Developing a Strong Thesis Statement
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Midwestern Writer’s Studio Handout
The thesis statement is the core of an academic paper – the claim you set out to prove.
As such, it’s a crucial piece of the writing process to get right. In this handout, we’ll help you
do that by looking at the answers to four commonly-asked questions: 1) What is a thesis
statement? 2) What makes a thesis statement effective? 3) How do I get from a general paper
topic to a specific thesis? 4) Where in the paper should I place my thesis statement?
Let’s look at them one at a time.
1. What is a thesis statement?
A thesis statement is a specific, arguable claim that you set out to prove in your research paper.
Everything in your paper – your supporting arguments, your evidence and research – should
build a case for your thesis. Here’s an example:
General paper topic: the book of Esther
Thesis statement (a specific, arguable claim about the book of Esther): Although God’s
name is never mentioned in the book of Esther, God’s hand can be seen in the great number
of “coincidences” throughout the story.
2. What makes a thesis statement effective?
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There are four criteria for an effective thesis statement:
A strong thesis statement takes a stand.
Your claim is arguable. That means that not everyone will agree with you, because there is room
for debate and/or differing interpretations of the evidence. However, you should be able to back
up your claim with specific evidence and arguments.
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Author: Jennifer Hearson. Adapted from English Composition I “Developing a Thesis Statement” notes,
“Developing a Strong Thesis Statement for a Research Paper” handout, and “Developing a Strong Thesis
Statement” Workshop, 9/26/19.
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The following guidelines adapted from Indiana University Bloomington, “How to Write a Thesis Statement,”
http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/thesis_statement.shtml/. Examples 1 and 3 from Steven Katz, “How
to Tell a Strong Thesis Statement from a Weak One,” http://www.stevenkatz.com/Research_Project_files/Strong
Thesis.pdf.
Weak thesis: There were some economic and some political causes of the French Revolution.
(The writer is playing it safe – this is general enough that there is no real claim to defend.)
Stronger thesis: Although the lack of competent national leadership contributed to the
French Revolution, the most significant causes were economic.
(The writer is taking a much clearer stand here – one which will need to be defended and
supported with evidence.)
A strong thesis statement justifies discussion.
Your claim is intriguing; it may contradict a commonly-held view or raise a question your reader
hasn’t considered before. The UNC Writing Center calls this the “So what?” test – does your
claim pique a reader’s interest? Will it spark conversation? Or will your audience lack the
interest to read further?
Weak thesis: Solomon was a famous king of Israel.
(This is fairly obvious – no discussion is really necessary. In addition, note that no clear
claim is being made; this is more a statement of fact.)
Stronger thesis: In the eyes of the world, Solomon was a great and successful king – one
whose fame and accomplishments would be celebrated for centuries to come. However,
measured against God’s parameters for monarchs in Deuteronomy 17, Solomon was an
absolute failure as king.
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(Not only does this student take a clear stand, but this claim and its implications for godly
leadership certainly spark interest and debate.)
A strong thesis statement is specific.
A focused and specific claim is more interesting and much easier to support than one that is too
broad or vague.
Weak thesis: World War II had many causes and effects.
(This is extremely vague and is far too much to cover in a single paper.)
Stronger thesis: World War II was an important watershed for African American civil rights
issues.
(This student has “zoomed in” on one particular effect of World War II and made a claim
about it. Not only is this thesis much more interesting, but it will be much easier to
research and defend.)
A strong thesis statement expresses one main idea.
Again, this is a question of focus. Trying to support a complex or multi-part thesis statement is
difficult and will most likely confuse and/or lose your reader.
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Weak thesis statement: Several elements of the biblical story of Joseph demonstrate God’s
sovereignty and also foreshadow the life and work of Christ.
(There are at least two separate claims here which will take the essay in two different
directions.)
Stronger thesis statement: Several elements of the biblical story of Joseph demonstrate
God’s sovereignty.
(The student has chosen just one claim to focus on, which will make the paper significantly
easier to research, organize, and write. The other claim can be set aside as an idea to
explore in another paper on another day.)
Is it worth taking the time to develop a strong, clear thesis statement?
Absolutely. Not only will it make your final research paper much more effective, but it will
make the researching and writing process easier if you have a narrow focus and a specific claim
to prove.
3. How do I get from a general paper topic to a specific thesis?
Ask a question about the topic, and then look for an answer.
Example: Jesus’ claim to be the Good Shepherd (John 10): Was Jesus just using a
metaphor that the people of His day would understand? Or is there a connection to
Ezekiel 34 (in which God rebukes Israel’s religious leaders as bad shepherds and states
that He Himself will be “the Good Shepherd” of His people)? If there is a connection
between the two passages, what are its theological implications?
That’s an intriguing question! The answer you find (looking first at both biblical texts
and their contexts and then at academic commentaries) would be your thesis statement.
Identify an issue related to the topic that sparks debate. Do some research,
and then decide which position you support, based on the evidence you find.
This approach works well with tough ethical questions, theological issues, or
difficult passages that are debated among believers/evangelical scholars.
Example: Paul’s description of his struggles in Romans 7:13-26: Is Paul describing his
situation before he became a believer? Or is he describing his situation as a believer?
Scholars disagree.
After looking at the passage and its context in detail, and then at academic
commentaries representing both positions, decide which position the textual evidence
seems to support more clearly. That will be your thesis.
Make sure that your thesis statement meets all four criteria.
Once you have a tentative thesis statement, check it against the four criteria mentioned
above. Does your thesis take a stand? Does it justify discussion? Is it specific? Does it
deal with one main idea? Once you can confidently say that it meets all four, you
should have a promising thesis statement in hand.
4. Where in the paper should I place my thesis statement?
The most common placement is at the end of the introduction.
This allows the introduction to draw readers in, give context on the issue under
discussion, and present the thesis itself. The writer then goes on to make a case for the
thesis with supporting arguments and evidence in the body of the paper.
Occasionally, the thesis is placed in the conclusion of the paper instead.
In certain situations, a student may choose to open the paper with a question, go on to
evaluate the evidence throughout the body of the paper, and build to a thesis in the
conclusion. Note: While this structure can be very effective, it is more challenging to
pull off successfully than the more traditional thesis-first structure above.
Additional resources
http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/thesis-statements/
UNC’s Writing Center provides an insightful and clear discussion of what a thesis statement is, how to
develop a working thesis, and how to refine it into a strong and specific thesis. Excellent examples are
included as well.
https://wts.indiana.edu/writing-guides/how-to-write-a-thesis-statement.html
Indiana University Bloomington's writing help center gives specific guidelines for a strong thesis
statement, and then provides examples of both weak and strong thesis statements.
Kibbe, Michael. From Topic to Thesis: A Guide to Theological Research. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity
Press, 2016.
Using specific examples from his own academic career, Kibbe shows students how to get from a general
paper topic to a specific research question and thesis statement. The book also includes great advice on
what types of sources to use at each stage of the research process.
