Where Should a Thesis Statement Be Placed (2024)

FAQs

Where Should a Thesis Statement Be Placed? ›

Your thesis statement belongs at the end of your first paragraph, also known as your introduction. Use it to generate interest in your topic and encourage your audience to continue reading.

A thesis statement is a declarative sentence that asserts the position a paper will be taking. This statement should be both specific and arguable. Generally, the thesis statement will be placed at the end of the first paragraph of your paper.

Generally, the thesis sentence comes at the end of the introduction. In fact, most readers (and professors) will look for it there. However, the thesis sentence may come at a different place, particularly when writing narratives. In narrative writing, the thesis is usually at the end of the paper.

Writing the Conclusion

Restating your thesis is just a short first part of your conclusion.

A good, standard place for your thesis statement is at the end of an introductory paragraph, especially in shorter (5-15 page) essays. Readers are used to finding theses there, so they automatically pay more attention when they read the last sentence of your introduction.

The goal of the argumentative paper is to convince the audience that the author's claim is true. A thesis statement for such a paper could be that “every student should be required to take a gap year after high school to gain some life experience”, or that “vaccines should be mandatory”.

Example thesis statement It is easy to demonstrate that pets help humans in many ways. School uniforms should be required for three reasons. College students should be encouraged to pursue a career in science because of the large number of job options and the higher salaries.

For these, we recommend using one of the following sentence starters to write your thesis with: In this essay, I will … [Subject] is interesting/relevant/my favorite because … Through my research, I learned that …

Avoids vague words such as "good," "interesting," "a serious problem," "in many ways," etc. NOTE: A thesis statement should not be a well-known fact (Ex. Bats are nocturnal mammals.).

The thesis statement should be the last sentence (or two) of the introduction paragraph. Have wording like: “In this paper I will write about” or “I will focus on” be specific but do not spell out the obvious. (Remember to be interesting to the reader!)

How to make a good thesis statement? ›

Yes, it can - but it's very hard to do well. In my own professional writing, I aim mightily to state the thesis by the end of the second paragraph (if it's something short) and by the bottom of the first page (if I'm writing a book). That doesn't always work!

A thesis statement tells a reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion. Such a statement is also called an “argument,” a “main idea,” or a “controlling idea.” A standard place for your thesis is at the end of the introductory paragraph.

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.

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.

An abstract is a 150- to 250-word paragraph that provides readers with a quick overview of your essay or report and its organization. It should express your thesis (or central idea) and your key points; it should also suggest any implications or applications of the research you discuss in the paper.