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  • How to Write a Thesis Statement | 4 Steps & Examples

How to Write a Thesis Statement | 4 Steps & Examples

Published on January 11, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on August 15, 2023 by Eoghan Ryan.

A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . It usually comes near the end of your introduction .

Your thesis will look a bit different depending on the type of essay you’re writing. But the thesis statement should always clearly state the main idea you want to get across. Everything else in your essay should relate back to this idea.

You can write your thesis statement by following four simple steps:

  • Start with a question
  • Write your initial answer
  • Develop your answer
  • Refine your thesis statement

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Table of contents

What is a thesis statement, placement of the thesis statement, step 1: start with a question, step 2: write your initial answer, step 3: develop your answer, step 4: refine your thesis statement, types of thesis statements, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about thesis statements.

A thesis statement summarizes the central points of your essay. It is a signpost telling the reader what the essay will argue and why.

The best thesis statements are:

  • Concise: A good thesis statement is short and sweet—don’t use more words than necessary. State your point clearly and directly in one or two sentences.
  • Contentious: Your thesis shouldn’t be a simple statement of fact that everyone already knows. A good thesis statement is a claim that requires further evidence or analysis to back it up.
  • Coherent: Everything mentioned in your thesis statement must be supported and explained in the rest of your paper.

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what is your thesis in italian

The thesis statement generally appears at the end of your essay introduction or research paper introduction .

The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts and among young people more generally is hotly debated. For many who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its many benefits for education: the internet facilitates easier access to information, exposure to different perspectives, and a flexible learning environment for both students and teachers.

You should come up with an initial thesis, sometimes called a working thesis , early in the writing process . As soon as you’ve decided on your essay topic , you need to work out what you want to say about it—a clear thesis will give your essay direction and structure.

You might already have a question in your assignment, but if not, try to come up with your own. What would you like to find out or decide about your topic?

For example, you might ask:

After some initial research, you can formulate a tentative answer to this question. At this stage it can be simple, and it should guide the research process and writing process .

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Now you need to consider why this is your answer and how you will convince your reader to agree with you. As you read more about your topic and begin writing, your answer should get more detailed.

In your essay about the internet and education, the thesis states your position and sketches out the key arguments you’ll use to support it.

The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its many benefits for education because it facilitates easier access to information.

In your essay about braille, the thesis statement summarizes the key historical development that you’ll explain.

The invention of braille in the 19th century transformed the lives of blind people, allowing them to participate more actively in public life.

A strong thesis statement should tell the reader:

  • Why you hold this position
  • What they’ll learn from your essay
  • The key points of your argument or narrative

The final thesis statement doesn’t just state your position, but summarizes your overall argument or the entire topic you’re going to explain. To strengthen a weak thesis statement, it can help to consider the broader context of your topic.

These examples are more specific and show that you’ll explore your topic in depth.

Your thesis statement should match the goals of your essay, which vary depending on the type of essay you’re writing:

  • In an argumentative essay , your thesis statement should take a strong position. Your aim in the essay is to convince your reader of this thesis based on evidence and logical reasoning.
  • In an expository essay , you’ll aim to explain the facts of a topic or process. Your thesis statement doesn’t have to include a strong opinion in this case, but it should clearly state the central point you want to make, and mention the key elements you’ll explain.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.

The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:

  • It gives your writing direction and focus.
  • It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.

Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.

Follow these four steps to come up with a thesis statement :

  • Ask a question about your topic .
  • Write your initial answer.
  • Develop your answer by including reasons.
  • Refine your answer, adding more detail and nuance.

The thesis statement should be placed at the end of your essay introduction .

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McCombes, S. (2023, August 15). How to Write a Thesis Statement | 4 Steps & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved March 26, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/thesis-statement/

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Dissertations and theses can be an excellent source of bibliographic citations, since they typically include an exhaustive overview of scholarship current at the time of their completion. Advanced researchers exploring the current state of scholarship on their research topic can also benefit from examining the approaches and methodologies adopted by recent dissertators. Finally, graduate students about to embark on their own thesis or dissertation may find it useful to peruse examples of how this special genre of scholarship can be structured and organized.

(For some general guidance on preparing dissertations, please consult this page with tips for thesis and dissertation writers in the Graduate Student Services research guide.)

Databases for Finding Dissertations

  • Dissertations & Theses Global This link opens in a new window Dissertations and Theses Global indexes dissertations and some theses. Full-text is available for many dissertations and theses, including those from NYU.
  • Bibliografia Nazionale Italiana - Tesi di dottorato (Print) This index of dissertations completed at Italian universities covers the years 1987-1993 in the print version.
  • Bibliografia Nazionale Italiana - Tesi di dottorato (Online) The online version of this index of Italian university dissertations begins with the year 2012.
  • Tesionline Online index of tesi di laurea / masters theses.
  • DART-Europe E-Theses Portal Maintained by University College London, this database is the result of a partnership of research libraries and consortia to improve global access to European research theses. It is a searchable database of electronic research theses held in European repositories. The Portal does not store theses, but aims to provide a link to at least one electronic copy of every thesis indexed.

The Center for Research Libraries (CRL) is an international consortium of university, college, and independent research libraries. CRL supports original research and inspired teaching in the humanities, sciences, and social sciences.

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Italian writing styles and examples to write like a native

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Unlock the secrets to writing like a true Italian with our expert tips! From crafting casual WhatsApp messages to penning formal emails and essays, we’ve got you covered. 🇮🇹✍️

  • Read at your level: Dive into Italian books and articles that match your skill set. It’s like finding a comfy pair of shoes; they should fit just right and make you feel confident!
  • Use templates: Got writer’s block? Use what you’ve read as a blueprint. It’s like having a GPS for writing; you’ll never get lost in translation!
  • Keep a diary: Jot down your daily adventures or the mundane. It’s not about being Shakespeare; it’s about getting those Italian words flowing!
  • Formal vs. informal: Writing to your buddy? Keep it chill. Penning a note to your boss? Crank up the formality. Know your audience and adjust your language accordingly.
  • Embrace creative writing: Unleash your inner poet, songwriter, or novelist. Let your imagination run wild across the Italian countryside of words!
  • Email etiquette: When it’s time to be serious, start with a respectful Gentile or Egregio , and sign off with a polished Distinti saluti . It’s like dressing up your words in a suit and tie.
  • Essay essentials: Stick to a structure, pick a solid topic, and back it up with references. It’s like building a house; you need a good foundation, solid walls, and a roof that doesn’t leak!
  • Boost speaking skills: No chatty friends? No problem! An AI tutor can be your gab buddy, helping you polish both your written and spoken Italian. It’s like having a pocket-sized Italian teacher!

My thoughts

Studying Italian for quite some time may urge you to write like a native.

There are many styles for informal and formal writing. But, to write like a true Italian, check out these Italian writing tips.

Language skills

When you’re learning a foreign language, there are four main skills you’ll develop and practice: listening, speaking, reading, and writing .

All four are very important and you have to make sure you work on all of them unless you have a specific reason why you should be focusing more on one rather than the others.

Listening and reading are receptive skills . They refer to the ability to understand and comprehend language .

We develop these skills in a more passive way since we don’t actually produce language but we receive it.

Speaking and writing are productive skills . They refer to the ability to produce language .

When we focus on these two skills, we’re more active since we’re actually producing language.

To improve your productive skills, you have to work on receptive skills. The more you work on receptive skills, the better you’ll be in productive skills.

You can use what you read and listen to as your template or your guide . This way, it’ll be easier to produce language since you would be writing or speaking based on a “sample”, and not out of the blue.

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In this blog post, we’re going to focus on Italian writing . Let’s get started!

Some people say that if you want to write better, you have to read , and this applies to your native language too.

You shouldn’t read books or articles that you consider too difficult. You should read something appropriate for your level , something you understand and feel comfortable reading.

What you could do then is write a text-based on what you just read . Make sure every time you write something you use text as a template .

Finally, we recommend having a personal diary where you write your thoughts. You don’t necessarily have to write deep stuff. You could just write about what you did during the day.

Think this way: it’s better to write something simple and make mistakes than not writing all.

Formal vs. informal language

When we write, we use more formal language than usual, unless we’re writing a WhatsApp message or similar types of texts.

Similarly, spoken language allows informal language much more than written language.

Languages are first of all learned orally . We learn to understand language before we can produce it. Thus, written language is not as natural as spoken language .

Texts are artificial which means we have to learn rules to be able to write “well”.

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Sometimes we associate the idea of writing well with using formal language and avoiding slang words, bad words, shortened words, and spelling mistakes.

When you write, you have to think of the purpose and the target. Once you know this, you can decide whether to use formal or informal.

WhatsApp messages

Let’s start with the least formal type of text: WhatsApp messages.

Obviously, not all WhatsApp messages are informal. If your boss or teacher messages you, you might still want to use formal language . However, if you’re talking to friends , you’ll more likely use informal language .

Spelling mistakes, wrong word choices, or wrong punctuation are generally accepted in WhatsApp messages.

There are also some abbreviations you might find handy, like cmq ( comunque – anyway), grz ( grazie – thanks), qlcs ( qualcosa – something), tvb ( ti voglio bene – love you), and xò ( però – but). They are mainly used by teenagers but if you’re in a hurry you can use them!

Creative writing

The great thing about learning a foreign language is that you can put your skills into practice by being creative . And you can be creative in many ways. In any case, remember it’s always good to have a template before you start writing.

If you’re a fan of poetry, write a poem. It can be a free verse poem , with no rules at all. Or you could write a poem with rhymes and a specific structure .

If you like music, write a song. First, think about what you want to write . Then think about the melody and rhythm and you’re ready to write your song!

If you enjoy reading, write a story. Think about the plot of your story, how long you want it to be, your characters, and the setting, and off you go!

Writing an email

Writing an email can be very easy if you know the structure. Again, it can be formal or informal depending on who you’re addressing it to .

Below, you’ll find appropriate words for a formal email. The different options are divided by a slash (/). You can use one, or the others, but not all at the same time.

Gentile / Egregio / Egregia / Spettabile + Sig. / Sig.ra / Prof. / Prof.ssa / Dott.Dott.ssa + Rossi , (this is how you start your email)

Sono… (you explain who you are in case they don’t know)

Le scrivo in merito a… / Le scrivo perché… (you explain why you’re writing)

Distinti saluti / Cordiali saluti / Cordialmente, (this is how you end your email)

what is your thesis in italian

In attesa di un suo cortese riscontro, la saluto cordialmente / distintamente. (This is a longer way to end your email)

Silvia Marchisio (your name and surname)

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As you can see, we use Lei and Le (you formal) to show respect.

Writing an essay

If you have to write an academic text such as an essay , you must follow a structure .

You first need to think about the type of essay you’re going to write. It might be narrative, argumentative, or descriptive, among others. You also need to consider the topic .

Finally, you need a good bibliography and references .

In all cases, you need an introduction where you explain the purpose of your essay . Then you need to develop your essay into different paragraphs.

Finally, you need a conclusion . You can then think of a catchy title.

Here are some useful words you might need for an essay:

  • Prima di tutto / Innanzitutto (first of all)
  • In conclusione (to conclude)
  • Ad esempio (for example)
  • Invece (instead)
  • Oppure/ Altrimenti (otherwise)
  • Tuttavia (however)
  • Poiché / Siccome (since)
  • Quindi / Perciò / Insomma (therefore)

You can always check out our blog post about Communication Skills in a Foreign Language

How to Improve Your Speaking if You Don’t Have a Speaking Partner?

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While you chat, you get instant feedback on your errors. Plus, you can switch between Italian and English at any time. Not only you’ll be improving your written skills, grammar and vocabulary, but spoken skills and pronunciation as well.

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IMAGES

  1. 45 Perfect Thesis Statement Templates (+ Examples) ᐅ TemplateLab

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  2. How to Write a Thesis Statement: Examples & Rules

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  5. 💋 What to include in a thesis. Thesis Statements: Definition and

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COMMENTS

  1. How to Write a Thesis Statement

    Step 1: Start with a question. You should come up with an initial thesis, sometimes called a working thesis, early in the writing process. As soon as you’ve decided on your essay topic, you need to work out what you want to say about it—a clear thesis will give your essay direction and structure.

  2. Find Dissertations

    This index of dissertations completed at Italian universities covers the years 1987-1993 in the print version. The online version of this index of Italian university dissertations begins with the year 2012. Online index of tesi di laurea / masters theses. Maintained by University College London, this database is the result of a partnership of ...

  3. Italian writing styles and examples to write like a native

    You can use one, or the others, but not all at the same time. Gentile / Egregio / Egregia / Spettabile + Sig. / Sig.ra / Prof. / Prof.ssa / Dott.Dott.ssa + Rossi, (this is how you start your email) Sono… (you explain who you are in case they don’t know) Le scrivo in merito a….