Thesis Statement Le 1
THESIS STATEMENT FOR COLLEGE WRITING
A. What is a Thesis Statement?
● General, main ideas, or the central claim of an essay.
● Usually placed at the end of the introduction.
● It guides the reader on what the essay will discuss.
● Answer WH questions (who, what, why, etc)
B. Basic Structure of a Thesis Statement (then we can change based on different types of
essays)
1. Topic → what you are writing about
- Topic is often a noun, noun phrase, V-ing + N.
- Should focus on small scope, not too general
E.g: The enrollment rates of Montgomery College this year ….
Paying tuition fees….
2. Claim / Position → your main point or stance
- Claim: + is your main point or argument in the essay.
+ answers the question: What am I trying to prove or show?
- Position: + is basically your stance on the topic (agree, disagree, support,
oppose, or take a specific angle).
+ feels like your opinion with specific evidence.
3. Reasons / Key Ideas → 2-3 supporting points you will develop in the body
- The main ideas must parallel each other.
+ N, N, and N / Noun phrase, Noun phrase, and Noun phrase
+ V-ing, V-ing, and V-ing / To V, To V, and To V
+ Not only, but also / Either…or…
+…
The knowledge based on personal’s experience
, Thesis Statement Le 2
=> General formula: Thesis = Topic + Claim + 2-3 Reasons/ Ideas/ …
C. Examples by Essay Type
(examples for some essays only. You can practice writing other thesis statements. Good luck!)
1. Argumentative Essay: Structure: Topic + Position + Reasons
E.g: College education should be free because it promotes equal opportunities, reduces
student debt, and strengthens the economy.
2. Expository Essay: Structure: Topic + Main Idea + Aspects to explain
E.g: Social media has transformed communication by changing how people connect, how
news spreads, and how businesses reach customers.
3. Narrative Essay: Structure: Experience/Topic + Lesson/Meaning
E.g: Overcoming my fear of public speaking taught me the importance of preparation,
confidence, and persistence.
4. Compare & Contrast Essay
Structure: Subject A + Subject B + Main similarities/differences (parallel)
p/s: you should choose to write about similarities only or differences only.
you should not mix both similarities and differences.
E.g: While online learning offers flexibility and accessibility, traditional classroom
learning provides stronger social interaction and immediate feedback.
D. Thesis Templates You Can Use
1. Argumentative:
[Topic] should/should not [your stance] because [reason 1], [reason 2], and [reason 3].
2. Expository:
[Topic] can be understood through [aspect 1], [aspect 2], and [aspect 3].
The knowledge based on personal’s experience
THESIS STATEMENT FOR COLLEGE WRITING
A. What is a Thesis Statement?
● General, main ideas, or the central claim of an essay.
● Usually placed at the end of the introduction.
● It guides the reader on what the essay will discuss.
● Answer WH questions (who, what, why, etc)
B. Basic Structure of a Thesis Statement (then we can change based on different types of
essays)
1. Topic → what you are writing about
- Topic is often a noun, noun phrase, V-ing + N.
- Should focus on small scope, not too general
E.g: The enrollment rates of Montgomery College this year ….
Paying tuition fees….
2. Claim / Position → your main point or stance
- Claim: + is your main point or argument in the essay.
+ answers the question: What am I trying to prove or show?
- Position: + is basically your stance on the topic (agree, disagree, support,
oppose, or take a specific angle).
+ feels like your opinion with specific evidence.
3. Reasons / Key Ideas → 2-3 supporting points you will develop in the body
- The main ideas must parallel each other.
+ N, N, and N / Noun phrase, Noun phrase, and Noun phrase
+ V-ing, V-ing, and V-ing / To V, To V, and To V
+ Not only, but also / Either…or…
+…
The knowledge based on personal’s experience
, Thesis Statement Le 2
=> General formula: Thesis = Topic + Claim + 2-3 Reasons/ Ideas/ …
C. Examples by Essay Type
(examples for some essays only. You can practice writing other thesis statements. Good luck!)
1. Argumentative Essay: Structure: Topic + Position + Reasons
E.g: College education should be free because it promotes equal opportunities, reduces
student debt, and strengthens the economy.
2. Expository Essay: Structure: Topic + Main Idea + Aspects to explain
E.g: Social media has transformed communication by changing how people connect, how
news spreads, and how businesses reach customers.
3. Narrative Essay: Structure: Experience/Topic + Lesson/Meaning
E.g: Overcoming my fear of public speaking taught me the importance of preparation,
confidence, and persistence.
4. Compare & Contrast Essay
Structure: Subject A + Subject B + Main similarities/differences (parallel)
p/s: you should choose to write about similarities only or differences only.
you should not mix both similarities and differences.
E.g: While online learning offers flexibility and accessibility, traditional classroom
learning provides stronger social interaction and immediate feedback.
D. Thesis Templates You Can Use
1. Argumentative:
[Topic] should/should not [your stance] because [reason 1], [reason 2], and [reason 3].
2. Expository:
[Topic] can be understood through [aspect 1], [aspect 2], and [aspect 3].
The knowledge based on personal’s experience
