Analytical Thesis Importance

Are you writing an analytical essay? Writing an analytical essay means trying to describe why something works the way it does or how it functions. If so, you probably have a strong opinion you’re hoping to express, and it is likely that you’ve spent a lot of time thinking about your critical analysis.

In order to make your essay as strong and clear as possible, you’ll want to write a very good thesis statement. Your thesis statement is important because it foreshadows your major argument and sets the stage for the rest of your essay. Your thesis statement might also gesture toward how your essay will be structured. This is why it’s important to have a strong thesis statement that will make your reader want to learn more and help him or her understand what to expect from the remainder of your essay. Conversely, a weak thesis statement can weaken your overall analysis because it will make it seem as though you can’t clearly articulate your argument.

This lesson provides examples of a few different kinds of analytical thesis statements oriented toward essays in different subject areas. Obviously, your statement will look different depending on the nature of the argument you’re hoping to make, but these examples should provide you with a good starting point.

Analytical Thesis Example 1

Here’s our first analytical thesis statement example:

The symbolism in Salinger’s ‘Catcher in the Rye’ contributes to the sense of melancholia and uncertainty throughout the novel.

Writing an analytical thesis statement for a literature essay requires you to take on a strong and specific stance. Before you write such a statement, make sure you can articulate for yourself what exactly it is you want to argue for. Then write a sentence that clearly pinpoints your subject; in this case it is the symbolism. Make sure that your verb choice is accurate, active, and clear, and explain precisely what it is you believe your subject does. The remainder of your essay will be dedicated to providing evidence that supports the view you’ve described in this thesis statement.

Analytical Thesis Example 2

Though World War I had many different causes, burgeoning nationalism fomented the sense of aggression that ultimately led to the War’s beginning and proliferation.

Sometimes, when you’re writing an analytical thesis statement for an essay about history, you’ll begin with a brief clause that indicates what your essay is not. For instance, this essay is not simply a delineation of all of the different causes of World War I, but it’s important to briefly acknowledge the existence of causes other than the one that the essay will focus on. Then the thesis statement also takes on a strong view, again using a specific subject, an active verb, and a lucid depiction of the essay’s major argument. The rest of the essay will provide evidence that proves the importance of nationalism as the central cause of World War I.

Analytical Thesis Example 3

The average increase in global temperatures over time is causing a decrease in biodiversity.

An analytical thesis statement does not need to be long or full of caveats. For instance, if you’re writing an analytical essay about science, you might make a very simple and clear linear argument in the form of one sentence. The key here is to be as specific as possible. You aren’t just saying, ‘climate change is bad.’ Instead, you’re offering really particular insights into a small aspect of the impact of climate change. You’ll have to analyze the reasoning behind your argument in the remainder of your essay, providing your reader with specific evidence that proves the point you have made in this thesis.

Analytical Thesis Example 4

Picasso’s depiction of women indicates a sense that they lack subjectivity and are important only as objects.

Writing an analytical essay about art is quite similar to writing one about literature. If you want to construct a strong analytical thesis statement about art, you will want to be very clear with yourself about precisely what your argument is. Try stating it mentally in your own words before you commit to writing. Then define the subject of your writing clearly and construct a statement that depicts precisely what you hope to show about this subject. Throughout your essay, you’ll be looking at the art itself to provide evidence that supports your underlying analysis.

Lesson Summary

Okay, let’s take a few moments to review what we’ve learned. This lesson focused on writing an analytical essay, which means trying to describe why something works the way it does or how it functions and, specifically, how to write a thesis statement which is important because it foreshadows your major argument and sets the stage for the rest of your essay. We looked at several examples to explore strong and weak thesis statements and we learned that a strong thesis statement will make your reader want to learn more and help him or her understand what to expect from the remainder of your essay, while a weak thesis statement can weaken your overall analysis because it will make it seem like you can’t clearly articulate your argument. Now you should be able to construct not only a strong thesis statement, but a great analytical essay. So, get writing!