how to form a good thesis statement
Your thesis should be limited to what can be accomplished in the specified number of pages. Shape your topic so that you can get straight to the “meat” of it. Being specific in your paper will be much more successful than writing about general things that do not say much. Don’t settle for three pages of just skimming the surface.
Tip: Check your thesis:
A thesis statement is one sentence that expresses the main idea of a research paper or essay, such as an expository essay or argumentative essay. It makes a claim, directly answering a question.
It’s worth reiterating that a strong thesis statement is specific. If you find yourself using general words like “good,” then you’re not digging deep enough.
This is the research process! The answer to your question is likely to change as you discover more evidence and sources. As you write the paper, keep developing and refining your thesis statement.
Your thesis statement might have several parts, but they should all add up to a coherent whole, and it should clearly relate to the rest of your paper. Make sure that the main points of your thesis statement appear in your section headings or topic sentences.
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are easy to make because it just takes three ingredients.
Example:
A thesis should be as clear and specific as possible. Avoid overused, general terms and abstractions. For example, “Communism collapsed in Eastern Europe because of the ruling elite’s inability to address the economic concerns of the people” is more powerful than “Communism collapsed due to societal discontent.”
A good thesis has two parts. It should tell what you plan to argue, and it should “telegraph” how you plan to argue—that is, what particular support for your claim is going where in your essay.
References:
http://examples.yourdictionary.com/thesis-statement-examples.html
http://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/thesis-statement/
http://www.easybib.com/guides/how-to-write-a-strong-thesis-statement/
http://writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu/pages/developing-thesis
http://www.cws.illinois.edu/workshop/writers/tips/thesis/