Writing a Thesis in Your Introduction

There are several characteristics of a thesis:

a.  It is expressed in a sentence. A thesis is NOT the same as the topic of the essay or the title of the essay.

Topic: Whether to buy a laptop or a desktop computer.

Title: Why I Would Buy a Laptop Computer over a Desktop Computer.

Thesis: I would buy a laptop computer over a desktop computer because laptops are almost as powerful as desktops and they can be carried almost anywhere I go.

b.  A thesis does not announce; it makes a point about the subject.

Announcement: This essay will explain why I would buy a laptop computer over a desktop computer.

Thesis: I would buy a laptop computer over a desktop computer because laptops are almost as powerful as desktops and they can be carried almost anywhere I go.

Hints for writing a thesis:

a. You can mention specific subpoints of your essay in your thesis. For example, your thesis might be

I hated Hannibal because the film was ultraviolent and it glorified criminals.

With this thesis, you have indicated two subpoints of your essay: Hannibal was ultraviolent; Hannibal glorified criminals.

b.  You can make a point without listing the subpoints in your thesis. For example, you can write a thesis like this:

I hated Hannibal because of the way it turned the unspeakable into entertainment.

Within any essay, you still want to state what your subpoints are; you don’t have to write them in your thesis, though.