Useful Language for Thesis Statements

This resource highlights language that frequently appears in argumentative writing. It is designed to draw your attention to common linguistic forms in thesis statements.

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Using this resource

We recommend reading this list twice:

• The first time you read, focus on the language itself. What verbs (like illustrates, demonstrates, shows) make for strong claims? What dependent clauses (like In this passage) introduce the sentences? Where have you seen phrases like these before? In what genre of essay would you expect to see the phrase (in literary analysis or a policy paper)?
• The second time you read, focus on the conceptual relationships. Note that many introduce their evidence—Based on X, or Through examination of Y—before making a claim. Which phrases emphasize differences or similarities? Which phrases introduce complication?

Once you’ve read through, try using these phrases in your own writing.

Basic sentence structures:

Identifying something significant to analyze:

In this play, the character of Joseph symbolizes…
This passage illustrates the importance of…
The author sheds light on the crucial point of…
The text highlights the difference between…
In both [text 1] and [text 2], the authors demonstrate how…

Affirming what you believe:

From my perspective, the idea that…
In my view, the author…
I strongly agree with the argument that…
I disagree with the notion that…

Challenging an author’s argument:

The article fails to address…
The author overlooks…
The argument lacks clear evidence about…
The author’s point is questionable in that it…

Complex sentence structures:

Linking key background information or evidence to your claim:

Keywords: Based on, As, Through, In + (verb)-ing

Based on the facts concerning the “Molotov” case study, it is apparent that…
Based on the analysis of the “Molotov” case study, I believe that…
In examining the controversy surrounding artists’ rights, [author’s name] demonstrates…
Through the examination of Molotov Man, [author’s name] identifies…
Considering the debate over the reproduction of images, it is clear that copyright law fails to…
In light of the Molotov Man controversy, it is useful to reconsider/re-examine…
As this case demonstrates, it is important to…

Expressing a less obvious claim by challenging commonly held beliefs:

Keywords: While, Although, Though

While it is true that _______________, the more significant problem with X is…
Although it may seem that _______________, the more significant issue relates to…
Though X seems to suggest that _______________, a crucial part of this debate involves…
While I acknowledge that _______________, it is necessary to take into account the fact that..
While Garnett makes a strong case for the reproduction of Molotov Man, she fails to address the deeper problem of…

Emphasizing an important similarity:

• While it may seem that A and B have little in common apart from ________________, they actually share ________________.
• Despite many clear differences, both A and B ______________________________.
• While it may seem that Democrats and Republicans disagree fundamentally on how the U.S. should be run, the fact that both parties supported the Defense Authorization Act—permitting the indefinite detention of American citizens on U.S. soil—suggests they share a core set of beliefs about government power.
• Despite the schools’ different curricula, both serve the same overarching mission…

Emphasizing an important difference:

• Although A and B share ________________, they significantly differ in that ______________________________.
• A and B appear to have many commonalities, but depart from one another when ______________________________.
• While T-Mobile and Verizon may appear to have similar marketing strategies, they target their audiences differently: T-Mobile caters to a niche audience of young people who live in cities, while Verizon emphasizes their nationwide coverage.
• Although Keats’ “Ode on a Grecian Urn” and Rilke’s “Archaic Torso of Apollo” are both ekphrastic poems about ancient Greek artifacts, they offer very different perspectives on antiquity…

Providing reasons for your claim:

Keywords: Due to, Because of

Due to unfair restrictions imposed by copyright law, artists struggle to
Due to the fact that copyright law imposes unfair restrictions, artists struggle to…
Because they put aesthetic effect before historical context, artists often misrepresent historical events in their images.
Artists often misrepresent historical events in their images because they…
Given the fact that American soldiers cannot refuse to be photographed in combat, we recommend…

Providing multiple reasons for your claim:

Keywords: Both, Due to, Among the reasons, Not only

Both _______ and _______ offer evidence for / explain why…
Due to both [reason 1] and [reason 2], I consider…
Not only does [reason 1] contribute to the problem of the reproduction of images, but so does [reason 2].
The emotional appeal of the painting together with the omission of any signs of war conveys a sense of…