How to Structure a Thesis Sentence a la Shmoop.
Structuring an essay is like structuring a survival hideout in the middle of a zombie outbreak.
It needs to be strong from top to bottom.
The most important part of your essay is... something like the barricade of a survival shelter.
It should be super strong, but flexible enough to let the good guys in and out.
Your reader... i.e. your teacher... is the good guy.
If your thesis statement is weak, your readers won't be that good to you anymore.
They will eat you alive.
So how do you structure a super thesis statement?
If you've been given an essay topic, the easiest way to write your thesis is simply
to reword the topic.
If your topic is "Write an essay about how re-programming a roadside alert sign to warn
the population about a zombie invasion affects driving habits"...
...you can restructure the topic into your thesis.
A good way to do this is to make a definitive statement about it. Are you pro or con?
Either way, take a stand... just like you would against the zombies.
Here's a good one: "Alerting drivers about zombie invasions affects driving habits by
making motorists more cautious of hitchhikers."
This is super specific and it makes strong word choices, especially at the beginning.
In this case, "Alerting" is a strong choice that also alerts the reader that your thesis
statement is incoming.
If your teacher doesn't give you a specific topic, you still need to address the question
you're exploring in your essay. You can start an argument. Draw conclusions
about a subject. Or thoroughly explore one main idea.
Trying to tackle the history of zombie media in a two-to-four page essay... not a good
idea. That essay will devour your brain... and the
brains of any who read it.
To start an argument, you need to make a bold statement.
"Zombies have a reputation of being brain-hungry monsters, but they are cuddly and warm in
actuality. You just have to get to know one." Quite bold.
To draw conclusions about a subject, you still need to make a bold statement.
"The zombie virus seems like a bad thing on the surface, but it will actually work
to bring the world together." Yeah... you may not get everyone on board
with this one either. ...which is a good thing.
Just keep in mind that the best way to write a strong thesis statement is to create an
argument. If people aren't fighting over what you
write, you're not doing it correctly.
So how do you structure a thesis statement?
You can reword your topic.
Make a stand.
Start an argument.
No matter what, make strong word choices.
Oh, and your thesis statement should usually go at the end of your introductory paragraph.
A barricade at the back of your shelter won't do anyone any good.