Lesson 6: Writing a Thesis Statement

In this lesson we will look at what thesis statements are, and how you can vary the way you write it according to the question. They are a crucial part of writing an introduction.

What is a thesis statement?

Very basically, it tells the person reading your essay what will be in it. It may also give your opinion if the question asks you for this. It is the last sentence of your introduction. Don't get it mixed up with thetopic of your essay - this is usually at the beginning of your introduction.

How do I write a thesis statement?

In order to make it effective, you must have first identified the task of the essay. If you are unsure about this, check out this lesson onidentifying the task. The task is what you have to do, and is usually at the end of the rubric. For example, look at this IELTS essay question: As global trade increases, many goods including those we use on a daily basis are produced in other countries and transported long distances. Do the benefits of this trend *outweigh the drawbacks? What you have to do (the task) is explain whether you think, overall, an increase in the production of goods in other countries and their subsequent transportation over long distances is moreadvantageous or disadvantageous. So your essay is obviously going to be discussing the advantages and disadvantages of this issue, and this is what needs to be made clear in your thesis statement. It is also an opinion essay as it is asking you to make a decision on whether you think there are more advantages or disadvantages. So you need to make this clear as well. Here is an example introduction, with the thesis in bold:

Due to the increase in global trade, many of the goods that we consume every day are made in a different country and then transported over a long distance in order to reach us. In my opinion, this trend has more disadvantages than advantages. You would then go on to write about the advantages and disadvantages of global trade (focusing more on the disadvantages as you think there are more of these). *Just a quick note on the word 'outweigh'. This word often confuses students and they end up writing a thesis statement opinion that contradicts what they write in the essay. The simple answer - don't use the word! It is just asking you if there are more advantages than disadvantages. So just state what you think in the thesis without using the word, as in the example.

How does the thesis statement change with different types of question?
We will now look at how thesis statements can vary with different question types. However, you should not try to learn set phrases or sentences to fit certain essays. There are some broad types of essay question that are common to see, but they can all vary slightly. The golden rule is to always read the question very carefully(never rush this as you may not fully answer the question) and work out what you have to do. Your thesis statement will then follow on from this, depending on what you have decided you need to write about in order to answer the question. So below are some suggestions of what you could do for certain common kinds of essay question, but this is not to say these are right and other ways are wrong. There are numerous ways to write good thesis statements and these are just possibilities.

1) Writing about Two Opinions Some questions ask you specifically to discuss two opinions and togive your opinion. Some people think that young children should be allowed to do paid work, while others think that this should be illegal. Discuss both opinions and give your opinion.

There are various ways you could choose to write an introduction and thesis for this. Example 1 You could begin by paraphrasing the two opinions, then stating in the thesis what you will do: Some people belive that it is acceptable for young children to undertake jobs that they are paid for, whereas others believe that this is wrong and should be illegal. This essay will discuss both sides of the issue. This is quite simplistic but it makes it very clear what you are going to do. You will obviously need to give your opinion as well in the essay, but stating this in the thesis ("This essay will discuss both sides of the issue and then give my opinion") sounds awkward so it is better without it. Here is a sample essay with a similar thesis statement. Example 2 Another possible way to do it is by having a sentence to introduce the topic first, and then paraphrasing the two opinions to make them your thesis: At present, more and more young children are becoming involved in paid work. Whilst some people are of the opinion that this is an entirely acceptable practice, others believe that this is completely wrong and should be made illegal. This is fine as your thesis will match with your essay - you go on to discuss the first opinion and then the second one. Here is another model essay using such a thesis statement. Example 3 Or of course you could modify this slighly to include your opinion: At present, more and more young children are becoming involved in paid work. Whilst some people are of the opinion that this is an entirely acceptable practice, I believe that this is completely wrong and should be made illegal. As long as you go on to discuss both sides of the argument, this is fine.

2) Agreeing or Disagreeing

Another type of question is when you are asked to agree or disagree with one opinion. Currently there is a trend towards the use of alternative forms of medicine. However, at best these methods are ineffective, and at worst they may be dangerous. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? For this type of question, you need to state what your opinion is in the thesis statement. Although you could feasibly do this in the conclusion, I think it is better to do it first so it is clear to someone reading the essay what your opinion is upfront. It is not wrong though to put it in the conclusion - this is your choice. Your thesis statement here will depend on whether you agree, disagree, or partly agree. Here are some examples of each: A thesis statement that agrees with the opinion: Alternative medicine is not new. It is accepted that it pre-dates conventional medicine and it is still used by many people all over the world. However, I strongly believe that this form of medicine does not work and is possibly a danger to those using it. A thesis statement that disagrees with the opinion: Alternative medicine is not new. It is accepted that it pre-dates conventional medicine and it is still used by many people all over the world. I am unconvinced that it is dangerous, and feel that both alternative and conventional medicine can be useful. A thesis statement that partly agrees with the opinion: Alternative medicine is not new. It is accepted that it pre-dates conventional medicine and it is still used by many people all over the world. I agree that for certain conditions this type of medicine is ineffective and could even be dangerous, but for some illnesses it is a good alternative choice. These examples illustrate why it is important to ananlyze the question carefully and brainstorm your ideas first so you have a clear idea of what you will be writing and what your opinion is. Here is a model essay answering the question.

3) Other Essays

Some other essays may not ask you for your opinion specifically, but may ask you to discuss, for example, problems and solutions,causes and effects, advantages and disadvantages. If you are asked to do this, then you should just clearly state that you will be discussing these two things in your essay. Here are some examples: Problems and solutions: Overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems. Identify one or two serious ones and suggest ways that governments and individuals can tackle these problems. Sample thesis in bold: Many countries of the world are currently experiencing problems caused by rapidly growing populations in urban areas. Both governments and individuals have a duty to find ways to overcome these problems. View model answer for this essay. Causes and Effects: The percentage of overweight children in western society has increased by almost 20% in the last ten years. Discuss the causes and effects of this disturbing trend. Sample thesis in bold: Over the last ten years, Western societies have seen close to a 20% rise in the number of children who are overweight. This essay will discuss some reasons why this has occurred and examine the consequences of this worrying trend. View model answer for this essay. Advantages and Disadvantages: In order to solve traffic problems, governments should tax private car owners heavily and use the money to improve public transportation. What are the advantages and disadvantages of such a solution? Sample thesis in bold: Traffic congestion in many cities around the world is severe. One possible solution to this problem is to impose heavy taxes on car drivers and use this money to make public

transport better. This essay will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of such a measure. View model answer for this essay. This lesson has provided you with some broad guidance on writing a thesis statement for different types of essay. It is important to stress again though that questions can vary so you must always analyze if carefully and identify exactly what you need to do and what should therefore be in your thesis statement. Remember, a thesis statement is just telling the reader what the focus of your essay is and giving your opinion if necessary.

Sample Task 2 IELTS Writing Questions

On this page you will find examples of IELTS writing questions given in the IELTS exam for Task 2. The essay questions have been divided into common IELTS writing topics. This way you can easily see and understand the kind of areas of knowledge you will need to know about in order to help you do well in the test. Some of the IELTS writing questions could of course be in more than one topic area.

Animals Blood sports have become a hot topic for debate in recent years. As society develops it is increasingly seen as an uncivilized activity and cruel to the helpless animals that are killed. All blood sports should be banned. Discuss the main arguments for this statement and give your own opinion. Culture As only a small percentage of people have an interest in the Arts, government funding for this is a waste of money. Spending this money on health and education would be far more beneficial to society. To what extent do you agree? ______________________________

It is inevitable that as technology advances, traditional cultures will be lost. It seems that we cannot have these two things together. To what extent do you agree or disagree? ______________________________ There are many types of music in the world today. Why do we need music? Is the traditional music of a country more important and should it be preserved or is international music that is heard everywhere nowadays more useful to a society? Education Education is not a luxury, but a basic human right and as such should be free for everyone irrespective of personal wealth. Do you agree or disagree? ______________________________ Some people think that children's free time must include educational activities otherwise they will waste their time. What is your opinion? ______________________________ Formal examinations are the only effective way to assess a student's performance. Continual assessment such as course work and projects is not a satisfactory way to do this. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Environment Developed countries have created many environmental problems in the World, particularly in their contribution to global warming. What can be done to reduce the dangers of global warming? ______________________________ In order to solve traffic problems, governments should tax private car owners heavily and use the money to improve public transportation. What are the advantages and disadvantages of such a solution? View a model answer for this question ______________________________ Global warming is one of the most serious issues that the world is facing today.

What are the causes of global warming and what measures can governments and individuals take to tackle the issue? View a model answer for this question ______________________________ Logging of the rain forests is a serious problem and it may lead to the extinction of animal life and human life. Discuss. Health The percentage of overweight children in western society has increased by almost 20% in the last ten years. Discuss the causes and effects of this disturbing trend. View a model answer for this question ______________________________ Eating a balanced diet is the most important factor for a healthy life. To what extent do you agree? ______________________________ Many of the medical problems that people are experiencing in today's world are due to the fact that we have a very sedentary lifestyle. To what extent to you agree? ______________________________ Stress is now a major problem in many countries around the world. What are some of the factors in modern society that cause this stress, and how can we reduce it? ______________________________ Smoking not only harms the smoker, but also those who are nearby. Therefore, smoking should be banned in public places. To what extent do you agree or disagree? ______________________________ Media Are famous people treated unfairly by the media? Should they be given more privacy, or is the price of their fame an invasion into their private lives?

______________________________ These days, we are seeing an increasing amount of violence on television, and this is having a negative impact on children's behaviour. Do you agree or disagree? Society Nowadays, families are not as close as in the past and a lot of people have become used to this. Explain the reasons for this and discuss any possible effects it may have on society. ______________________________ Smokers have rights too, so they should be allowed to smoke in public places. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? ______________________________ Levels of youth crime are increasing rapidly in most cities around the world. What are the reasons for this, and suggest some solutions. View a model answer for this question ______________________________ There is an increasing trend around the world to have a small family rather than a large family. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of having a small family rather than a large family? Technology People use computers when they work or go banking, but some argue that it will make people isolated and decrease their social skills. To what extent do you agree with this viewpoint? ______________________________ Some people think that computers are more of a hindrance than a help in today's society. Others believe that they are such indispensable tools that they would not be able to live or work without them. Discuss both opinions and give your opinion. ______________________________

Nowadays many people have access to computers on a wide basis and a large number of children play computer games. What are the negative and positive impacts of playing computer games and what can be done to minimize the bad effects? View a model answer for this question ______________________________ Do you think that modern technology, such as the internet and computers will ever replace the book or the written word as the main source of information? Science Genetic engineering is an important issue in modern society. Some people think that it will improve people's lives in many ways. Other feel that it may be a threat to life on earth. Discuss both opinions and give your opinion?