sport’s fans is mirrored by the assortment of drivers in the paddock. There is the charming, ever-grinning Australian “honey badger”, Daniel Ricciardo, the lovable Kimi Raikonnen with his incessant RBF, and the ‘Serena Williams’ of F1, seven-time Formula One champion, Lewis Hamilton. In the world of F1, there is an ever-present question: “Is it the driver or the car?” Who authors the win?

In the cult of personality that forms around starchitects , it is too easy to forget the underpaid, and overworked interns who contribute to the success of their firms. While the importance of teamwork is better nurtured in the culture of F1, the team dynamics in the sport are analogous to questions that have long plagued the discipline of architecture. In contemporary understandings of architecture, one might be inclined to deny Leon Battista Alberti’s proposition that architects must know how to realize the construction of their buildings. While an architect must understand these structural dynamics enough to design a “buildable” building, detailed knowledge of construction techniques is not often thought of as being part of an architect’s job. Similarly, a Formula One driver must understand race conditions and engineering limitations enough to favorably adapt their driving, but they are not expected to detail how an engine operates, or even how a car is optimized to prioritize their survival in a crash. Drivers, like architects, need to know enough to get the job done. But they must also acknowledge that the work is much bigger than their role in it.

Despite the global pandemic, Formula One’s 2020 season reached 13 countries across three continents in a line-up of 18 races. The sport’s reliance on the urban conditions it temporarily occupies makes the culture around F1 uniquely riveting. Like most sports, its participants attempt to occupy space in the most advantageous way, relative to their opponents. F1 takes these spatial dynamics one step further, as a sport that prioritizes the situational richness of each track.

Each track is completely different. Unlike NASCAR, where drivers loop around an oval endlessly, each F1 track has a unique combination of chicanes and straights that mean you never know how a race might unfold. Drivers are tasked with memorizing each of the 14-18 circuit layouts that might be on a calendar, to ensure they know exactly when to break and release, allowing for optimum speeds at each turn. In addition to the driver’s spatial and muscle memory, teams must then adapt their strategies to the unique weather, grip, and topographic conditions that each circuit has to offer.

And still, the site-specificity of the sport extends to its fanfare. The pageantry of each F1 race shifts to accommodate the cultural conditions of each location. The Yas Marina Circuit , in Abu Dhabi, is the only track in the F1 calendar to boast a five-star hotel built directly on the track, designed by New York-based firm, Asymptote Architecture . For the Monaco Grand Prix, billionaires can watch the race from the comfort of their yachts, with hospitality packages selling out months in advance. You’d be right to think of F1 as an ostentatious display of wealth, but not all races match the prestige of these two aforementioned. The Austrian Grand Prix, for example, is incredibly picturesque and pastoral, miles away from the intensity of street circuits such as Monaco or Singapore.

An F1 car is a scientific accomplishment, a formidable feat of engineering, but this work cannot exist in isolation. The mechanical logistics must marry the driver’s skill during the race weekend, and these operations must in turn consider environmental conditions. These facets acting in concert allow for the exquisite motorized choreography of an F1 race. Both F1 and architecture are examples of masterful combinations of engineering, individual ingenuity, and spatial understanding. The architect is in the driver’s seat but must perform amidst site-specific quirks that define freedom of architectural expression. This expression engages a more visceral human experience, trusting that acts of engineering will bring these architectural metaphysics to life. 

Text by Oluwatobiloba Ajayi.

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The Costs and Benefits of Formula One

• First Online: 22 May 2017

Cite this chapter

• Paulo Mourão 2  

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Are there costs in Formula One? One of the most expensive sports in the world (if not the most expensive) seems to mock us simple mortals with terrifying words like ‘costs’, ‘budgets’, or ‘choices’. Focusing on an economic theory of costs, this chapter draws attention to the important role of drivers’ salaries, engine expenses, and long-term average costs in sustaining Formula One teams. In addition to examining the ways in which the concentration of points reflects the concentration of market power, this chapter explores the implications of lower average costs (per point) for a team surviving in the Formula One circus. Towards the end of the chapter, the author explores the open debate on the benefits and costs of an Formula One circuit, according to the various stakeholders and not forgetting the usually neglected party: the venue’s silent local community.

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Traditionally, the most modest teams accommodate modest sponsors. As revealed by various news at the time, HRT received 3 million euros from each driver’s sponsors. At the other extreme, Ferrari received 40 million euros from Santander for sponsoring Alonso.

Check the following four links:

http://www.tsmplug.com/f1/average-cost-of-formula-1-car /.

http://www.f1-country.com/f1cost.html .

http://tsmplay.com/money/costs-of-a-formula-one-car /.

http://raconteur.net/business/how-much-does-an-f1-car-cost .

For an illustration, check the link http://www.formula1-dictionary.net/f1_suppliers.html .

Regarding this important topic of market power, we are going to discuss it further in ’The Oil in the Engines’ and ‘How to Be a Winning Team in Formula One.’

The term ‘correlated’ was intentionally chosen. The truth is that, in sports, we cannot claim that higher output levels cause variable costs (as usually happens in firms).

In order to avoid a more significant and clearly unbalanced ‘race to R&D’ during the racing season, the FIA has tried to limit the technological advances that each supplier of engines can use within each year. This is the rationale behind the management of the attributed number of tokens. For the season of 2016, each one of the suppliers of power units (Ferrari, Honda, Mercedes, and Renault) received thirty-two tokens (i.e. licenses to update the engines). By 1 July, Ferrari had used twenty-nine tokens (and so, this team only kept three still to be used). The Maranello team had spent the twenty-nine tokens in improvements on the turbos, on the efficiency of the transformed energy, and on the changes to certain subcomponents of the engines.

More details on the entry fees are described in Allen ( 2012 ) and Sylt ( 2015 ).

For the record, Frank Williams suggested that in the early 1980s, a team’s budget rounded 2.25 million GBP, increased to 15 million in the 1990s and to 35 million in 1997 (Hotten 2000 , p.157).

This argument will be explored in ’The Oil in the Engines’ and ’How to Be a Winning Team in Formula One’.

This latter example has been suggested by some of this book’s reviewers.

To a certain extent, Formula One brings together many people of different cultures and is a facilitator of exchange. This should help trade patterns to evolve.

A vast literature covers further discussion of the classification of events (local, major, hallmark or mega-events). Two useful references are Muller ( 2015 ) and Daniele ( 2006 ).

http://kut.org/post/what-we-talk-about-when-we-talk-about-economic-impact-cota-edition

For 80% of the tracks, a ticket for the Formula One weekend is equivalent to the monthly minimum wage of the country.

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Thukral, R. (2016). Why India missed an opportunity with F1. Motorsport.com . March 27, 2016. Available through http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/opinion-why-india-missed-an-opportunity-with-f1-682429 /.

Tovey, A. (2014). Formula One’s vast costs are driving small teams to ruin. The Telegraph , November 1/2014.

TSM Play. (2015). Costs of a Formula One car. TSM Play , July 15/2015.

Vasconcelos, L. (2015). Ganha mais que muitos pilotos: Newey acima de todos. Autosport , August 12, 2015. p. 10

Walton, H., Longo, A., & Dawson, P. (2008). A contingent valuation of the 2012 London Olympic Games: a regional perspective. Journal of Sports Economics , 9 (3), 304–317.

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Wright, P. (2001). Formula 1 technology . Troy: Society of Automotive Engineers.

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http://www.crash.net/f1/news/199080/1/f1-2011-driver-salaries-published-but-who-earns-most.html .

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Mourão, P. (2017). The Costs and Benefits of Formula One. In: The Economics of Motorsports. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-60249-7_2

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How to Write a Research Paper on Formula 1

NEWS STORY 03/10/2019

It is known to be one of the greatest shows with a considerable amount of influence over its fans. Now, most students who are taking courses related to sports or any other profession in one way or another must write a research paper. For the student in sports, you may be required to write on formula one racing. This guide gives you recommendable tips on how you can conduct your research and write a quality paper. It always seems hard and daunting, but with the right amount of time and hard work, it will be simple for you.

Start with researching on your topic and look for reliable sources to come up with a suitable thesis. Develop an outline and make a draft of your paper. This will help you in saving time and organizing your work in a manner that will be easy to read. Create more time to ensure that you thoroughly edit your work to achieve a quality paper. This step by step procedure will help you write one of the best research papers in formula one racing.

Do Research on Your Thesis Topic

First, make sure you carefully read your research prompt provided by your lecturer. Understand what is needed of you to accomplish it without going wrong. Underline the keywords in the paper such as contrast, define, discuss, compare, and analyze. This helps in identifying the subject matter and prevents you from delving so much into unrelated topics. Pull out points that relate closely to the topic. Ask for guidance if you do not understand a concept on the topic. There are times when you will not be provided with a specific topic that guides you in writing a quality paper on Formula 1. Try to pick one that will interest you and your readers. Lastly, let it be current.

Look for Reliable Sources

There are multiple sources, both online and in libraries that are related to formula 1 racing. Therefore, start by searching for these sources. From textbooks, articles, scholarly work, and reference materials written by writers that most students buy essay papers from. As you look for these sources, consider the following;

• Identify credible and reliable sources. Make sure they are up to date. Sources from websites, news, scientific research studies, and scholarly articles.

• Evaluate how other writers have approached the subject. Follow up with authoritative sources. Gather enough evidence to support your points.

• You will also need to cite your sources. Organize them and list them according to the specified format given on the task sheet. Use the recommended style. It could be Harvard, MLA, or Chicago.

Narrow Your Research Topic

When you start writing on formula 1 racing, there is a lot to mention in this sport. However, it is important to keep it simple and narrow. As you keep writing, make it more narrow and specific. Pick a subject and stick with it to the end. Avoid being too general; it will be hard for your readers to understand you. Home in on a more specific idea that will be easy for you to explain and cite from credible sources. It will also be easy to defend a specific topic than it is with a general one. You will avoid mixing of ideas more so in the early stages of researching. Regularly read the topic to allow yourself to get back on track.

Drafting Your Research Paper

A quality research paper is mostly defined by its structure. Therefore, make sure that you have a presentable structure that presents your points well. This is the skeleton of your paper. Present your arguments and thesis in the introduction. Let it attract the attention f your readers. Then build the argument around the body of your paper. Set a context if the topic is hard to understand. Have your ideas flow, each separated by paragraphs.

Also, make sure you address a counterargument to strengthen your statement. Also, your conclusion should be a summary of all your points. Sum up the arguments with a broader theme.

Editing Your Research Paper

Most writers make mistakes while writing, and these may have an impact on it. Therefore, make sure you go through it for revision. Check well on the grammar, spelling mistakes, and structure of your formula 1 racing research paper.

In conclusion, this guide is designed to offer you direction on how well you can write your paper . There is more to learn about thesis writing on not just formula one racing but also another subject. Search and read widely for more enlightenment about the same.

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Home / Guides / Writing Guides / Parts of a Paper / How to Write a Strong Thesis Statement

How to Write a Strong Thesis Statement

A thesis can be found in many places—a debate speech, a lawyer’s closing argument, even an advertisement. But the most common place for a thesis statement (and probably why you’re reading this article) is in an essay.

Whether you’re writing an argumentative paper, an informative essay, or a compare/contrast statement, you need a thesis. Without a thesis, your argument falls flat and your information is unfocused. Since a thesis is so important, it’s probably a good idea to look at some tips on how to put together a strong one.

Guide Overview

What is a “thesis statement” anyway.

• 2 categories of thesis statements: informative and persuasive
• 2 styles of thesis statements
• Formula for a strong argumentative thesis
• The qualities of a solid thesis statement (video)

You may have heard of something called a “thesis.” It’s what seniors commonly refer to as their final paper before graduation. That’s not what we’re talking about here. That type of thesis is a long, well-written paper that takes years to piece together.

Instead, we’re talking about a single sentence that ties together the main idea of any argument . In the context of student essays, it’s a statement that summarizes your topic and declares your position on it. This sentence can tell a reader whether your essay is something they want to read.

2 Categories of Thesis Statements: Informative and Persuasive

Just as there are different types of essays, there are different types of thesis statements. The thesis should match the essay.

For example, with an informative essay, you should compose an informative thesis (rather than argumentative). You want to declare your intentions in this essay and guide the reader to the conclusion that you reach.

To make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, you must procure the ingredients, find a knife, and spread the condiments.

This thesis showed the reader the topic (a type of sandwich) and the direction the essay will take (describing how the sandwich is made).

Most other types of essays, whether compare/contrast, argumentative, or narrative, have thesis statements that take a position and argue it. In other words, unless your purpose is simply to inform, your thesis is considered persuasive. A persuasive thesis usually contains an opinion and the reason why your opinion is true.

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are the best type of sandwich because they are versatile, easy to make, and taste good.

In this persuasive thesis statement, you see that I state my opinion (the best type of sandwich), which means I have chosen a stance. Next, I explain that my opinion is correct with several key reasons. This persuasive type of thesis can be used in any essay that contains the writer’s opinion, including, as I mentioned above, compare/contrast essays, narrative essays, and so on.

2 Styles of Thesis Statements

Just as there are two different types of thesis statements (informative and persuasive), there are two basic styles you can use.

The first style uses a list of two or more points . This style of thesis is perfect for a brief essay that contains only two or three body paragraphs. This basic five-paragraph essay is typical of middle and high school assignments.

C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia series is one of the richest works of the 20th century because it offers an escape from reality, teaches readers to have faith even when they don’t understand, and contains a host of vibrant characters.

In the above persuasive thesis, you can see my opinion about Narnia followed by three clear reasons. This thesis is perfect for setting up a tidy five-paragraph essay.

In college, five paragraph essays become few and far between as essay length gets longer. Can you imagine having only five paragraphs in a six-page paper? For a longer essay, you need a thesis statement that is more versatile. Instead of listing two or three distinct points, a thesis can list one overarching point that all body paragraphs tie into.

Good vs. evil is the main theme of Lewis’s Narnia series, as is made clear through the struggles the main characters face in each book.

In this thesis, I have made a claim about the theme in Narnia followed by my reasoning. The broader scope of this thesis allows me to write about each of the series’ seven novels. I am no longer limited in how many body paragraphs I can logically use.

Formula for a Strong Argumentative Thesis

One thing I find that is helpful for students is having a clear template. While students rarely end up with a thesis that follows this exact wording, the following template creates a good starting point:

___________ is true because of ___________, ___________, and ___________.

Conversely, the formula for a thesis with only one point might follow this template:

___________________ is true because of _____________________.

Students usually end up using different terminology than simply “because,” but having a template is always helpful to get the creative juices flowing.

The Qualities of a Solid Thesis Statement

When composing a thesis, you must consider not only the format, but other qualities like length, position in the essay, and how strong the argument is.

Length: A thesis statement can be short or long, depending on how many points it mentions. Typically, however, it is only one concise sentence. It does contain at least two clauses, usually an independent clause (the opinion) and a dependent clause (the reasons). You probably should aim for a single sentence that is at least two lines, or about 30 to 40 words long.

Position: A thesis statement always belongs at the beginning of an essay. This is because it is a sentence that tells the reader what the writer is going to discuss. Teachers will have different preferences for the precise location of the thesis, but a good rule of thumb is in the introduction paragraph, within the last two or three sentences.

Strength: Finally, for a persuasive thesis to be strong, it needs to be arguable. This means that the statement is not obvious, and it is not something that everyone agrees is true.

Example of weak thesis:

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are easy to make because it just takes three ingredients.

Most people would agree that PB&J is one of the easiest sandwiches in the American lunch repertoire.

Example of a stronger thesis:

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are fun to eat because they always slide around.

This is more arguable because there are plenty of folks who might think a PB&J is messy or slimy rather than fun.

Composing a thesis statement does take a bit more thought than many other parts of an essay. However, because a thesis statement can contain an entire argument in just a few words, it is worth taking the extra time to compose this sentence. It can direct your research and your argument so that your essay is tight, focused, and makes readers think.

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The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is a sentence in a paper or essay (in the opening paragraph) that introduces the main topic to the reader. As one of the first things your reader sees, your thesis statement is one of the most important sentences in your entire paper—but also one of the hardest to write! 

In this article, we explain how to write a thesis statement in the best way possible. We look at what to include and the steps to take for writing your own, along with plenty of thesis statement examples to guide you. 

Here’s a tip: Want to make sure your writing shines? Grammarly can check your spelling and save you from grammar and punctuation mistakes. It even proofreads your text, so your work is polished wherever you write.

Your writing, at its best Grammarly helps you communicate confidently Write with Grammarly

Table of contents

What is a thesis statement, how to write a thesis statement: basics, what to include in a thesis statement (with examples), how to write a thesis statement in 3 steps.

The goal of a thesis statement is to let your reader know what your paper or essay is about. It helps your reader understand the greater context and scope of your topic, plus it lets your readers know what to expect from the rest of the work. 

A secondary benefit of a thesis statement is that it makes it easier to search for papers on a particular topic, especially in the realm of academic writing like research papers and thesis papers (which are sometimes known as dissertations when written for doctoral degrees). For example, if you’re writing a paper of your own, you’ll want to look up other papers to use as evidence and sources . You can simply scan the thesis statements of several papers to see which match your topic and could be worthwhile sources to cite. 

Before we get into details, here are the basic steps for how to write a thesis statement: 

• Develop the best topic to cover in your paper
• Phrase your topic as a question-and-answer
• Add some polish

We ’ ll describe each of those steps in more detail below, but we wanted to share a quick guide. Also, we ’ ll provide some thesis statement examples and talk about how to write a thesis statement for different kinds of essays: persuasive, compare-and-contrast, expository, and argumentative essays.

The thesis statement is located at the beginning of a paper, in the opening paragraph, making it an essential way to start an essay . A thesis statement isn’t necessarily the first sentence in an essay; typically you’ll want to hook the reader in an engaging way in the opening sentence before inserting your central idea or argument later in the first paragraph. A thesis statement is often confused with a topic sentence , the first sentence in a paragraph, because they both introduce the central idea of what follows. You can think of thesis statements as the topic sentence of your entire paper.  

Thesis statements are a necessary part of paper and essay writing , but different formats have different rules and best practices. Below, we break down how to write a thesis statement for the most common types of papers. 

How to write a thesis statement for expository and argumentative essays

Expository and argumentative essays are some of the most common types of academic papers. Because they don’t have a formal abstract like research papers, they rely on their thesis statements to provide an overview of what’s discussed. 

Thesis statements for argumentative and expository essays should use strong and decisive language; don’t be wishy-washy or uncertain. You want to take a stand right in the opening so that your readers understand what your paper is trying to show. 

Moreover, thesis statements for these essays should be specific, with some minor details to hint at the rest of the paper. It’s not enough to merely make your point; you also want to provide some basic evidence or background context to paint a full picture. 

If your paper dives into different subtopics or categories, try to fit them into the thesis statement if you can. You don’t have to get into details here, but it’s nice to mention the different sections at the top so that the reader knows what to expect. 

Thesis statement examples

Despite the taboo, insects make an excellent food source and could stem humanity’s looming food shortage, based on both their protein output and the sustainability of farming them. 

The backlash to rock ’n’ roll music in the ’50s by religious groups and traditionalists actually boosted the genre’s popularity instead of diminishing it as intended.

How to write a thesis statement for persuasive essays

Similar to argumentative essays, persuasive essays follow many of the same guidelines for their thesis statements: decisive language, specific details, and mentions of subtopics. 

However, the main difference is that, while the thesis statements for argumentative and expository essays state facts, the thesis statements for persuasive essays state clear opinions . Still, the format is the same, and the opinions are often treated like facts, including conclusive language and citing evidence to support your claims. 

Furthermore, unlike with other essays, it’s appropriate to make emotional connections in a thesis statement in persuasive essays. This can actually be a clever strategy to start your essay off on a more personal, impactful note. 

Advertising should not be allowed in public schools because it’s a distraction from studies and may lead to misguided priorities among the school board, to say nothing of the materialist culture it promotes. 

Exotic pets provide the same love and companionship as conventional pets, so the laws regulating which animals can and cannot be kept as pets should be more relaxed.

How to write a thesis statement for compare-and-contrast essays

Thesis statements for compare-and-contrast essays are tricky because you have at least two topics to touch on instead of just one. The same general guidelines apply (decisive language, details, etc.), but you need to give equal attention to both your topics—otherwise, your essay will seem biased from the start. 

As always, your thesis statement should reflect what’s written in the rest of your essay. If your essay spends more time comparing than contrasting, your thesis statement should focus more on similarities than differences. 

It sometimes helps to give specific examples as well, but keep them simple and brief. Save the finer details for the body of your essay. 

Sean Connery and Daniel Craig are the two most popular actors to portray James Bond, but both have their own distinct and at times contradictory interpretations of the character. 

Now that you know what you’re aiming for, it’s time to sit down and write your own thesis statement. To keep you on track, here are three easy steps to guide you. 

1 Brainstorm the best topic for your essay

You can’t write a thesis statement until you know what your paper is about, so your first step is choosing a topic. 

If the topic is already assigned, great ! That’s all for this step. If not, consider the tips below for choosing the topic that’s best for you:

• Pick a topic that you’re passionate about. Even if you don’t know much about it, it’ll be easier to learn about it while writing if you’re genuinely interested. 
• Narrow down your topic to something specific; otherwise, your paper will be too broad and perhaps too long. Just make sure it’s not too specific, or you won’t have enough to write about. Try to find a happy medium. 
• Check beforehand that there are enough strong, credible sources to use for research. You don’t want to run out of referential material halfway through. 

Once you’ve chosen a topic—and the angle or stance you want to take—then it’s time to put the idea for your thesis sentence into words. 

2 Phrase your topic as a question and then answer it

It’s not always easy to fit your entire thesis into just one sentence, let alone one that’s written clearly and eloquently. Here’s a quick technique to help you get started. 

First, phrase your topic as a question. For example, if you want to write about Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy, ask yourself, “What influences did Gandhi have on society after his death?” 

If you already know the answer, write it down—that’s a good start for your thesis statement. If you don’t know the answer, do some preliminary research to find out; you can certainly use what you discover as evidence and sources in your essay’s body paragraphs . 

3 Add some polish

Chances are, your first attempt at a thesis statement won’t be perfect. To get it to its best, try revising , editing , and adding what’s missing. 

Remember the core traits for thesis statements we mentioned above: decisive language, a happy medium of specific but not too specific details, and mention of subtopics. If you’re struggling to contain everything in a single sentence, feel free to move the secondary information to the following sentence. The thesis statement itself should only have what’s most necessary. 

If you’re in doubt, read your thesis statement to a friend and ask them what they think your paper is about. If they answer correctly, your thesis statement does its job. 

Next comes the hard part—writing the rest! While the bulk of the writing lies ahead, at least you’ve nailed down your central idea. To plot out your supporting argument, follow our advice on essay structure and let your ideas flow. 

Thesis Statements

What this handout is about.

This handout describes what a thesis statement is, how thesis statements work in your writing, and how you can craft or refine one for your draft.

Introduction

Writing in college often takes the form of persuasion—convincing others that you have an interesting, logical point of view on the subject you are studying. Persuasion is a skill you practice regularly in your daily life. You persuade your roommate to clean up, your parents to let you borrow the car, your friend to vote for your favorite candidate or policy. In college, course assignments often ask you to make a persuasive case in writing. You are asked to convince your reader of your point of view. This form of persuasion, often called academic argument, follows a predictable pattern in writing. After a brief introduction of your topic, you state your point of view on the topic directly and often in one sentence. This sentence is the thesis statement, and it serves as a summary of the argument you’ll make in the rest of your paper.

What is a thesis statement?

A thesis statement:

• tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion.
• is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper.
• directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself. The subject, or topic, of an essay might be World War II or Moby Dick; a thesis must then offer a way to understand the war or the novel.
• makes a claim that others might dispute.
• is usually a single sentence near the beginning of your paper (most often, at the end of the first paragraph) that presents your argument to the reader. The rest of the paper, the body of the essay, gathers and organizes evidence that will persuade the reader of the logic of your interpretation.

If your assignment asks you to take a position or develop a claim about a subject, you may need to convey that position or claim in a thesis statement near the beginning of your draft. The assignment may not explicitly state that you need a thesis statement because your instructor may assume you will include one. When in doubt, ask your instructor if the assignment requires a thesis statement. When an assignment asks you to analyze, to interpret, to compare and contrast, to demonstrate cause and effect, or to take a stand on an issue, it is likely that you are being asked to develop a thesis and to support it persuasively. (Check out our handout on understanding assignments for more information.)

How do I create a thesis?

A thesis is the result of a lengthy thinking process. Formulating a thesis is not the first thing you do after reading an essay assignment. Before you develop an argument on any topic, you have to collect and organize evidence, look for possible relationships between known facts (such as surprising contrasts or similarities), and think about the significance of these relationships. Once you do this thinking, you will probably have a “working thesis” that presents a basic or main idea and an argument that you think you can support with evidence. Both the argument and your thesis are likely to need adjustment along the way.

Writers use all kinds of techniques to stimulate their thinking and to help them clarify relationships or comprehend the broader significance of a topic and arrive at a thesis statement. For more ideas on how to get started, see our handout on brainstorming .

How do I know if my thesis is strong?

If there’s time, run it by your instructor or make an appointment at the Writing Center to get some feedback. Even if you do not have time to get advice elsewhere, you can do some thesis evaluation of your own. When reviewing your first draft and its working thesis, ask yourself the following :

• Do I answer the question? Re-reading the question prompt after constructing a working thesis can help you fix an argument that misses the focus of the question. If the prompt isn’t phrased as a question, try to rephrase it. For example, “Discuss the effect of X on Y” can be rephrased as “What is the effect of X on Y?”
• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? If your thesis simply states facts that no one would, or even could, disagree with, it’s possible that you are simply providing a summary, rather than making an argument.
• Is my thesis statement specific enough? Thesis statements that are too vague often do not have a strong argument. If your thesis contains words like “good” or “successful,” see if you could be more specific: why is something “good”; what specifically makes something “successful”?
• Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? If a reader’s first response is likely to  be “So what?” then you need to clarify, to forge a relationship, or to connect to a larger issue.
• Does my essay support my thesis specifically and without wandering? If your thesis and the body of your essay do not seem to go together, one of them has to change. It’s okay to change your working thesis to reflect things you have figured out in the course of writing your paper. Remember, always reassess and revise your writing as necessary.
• Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? If a reader’s first response is “how?” or “why?” your thesis may be too open-ended and lack guidance for the reader. See what you can add to give the reader a better take on your position right from the beginning.

Suppose you are taking a course on contemporary communication, and the instructor hands out the following essay assignment: “Discuss the impact of social media on public awareness.” Looking back at your notes, you might start with this working thesis:

Social media impacts public awareness in both positive and negative ways.

You can use the questions above to help you revise this general statement into a stronger thesis.

• Do I answer the question? You can analyze this if you rephrase “discuss the impact” as “what is the impact?” This way, you can see that you’ve answered the question only very generally with the vague “positive and negative ways.”
• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? Not likely. Only people who maintain that social media has a solely positive or solely negative impact could disagree.
• Is my thesis statement specific enough? No. What are the positive effects? What are the negative effects?
• Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? No. Why are they positive? How are they positive? What are their causes? Why are they negative? How are they negative? What are their causes?
• Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? No. Why should anyone care about the positive and/or negative impact of social media?

After thinking about your answers to these questions, you decide to focus on the one impact you feel strongly about and have strong evidence for:

Because not every voice on social media is reliable, people have become much more critical consumers of information, and thus, more informed voters.

This version is a much stronger thesis! It answers the question, takes a specific position that others can challenge, and it gives a sense of why it matters.

Let’s try another. Suppose your literature professor hands out the following assignment in a class on the American novel: Write an analysis of some aspect of Mark Twain’s novel Huckleberry Finn. “This will be easy,” you think. “I loved Huckleberry Finn!” You grab a pad of paper and write:

Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn is a great American novel.

You begin to analyze your thesis:

• Do I answer the question? No. The prompt asks you to analyze some aspect of the novel. Your working thesis is a statement of general appreciation for the entire novel.

Think about aspects of the novel that are important to its structure or meaning—for example, the role of storytelling, the contrasting scenes between the shore and the river, or the relationships between adults and children. Now you write:

In Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain develops a contrast between life on the river and life on the shore.

• Do I answer the question? Yes!
• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? Not really. This contrast is well-known and accepted.
• Is my thesis statement specific enough? It’s getting there–you have highlighted an important aspect of the novel for investigation. However, it’s still not clear what your analysis will reveal.
• Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? Not yet. Compare scenes from the book and see what you discover. Free write, make lists, jot down Huck’s actions and reactions and anything else that seems interesting.
• Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? What’s the point of this contrast? What does it signify?”

After examining the evidence and considering your own insights, you write:

Through its contrasting river and shore scenes, Twain’s Huckleberry Finn suggests that to find the true expression of American democratic ideals, one must leave “civilized” society and go back to nature.

This final thesis statement presents an interpretation of a literary work based on an analysis of its content. Of course, for the essay itself to be successful, you must now present evidence from the novel that will convince the reader of your interpretation.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Anson, Chris M., and Robert A. Schwegler. 2010. The Longman Handbook for Writers and Readers , 6th ed. New York: Longman.

Lunsford, Andrea A. 2015. The St. Martin’s Handbook , 8th ed. Boston: Bedford/St Martin’s.

Ramage, John D., John C. Bean, and June Johnson. 2018. The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing , 8th ed. New York: Pearson.

Ruszkiewicz, John J., Christy Friend, Daniel Seward, and Maxine Hairston. 2010. The Scott, Foresman Handbook for Writers , 9th ed. Boston: Pearson Education.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Developing a Thesis Statement

Many papers you write require developing a thesis statement. In this section you’ll learn what a thesis statement is and how to write one.

Keep in mind that not all papers require thesis statements . If in doubt, please consult your instructor for assistance.

What is a thesis statement?

A thesis statement . . .

• Makes an argumentative assertion about a topic; it states the conclusions that you have reached about your topic.
• Makes a promise to the reader about the scope, purpose, and direction of your paper.
• Is focused and specific enough to be “proven” within the boundaries of your paper.
• Is generally located near the end of the introduction ; sometimes, in a long paper, the thesis will be expressed in several sentences or in an entire paragraph.
• Identifies the relationships between the pieces of evidence that you are using to support your argument.

Not all papers require thesis statements! Ask your instructor if you’re in doubt whether you need one.

Identify a topic

Your topic is the subject about which you will write. Your assignment may suggest several ways of looking at a topic; or it may name a fairly general concept that you will explore or analyze in your paper.

Consider what your assignment asks you to do

Inform yourself about your topic, focus on one aspect of your topic, ask yourself whether your topic is worthy of your efforts, generate a topic from an assignment.

Below are some possible topics based on sample assignments.

Sample assignment 1

Analyze Spain’s neutrality in World War II.

Identified topic

Franco’s role in the diplomatic relationships between the Allies and the Axis

This topic avoids generalities such as “Spain” and “World War II,” addressing instead on Franco’s role (a specific aspect of “Spain”) and the diplomatic relations between the Allies and Axis (a specific aspect of World War II).

Sample assignment 2

Analyze one of Homer’s epic similes in the Iliad.

The relationship between the portrayal of warfare and the epic simile about Simoisius at 4.547-64.

This topic focuses on a single simile and relates it to a single aspect of the Iliad ( warfare being a major theme in that work).

Developing a Thesis Statement–Additional information

Your assignment may suggest several ways of looking at a topic, or it may name a fairly general concept that you will explore or analyze in your paper. You’ll want to read your assignment carefully, looking for key terms that you can use to focus your topic.

Sample assignment: Analyze Spain’s neutrality in World War II Key terms: analyze, Spain’s neutrality, World War II

After you’ve identified the key words in your topic, the next step is to read about them in several sources, or generate as much information as possible through an analysis of your topic. Obviously, the more material or knowledge you have, the more possibilities will be available for a strong argument. For the sample assignment above, you’ll want to look at books and articles on World War II in general, and Spain’s neutrality in particular.

As you consider your options, you must decide to focus on one aspect of your topic. This means that you cannot include everything you’ve learned about your topic, nor should you go off in several directions. If you end up covering too many different aspects of a topic, your paper will sprawl and be unconvincing in its argument, and it most likely will not fulfull the assignment requirements.

For the sample assignment above, both Spain’s neutrality and World War II are topics far too broad to explore in a paper. You may instead decide to focus on Franco’s role in the diplomatic relationships between the Allies and the Axis , which narrows down what aspects of Spain’s neutrality and World War II you want to discuss, as well as establishes a specific link between those two aspects.

Before you go too far, however, ask yourself whether your topic is worthy of your efforts. Try to avoid topics that already have too much written about them (i.e., “eating disorders and body image among adolescent women”) or that simply are not important (i.e. “why I like ice cream”). These topics may lead to a thesis that is either dry fact or a weird claim that cannot be supported. A good thesis falls somewhere between the two extremes. To arrive at this point, ask yourself what is new, interesting, contestable, or controversial about your topic.

As you work on your thesis, remember to keep the rest of your paper in mind at all times . Sometimes your thesis needs to evolve as you develop new insights, find new evidence, or take a different approach to your topic.

Derive a main point from topic

Once you have a topic, you will have to decide what the main point of your paper will be. This point, the “controlling idea,” becomes the core of your argument (thesis statement) and it is the unifying idea to which you will relate all your sub-theses. You can then turn this “controlling idea” into a purpose statement about what you intend to do in your paper.

Look for patterns in your evidence

Compose a purpose statement.

Consult the examples below for suggestions on how to look for patterns in your evidence and construct a purpose statement.

• Franco first tried to negotiate with the Axis
• Franco turned to the Allies when he couldn’t get some concessions that he wanted from the Axis

Possible conclusion:

Spain’s neutrality in WWII occurred for an entirely personal reason: Franco’s desire to preserve his own (and Spain’s) power.

Purpose statement

This paper will analyze Franco’s diplomacy during World War II to see how it contributed to Spain’s neutrality.

• The simile compares Simoisius to a tree, which is a peaceful, natural image.
• The tree in the simile is chopped down to make wheels for a chariot, which is an object used in warfare.

At first, the simile seems to take the reader away from the world of warfare, but we end up back in that world by the end.

This paper will analyze the way the simile about Simoisius at 4.547-64 moves in and out of the world of warfare.

Derive purpose statement from topic

To find out what your “controlling idea” is, you have to examine and evaluate your evidence . As you consider your evidence, you may notice patterns emerging, data repeated in more than one source, or facts that favor one view more than another. These patterns or data may then lead you to some conclusions about your topic and suggest that you can successfully argue for one idea better than another.

For instance, you might find out that Franco first tried to negotiate with the Axis, but when he couldn’t get some concessions that he wanted from them, he turned to the Allies. As you read more about Franco’s decisions, you may conclude that Spain’s neutrality in WWII occurred for an entirely personal reason: his desire to preserve his own (and Spain’s) power. Based on this conclusion, you can then write a trial thesis statement to help you decide what material belongs in your paper.

Sometimes you won’t be able to find a focus or identify your “spin” or specific argument immediately. Like some writers, you might begin with a purpose statement just to get yourself going. A purpose statement is one or more sentences that announce your topic and indicate the structure of the paper but do not state the conclusions you have drawn . Thus, you might begin with something like this:

• This paper will look at modern language to see if it reflects male dominance or female oppression.
• I plan to analyze anger and derision in offensive language to see if they represent a challenge of society’s authority.

At some point, you can turn a purpose statement into a thesis statement. As you think and write about your topic, you can restrict, clarify, and refine your argument, crafting your thesis statement to reflect your thinking.

As you work on your thesis, remember to keep the rest of your paper in mind at all times. Sometimes your thesis needs to evolve as you develop new insights, find new evidence, or take a different approach to your topic.

Compose a draft thesis statement

If you are writing a paper that will have an argumentative thesis and are having trouble getting started, the techniques in the table below may help you develop a temporary or “working” thesis statement.

Begin with a purpose statement that you will later turn into a thesis statement.

Assignment: Discuss the history of the Reform Party and explain its influence on the 1990 presidential and Congressional election.

Purpose Statement: This paper briefly sketches the history of the grassroots, conservative, Perot-led Reform Party and analyzes how it influenced the economic and social ideologies of the two mainstream parties.

Question-to-Assertion

If your assignment asks a specific question(s), turn the question(s) into an assertion and give reasons why it is true or reasons for your opinion.

Assignment : What do Aylmer and Rappaccini have to be proud of? Why aren’t they satisfied with these things? How does pride, as demonstrated in “The Birthmark” and “Rappaccini’s Daughter,” lead to unexpected problems?

Beginning thesis statement: Alymer and Rappaccinni are proud of their great knowledge; however, they are also very greedy and are driven to use their knowledge to alter some aspect of nature as a test of their ability. Evil results when they try to “play God.”

Write a sentence that summarizes the main idea of the essay you plan to write.

Main idea: The reason some toys succeed in the market is that they appeal to the consumers’ sense of the ridiculous and their basic desire to laugh at themselves.

Make a list of the ideas that you want to include; consider the ideas and try to group them.

• nature = peaceful
• war matériel = violent (competes with 1?)
• need for time and space to mourn the dead
• war is inescapable (competes with 3?)

Use a formula to arrive at a working thesis statement (you will revise this later).

• although most readers of _______ have argued that _______, closer examination shows that _______.
• _______ uses _______ and _____ to prove that ________.
• phenomenon x is a result of the combination of __________, __________, and _________.

What to keep in mind as you draft an initial thesis statement

Beginning statements obtained through the methods illustrated above can serve as a framework for planning or drafting your paper, but remember they’re not yet the specific, argumentative thesis you want for the final version of your paper. In fact, in its first stages, a thesis statement usually is ill-formed or rough and serves only as a planning tool.

As you write, you may discover evidence that does not fit your temporary or “working” thesis. Or you may reach deeper insights about your topic as you do more research, and you will find that your thesis statement has to be more complicated to match the evidence that you want to use.

You must be willing to reject or omit some evidence in order to keep your paper cohesive and your reader focused. Or you may have to revise your thesis to match the evidence and insights that you want to discuss. Read your draft carefully, noting the conclusions you have drawn and the major ideas which support or prove those conclusions. These will be the elements of your final thesis statement.

Sometimes you will not be able to identify these elements in your early drafts, but as you consider how your argument is developing and how your evidence supports your main idea, ask yourself, “ What is the main point that I want to prove/discuss? ” and “ How will I convince the reader that this is true? ” When you can answer these questions, then you can begin to refine the thesis statement.

Refine and polish the thesis statement

To get to your final thesis, you’ll need to refine your draft thesis so that it’s specific and arguable.

• Ask if your draft thesis addresses the assignment
• Question each part of your draft thesis
• Clarify vague phrases and assertions
• Investigate alternatives to your draft thesis

Consult the example below for suggestions on how to refine your draft thesis statement.

Sample Assignment

Choose an activity and define it as a symbol of American culture. Your essay should cause the reader to think critically about the society which produces and enjoys that activity.

• Ask The phenomenon of drive-in facilities is an interesting symbol of american culture, and these facilities demonstrate significant characteristics of our society.This statement does not fulfill the assignment because it does not require the reader to think critically about society.

Drive-ins are an interesting symbol of American culture because they represent Americans’ significant creativity and business ingenuity.

Among the types of drive-in facilities familiar during the twentieth century, drive-in movie theaters best represent American creativity, not merely because they were the forerunner of later drive-ins and drive-throughs, but because of their impact on our culture: they changed our relationship to the automobile, changed the way people experienced movies, and changed movie-going into a family activity.

While drive-in facilities such as those at fast-food establishments, banks, pharmacies, and dry cleaners symbolize America’s economic ingenuity, they also have affected our personal standards.

While drive-in facilities such as those at fast- food restaurants, banks, pharmacies, and dry cleaners symbolize (1) Americans’ business ingenuity, they also have contributed (2) to an increasing homogenization of our culture, (3) a willingness to depersonalize relationships with others, and (4) a tendency to sacrifice quality for convenience.

This statement is now specific and fulfills all parts of the assignment. This version, like any good thesis, is not self-evident; its points, 1-4, will have to be proven with evidence in the body of the paper. The numbers in this statement indicate the order in which the points will be presented. Depending on the length of the paper, there could be one paragraph for each numbered item or there could be blocks of paragraph for even pages for each one.

Complete the final thesis statement

The bottom line.

As you move through the process of crafting a thesis, you’ll need to remember four things:

• Context matters! Think about your course materials and lectures. Try to relate your thesis to the ideas your instructor is discussing.
• As you go through the process described in this section, always keep your assignment in mind . You will be more successful when your thesis (and paper) responds to the assignment than if it argues a semi-related idea.
• Your thesis statement should be precise, focused, and contestable ; it should predict the sub-theses or blocks of information that you will use to prove your argument.
• Make sure that you keep the rest of your paper in mind at all times. Change your thesis as your paper evolves, because you do not want your thesis to promise more than your paper actually delivers.

In the beginning, the thesis statement was a tool to help you sharpen your focus, limit material and establish the paper’s purpose. When your paper is finished, however, the thesis statement becomes a tool for your reader. It tells the reader what you have learned about your topic and what evidence led you to your conclusion. It keeps the reader on track–well able to understand and appreciate your argument.

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• How to Write a Thesis Statement | 4 Steps & Examples

How to Write a Thesis Statement | 4 Steps & Examples

Published on January 11, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on August 15, 2023 by Eoghan Ryan.

A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . It usually comes near the end of your introduction .

Your thesis will look a bit different depending on the type of essay you’re writing. But the thesis statement should always clearly state the main idea you want to get across. Everything else in your essay should relate back to this idea.

You can write your thesis statement by following four simple steps:

• Start with a question
• Write your initial answer
• Develop your answer
• Refine your thesis statement

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Table of contents

What is a thesis statement, placement of the thesis statement, step 1: start with a question, step 2: write your initial answer, step 3: develop your answer, step 4: refine your thesis statement, types of thesis statements, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about thesis statements.

A thesis statement summarizes the central points of your essay. It is a signpost telling the reader what the essay will argue and why.

The best thesis statements are:

• Concise: A good thesis statement is short and sweet—don’t use more words than necessary. State your point clearly and directly in one or two sentences.
• Contentious: Your thesis shouldn’t be a simple statement of fact that everyone already knows. A good thesis statement is a claim that requires further evidence or analysis to back it up.
• Coherent: Everything mentioned in your thesis statement must be supported and explained in the rest of your paper.

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The thesis statement generally appears at the end of your essay introduction or research paper introduction .

The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts and among young people more generally is hotly debated. For many who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its many benefits for education: the internet facilitates easier access to information, exposure to different perspectives, and a flexible learning environment for both students and teachers.

You should come up with an initial thesis, sometimes called a working thesis , early in the writing process . As soon as you’ve decided on your essay topic , you need to work out what you want to say about it—a clear thesis will give your essay direction and structure.

You might already have a question in your assignment, but if not, try to come up with your own. What would you like to find out or decide about your topic?

For example, you might ask:

After some initial research, you can formulate a tentative answer to this question. At this stage it can be simple, and it should guide the research process and writing process .

Now you need to consider why this is your answer and how you will convince your reader to agree with you. As you read more about your topic and begin writing, your answer should get more detailed.

In your essay about the internet and education, the thesis states your position and sketches out the key arguments you’ll use to support it.

The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its many benefits for education because it facilitates easier access to information.

In your essay about braille, the thesis statement summarizes the key historical development that you’ll explain.

The invention of braille in the 19th century transformed the lives of blind people, allowing them to participate more actively in public life.

A strong thesis statement should tell the reader:

• Why you hold this position
• What they’ll learn from your essay
• The key points of your argument or narrative

The final thesis statement doesn’t just state your position, but summarizes your overall argument or the entire topic you’re going to explain. To strengthen a weak thesis statement, it can help to consider the broader context of your topic.

These examples are more specific and show that you’ll explore your topic in depth.

Your thesis statement should match the goals of your essay, which vary depending on the type of essay you’re writing:

• In an argumentative essay , your thesis statement should take a strong position. Your aim in the essay is to convince your reader of this thesis based on evidence and logical reasoning.
• In an expository essay , you’ll aim to explain the facts of a topic or process. Your thesis statement doesn’t have to include a strong opinion in this case, but it should clearly state the central point you want to make, and mention the key elements you’ll explain.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

• Ad hominem fallacy
• Post hoc fallacy
• Appeal to authority fallacy
• False cause fallacy
• Sunk cost fallacy

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A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.

The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:

• It gives your writing direction and focus.
• It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.

Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.

Follow these four steps to come up with a thesis statement :

• Ask a question about your topic .
• Write your initial answer.
• Develop your answer by including reasons.
• Refine your answer, adding more detail and nuance.

The thesis statement should be placed at the end of your essay introduction .

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Tips and Examples for Writing Thesis Statements

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Tips for Writing Your Thesis Statement

1. Determine what kind of paper you are writing:

• An analytical paper breaks down an issue or an idea into its component parts, evaluates the issue or idea, and presents this breakdown and evaluation to the audience.
• An expository (explanatory) paper explains something to the audience.
• An argumentative paper makes a claim about a topic and justifies this claim with specific evidence. The claim could be an opinion, a policy proposal, an evaluation, a cause-and-effect statement, or an interpretation. The goal of the argumentative paper is to convince the audience that the claim is true based on the evidence provided.

If you are writing a text that does not fall under these three categories (e.g., a narrative), a thesis statement somewhere in the first paragraph could still be helpful to your reader.

2. Your thesis statement should be specific—it should cover only what you will discuss in your paper and should be supported with specific evidence.

3. The thesis statement usually appears at the end of the first paragraph of a paper.

4. Your topic may change as you write, so you may need to revise your thesis statement to reflect exactly what you have discussed in the paper.

Thesis Statement Examples

Example of an analytical thesis statement:

The paper that follows should:

• Explain the analysis of the college admission process
• Explain the challenge facing admissions counselors

Example of an expository (explanatory) thesis statement:

• Explain how students spend their time studying, attending class, and socializing with peers

Example of an argumentative thesis statement:

• Present an argument and give evidence to support the claim that students should pursue community projects before entering college