WRAC Writing a Thesis Statement

So your thesis is the main argument of your essay, and it’s what unifies the entire essay. But how do you write a good thesis statement? Here’s an example:

Assignment: Write about online advertising.

Working thesis: “Companies should use Facebook to advertise instead of general website ads.”

Too broad! Why?

Revised thesis: “Companies should maximize the marketing potential of the Internet, and Facebook pages can provide both advertising and customer support.”

Better, but too narrow. The focus is unclear. Can you make it stronger?

Revised thesis: “As the Internet is filled with an abundance of marketing potential, companies should exploit this potential by using Facebook pages that offer both advertising and a method for customer support.”

Good! You’ve explained the “because” and focused the topic. This is a strong thesis!

* * *

Uh-oh! Now that I’ve thought about it more, I think my thesis is wrong. I want to argue the opposite!

Revised thesis: “As Facebook is filled with an abundance of advertisements, which are often ignored by customers, companies should find more targeted advertising methods outside of social media.”