How To Write A Thesis Statement

For example, a complex thesis statement might focus on the contrast between the popular interpretation of a political event and your own interpretation.

Example of a complex thesis statement:

“Although one is a high-spirited comedy and the other a brutal tragedy, the medieval plays The Nativity and The Crucifixion explore a common theme: the intersection of the human and the divine ”

In this example, the information in the subordinate clause consists of what is already known or self-evident about the plays, whereas the information in the main clause emphasizes what is less obvious, and therefore more interesting about the two plays. Together, the two parts of the sentence make explicit the interesting contradiction that will be examined in the essay.

• Does the thesis show analysis and depth of thought, or is it mainly descriptive?

• Does the thesis present an argument about the material, and is it worded as an argument?

• Is the thesis contestable? (Would someone potentially want to argue with you about it?)

• Is the thesis defensible? (Have you used qualifying expressions such as “primarily” or “for the most part” to make the thesis more defensible?)

• Does the thesis statement take into account the “so what” question?

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