The comment: Unclear thesis

Similar comments

• Vague thesis
• State your position
• What is your main point?

Understanding the comment

When readers point out that your thesis is unclear, the comment often signals that they have a hard time identifying your essay’s main point.

Strategies for revising

• Ask questions. What is the thesis, position, or main point of the draft? Can you support it with the available evidence?
• Reread your entire draft. Because ideas develop as you write, you may find that your conclusion contains a clearer statement of your main point than your working thesis does. Or you may find your thesis elsewhere in your draft.
• Try framing your thesis as an answer to a question you pose, the resolution of a problem you identify, or a position you take in a debate. And put your thesis to the “So what?” test: Why would a reader be interested in this thesis?

Exercise: Thesis statements 1

Exercise: Thesis statements 2

Related topics:

Drafting an introduction with thesis

Placing the thesis in the introduction

Stating your position in your introduction

Backing up your thesis

Drafting a working thesis

Testing a working thesis