Mastering the Art of Writing a Strong Thesis Statement: A Step-by-Step Guide (Full Transcript)

Speaker 1: Young Ninja Writer in Training, if you want to become a writing ninja, you must learn how to write a thesis statement. Today I'll share with you the secret formula for writing thesis statements. How to Write a Thesis Statement What is a thesis statement? The thesis statement summarizes your position on the topic of your paper. The thesis acts as a roadmap for your readers. It tells them what the paper is about. It also helps you organize your paper. How long should the thesis statement be? It is usually one to two sentences long. Where should the thesis statement be in the paper? It should be the last sentence of your introduction. How do I write a thesis statement? Use a thesis formula. Claim your position plus reason, evidence, equals thesis statement. First choose the topic of your paper. If your teacher has given you a writing prompt, that will give you the topic of your paper. For example, your writing prompt equals explain why or why not people should study a foreign language. Your topic equals whether people should study foreign languages. Now choose your position, for or against. Repick the affirmative. People should study foreign languages. Your claim equals people should learn foreign languages. Your reason equals the evidence supporting your claim. Why should people study a foreign language? Studying a foreign language is proven to make you smarter. People should study foreign languages, plus reason, because it makes them smarter, equals thesis statement. Make your thesis statement stronger by further developing your evidence. A three-point thesis statement is the strongest kind of thesis statement. A three-point thesis statement has three pieces of evidence supporting the claim. People should study a foreign language because language learning strengthens the memory, enlarges the vocabulary, and builds an appreciation for foreign cultures. Now you know how to write a thesis statement. Don't forget the formula. Claim your position, plus reason, evidence, equals thesis statement.