AIW: Lesson - Thesis Statements

Image: a large sign on a building reads "Thesis"Thesis Statements

What is a Thesis Statement?

In the previous lesson, you learned about four important elements of argument: claims, reasons, supporting evidence, and warrants. However, there is one important part of argumentation that encompasses all of these: the thesis statement.

What exactly is a thesis statement? Simply put, a thesis statement is the main claim that you make in an argument. It is an assertion that must be defended. Think of this visual analogy: if your argument is a dinner table, your thesis statement is the top of the table. The table is supported with legs (your supporting evidence).

Image: Thesis Statement is written on a table. Claims and Supporting Evidence are the legs and support beams.

Guidelines for Thesis Statements

Your thesis statement is incredibly important. In AP English Language and Composition, you will need to craft effective thesis statements to make arguments about a variety of topics and texts; therefore, it is important to know how to write strong thesis statements and where to place them in your essays. Watch the following video to learn more:

Learning Activity

Let's learn more about Thesis Statements.

Review Thesis Statements:

  • The thesis statement will be in your introductory paragraph, typically at the end of your introductory paragraph. It will set the stage for the body paragraphs to follow.
  • The thesis statement is never a question. It is an assertion that must be argued and defended.
  • The thesis statement should not be answered with simply a “yes” or “no.” It invites nuanced discussion and gets at the root of complex ideas at times.
  • The thesis statement is not simply a summary of a text or a statement of fact.

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