How to Write a Tentative Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is the focus of the paper's subject. It is usually a sentence to two sentences long and is the controlling idea. This statement reinforces the decisions the writer has made about the focus of the paper. A well developed thesis statement helps keep the writer focused on the subject. It brings the paper together and lets the reader know what to expect from the paper. A thesis also directs the search for extra information that could be used to support the point.

Pick a topic. Choose a person, place or time on which to focus. Or choose a side of an argument or stand on which to focus.

State three focused keywords or phrases that help describe the topic or reasons to support the topic. Make sure these words or phrases are relevant to the focus of the subject.

Ensure the three keywords or phrases are detailed enough to support your topic. These words should not be redundant. One example of redundancy is: Harry is funny, hilarious and comic.

Think in depth about the three keywords or phrases. They need to vary. One example is: Seattle is beautiful, economically stable and rainy.

Read over the thesis statement to make sure all three keywords are relevant to the topic. Check to see that the statement is a guide for the reader: easy to understand and lets the reader know what he is about to read. An example of a well written thesis statement is: "The United States government has shown negligence to the economy by moving industry overseas, spending tax dollars on wasteful programs, and inventing health care plans that don't work."