What it looks like
An example from English Literature.
Jane Eyre was published in 1847 under the name Currer Bell. This essay will discuss the presentation of Bertha Mason in the novel.
Jane Eyre was published in 1847 under the name Currer Bell. This essay argues that Bertha Mason is less Jane’s opposite than her double: she acts out the rage that Jane learns to control. It traces that rage from the red-room at Gateshead to Thornfield’s third storey, and asks why the novel must destroy Bertha before Jane can marry.
Why markers write it
Markers read the rest of your essay through your introduction. Without a thesis, each paragraph has to be judged on its own; with one, each becomes a step in a case. Many UK marking criteria ask for a clear argument from the outset, and a thesis is the simplest way to show you have one.
How to fix it in your next essay
- 1Answer the question in a sentenceBefore drafting, write your answer as a claim someone could disagree with. That sentence is your thesis.
- 2Swap “discuss” for “argue”“This essay will discuss X” describes a topic. “This essay argues that X, because Y” gives a position.
- 3Check it after you draftArguments shift as you write. Once the essay is finished, rewrite the thesis to match what you actually argued.
Phrases that help
How much it costs
Without a thesis, markers often find the argument hard to follow, which in most UK schemes affects the marks for argument and structure together and can hold an otherwise strong essay back.
Other ways markers say it
- “What is your thesis?”
- “Thesis statement needed”
- “State your position”
- “No clear argument in the introduction”
- “Introduction lacks direction”
Often written alongside
Common questions
- Does a thesis have to be one sentence?
- No. One or two is typical. What matters is that it takes a position and gives the main reason for it.
- Where should the thesis go?
- Usually at the end of the introduction, after a line or two of context. Some modules prefer it first — check your guidance.