Guide to writing the most impressive Thesis Statement

What is a Thesis Statement? Let's explore the concept and how to write a Thesis Statement that will help you score full points in each essay prompt of the IELTS Writing exam.

I. Thesis Statement definition

The thesis statement, also known as the main idea, is a sentence that summarizes the central point or main argument of an essay. The writer's perspective on the issue being discussed will be clearly expressed in the thesis statement, which then helps the writer develop the supporting points in the body of the essay. The thesis statement is presented in the introduction and reiterated in the conclusion.

3 criteria to meet when writing a Thesis Statement:

• Concise: The thesis statement should be 1-2 sentences long, directly stating the writer's position, avoiding unnecessary phrasing or lead-in sentences.

• Specific: In the thesis statement, the writer must clearly express their position (agree, disagree, etc.) so that the reader can understand the supporting arguments that will be made in the body paragraphs.

• Arguable: The points mentioned in the thesis statement should reflect the writer's personal opinion and perspective. The opinion should be debatable in order to capture the reader's interest.

II. Distinguishing Thesis Statement and Topic Sentence

Many students still confuse the use of Thesis Statement and Topic Sentence. Let's join PREP to quickly differentiate them in the table below:

III. Steps to Write a Thesis Statement in IELTS Writing

Writing a strong thesis statement is crucial to shape your opinion and guide the direction of your essay. Here are some steps you can follow:

• Understand the prompt: Carefully read the prompt to fully comprehend the requirements and intention behind the topic.

• Determine your position: Decide whether you agree, disagree, or have a more complex perspective on the issue.

• Identify the main idea: Establish the central point that you want to prove or argue in your essay.

• Write the thesis statement: Concisely and coherently articulate your main idea into a single, succinct sentence. The thesis statement is typically found in the introductory paragraph and should clearly reflect your position.

• Ensure oppositional nature: Avoid ambiguity and ensure that your thesis statement presents a clear argument or counterpoint.

• Check grammar and language: Ensure that your thesis statement is simple, clear, and free of language errors.

For example, the prompt is “Technology is becoming increasingly prevalent in the world today. Given time, technology will completely replace the teacher in the classroom. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?”

⏩ Thesis Statement: I personally disagree that teachers would be replaced completely by modern technology. This is because a robotic instructor would fail to discipline misbehaving students and lack of understanding of their personal needs.

IV. Good thesis statement examples for Different IELTS Writing Task Types

The way you write the thesis statement can vary depending on the type of IELTS Writing Task. You can refer to the sample thesis statements for each task type below:

1. Discussion Essay (IELTS Writing Task 2)

• Step 1: Identify the main topic and the key viewpoints.

• Step 2: For a Discussion essay, you need to paraphrase the two viewpoints presented in the prompt and then state your own position. You should not simply state two contrasting viewpoints.

• Step 3: Write the thesis statement. For the prompt "Some people say that zoos have no useful purpose. Others believe that zoos are beneficial in many ways. Discuss and give your opinion". ⏩ Thesis Statement: A diversity of animal species from leopards and eagles to lizards have been captured and kept in zoos across the globe for centuries. This practice is sometimes considered to be one that violates animal rights and causes these animals to lose their instincts. Despite these drawbacks, zoos are still beneficial, as they provide humans with a great place to learn about animals, and endangered animals with a great shelter.

2. Argumentative / Opinion / Agree or Disagree Essays

• Step 1: Identify your position and the main reasons.

• Step 2: For Opinion / Agree or Disagree / Argumentative essays, you should only choose one viewpoint as per the task requirements (e.g. "To what extent do you agree or disagree?"). You will need to state whether you agree or disagree and on what points. After stating your personal opinion, you should also provide supporting reasons and arguments.

• Step 3: Write the thesis statement. For the prompt: "Many factors motivate people in the workplace. Of these, money is the most important. To what extent do you agree or disagree?" ⏩ Thesis Statement: At the workplace, people have various motivations to make them work harder. Some argue that money is the most impactful driver. I respectfully disagree with this opinion for several reasons.

3. Advantages and Disadvantages Essays

• Step 1: List the main advantages and disadvantages of the topic.

• Step 2: For Advantages and Disadvantages essays, you do not need to state your personal opinion. You can choose one advantage and one disadvantage to mention in your thesis statement. Then, you can analyze the advantages and disadvantages you have stated in the introduction paragraph.

• Step 3: Write the thesis statement. For the prompt: "Some students prefer to take a gap year between high school and university, to work or to travel. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?" ⏩ Thesis Statement: In today's world, there has been an accelerating trend of students taking a break from studying before pursuing tertiary education. While this trend is beneficial in some respects, its shortcomings are more significant for the followers of this trend.

4. Problems and Solutions Essays

• Step 1: Clearly define the specific problem and describe the current situation.

• Step 2: For this type of essay, when writing the Thesis Statement for a Problems and Solutions essay, you can choose to briefly present 1-2 problems and suggest solutions. Below is a complete introduction paragraph along with the thesis statement that provides a solution to this issue.

• Step 3: Write the Thesis statement. Prompt: There is a general increase in anti-social behaviors and lack of respect for others. What are the causes and solutions? ⏩Thesis Statement: The widespread presence of anti-social behavior and disrespectful attitudes towards others has long been a prevalent issue in society today. This often derives from the indifference of parents towards their children’s moral development, and sometimes from social problems such as violence and discrimination which exist in many parts of the world. This situation should be addressed by strong remedies, including better parental education and stricter law enforcement against violent and discriminatory activities in society.

5. Two-part Question Essays

• Step 1: Understand each part of the question and the relationship between them in a Two-part Question essay.

• Step 2: Determine how to answer each part and link them together.

• Step 3: Write the Thesis statement. Prompt: Parents often give children everything they ask for and do what they like. Is it good for children? What are the consequences when they grow up? ⏩ Thesis Statement: Indulging children has become a common parenting problem in many modern families. From a short-term perspective, this practice may slow down the process of children developing essential life skills. From a long-term standpoint, this may cause a sense of overdependence among children.

V. Some considerations when writing a Thesis statement

To write the most concise Thesis Statement, you need to keep the following in mind:

• Avoid using rhetorical questions. The Thesis Statement is a declarative or negative sentence that requires you to use strong, clear language to convey your perspective. Avoid using phrases like "I think" or "In my opinion" as they will make your argument less certain. Instead, use more active verbs.

• Refrain from using personal pronouns in your essay. Use neutral language to present your argument to ensure authenticity and objectivity.

• Do not write a Thesis Statement that is too general, such as: "This essay would like to explore reasons for this in more detail." Avoid using vague words like "some", "many", or "a lot".

The Thesis Statement is considered the "backbone" of the entire IELTS Writing essay. Therefore, understanding how to write one is a crucial factor in helping you achieve a high score. I hope the information provided above has helped you understand the concept and how to write an effective Thesis Statement. Good luck!