Nursing Essays Thesis Statements

Basics of Thesis Statements

The thesis statement, also known as a “thesis,” is a concise statement that articulates the central argument and purpose of your scholarly paper. It is essential for every academic paper to have a strong thesis statement, which should be concise, specific, and arguable. When we say concise, it means the thesis should be short, typically one or two sentences for a shorter paper. Specificity refers to addressing a narrow and focused topic that is appropriate for the length of the paper. Arguable means that scholars in your field can disagree or have differing opinions on the statement.

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Strong thesis statements not only address specific intellectual questions but also present clear positions and align with the overall structure of the paper. To construct a strong thesis statement, it is important to be specific, make a unique argument, create a debate, choose the right words, and leave room for discussion. Let’s explore each of these aspects further.

Being Specific

A thesis statement lacking specificity may look like this:

– Needs Improvement: In this essay, I will examine two scholarly articles to find similarities and differences.

This statement is neither specific nor arguable as it fails to mention which scholarly articles, the paper’s topic, and the field of study. Additionally, the purpose of the paper is not at a scholarly level, as it only focuses on finding similarities and differences without analyzing their implications.

A better example would be:

– Better: In this essay, I will argue that combining Bowler’s (2003) autocratic management style with Smith’s (2007) theory of social cognition can effectively reduce employee turnover expenses.

The revised statement is concise, specific, and arguable. It mentions concrete ideas, precise authors, the field of business, and the topic of management and employee turnover. Furthermore, it goes beyond a simple comparison by drawing conclusions from the comparison itself.

Making a Unique Argument

A thesis statement that lacks a unique argument may look like this:

– Needs Improvement: The purpose of this essay is to monitor, assess, and evaluate an educational program for its strengths and weaknesses. Then, I will provide suggestions for improvement.

This example simply restates the assignment prompt without indicating how the author will address it. To improve it, the thesis statement should be phrased as a specific answer to the assignment prompt.

A better example would be:

– Better: Through a series of student interviews, I found that Kennedy High School’s antibullying program was ineffective. To address conflicts between students, I argue that Kennedy High School should adopt the policies outlined by the California Department of Education (2010).

Here, words like “ineffective” and “argue” demonstrate that the student has analyzed the assignment and material, presenting a specific and debatable position. The mention of “student interviews” and “antibullying” prepares the reader for the paper’s content and shows how the assignment prompt has been addressed.

Creating a Debate

A thesis statement that includes obvious facts or plot summaries without an argument may look like this:

– Needs Improvement: Leadership is an important quality in nurse educators.

This statement is too broad and lacks arguability. No scholar is likely to argue against the importance of leadership in nurse educators. A narrower and more arguable claim is required for a short paper.

A better example would be:

– Better: Roderick’s (2009) theory of participatory leadership is particularly suitable for nurse educators in the emergency medicine field, where collegial and kinesthetic learning benefits students the most.

Here, the student identifies a specific type of leadership (participatory leadership) and narrows down the topic to a specific type of nurse educator. This allows for potential disagreement from scholars in the nursing field. The paper can now provide evidence to support the central claim.

Choosing the Right Words

A thesis statement that uses large or scholarly-sounding words without conveying a clear meaning may look like this:

– Needs Improvement: Scholars should work to seize metacognitive outcomes by harnessing discipline-based networks to empower collaborative infrastructures.

While some words may be buzzwords in the student’s field or taken from other texts, they do not communicate a clear and specific meaning when used together. Scholarly writing does not necessarily mean constructing complex sentences using special language. It is generally better to use clear, simple sentences. Remember, your ideas should be complex, not your sentence structure.

A better example would be:

– Better: Ecologists should educate the U.S. public on conservation methods by collaborating with local and national green organizations to develop a comprehensive communication plan.

The revision clarifies the field (ecology) and uses more field-specific language (“conservation methods,” “green organizations”), allowing the reader to understand the conveyed ideas more concretely.

Leaving Room for Discussion

A thesis statement that cannot be developed or advanced in the paper may look like this:

– Needs Improvement: There are always alternatives to illegal drug use.

This thesis statement makes a claim but does not provide enough room for extended discussion. If there are “always alternatives,” then the question arises as to why develop a paper around that claim. Ideally, a thesis statement should be complex enough to explore throughout the entire paper.

A better example would be:

– Better: The most effective treatment plan for methamphetamine addiction may involve a combination of pharmacological and cognitive therapy, as argued by Baker (2008), Smith (2009), and Xavier (2011).

In the revised thesis, the student presents a specific, debatable claim that can generate extensive discussion. The thesis statement should prompt further questions and exploration. In this case, the paper can provide specific evidence to support the claim.

Extra Tips

To assist in getting started, consider using the following thesis statement templates as a starting point:

– In this essay, I argue ____, using ______ to assert _____.
– While scholars have often argued ______, I argue______, because_______.
– Through an analysis of ______, I argue ______, which is important because_______.

Words to avoid when drafting your thesis statement include explore, investigate, learn, compile, summarize, and explain. These words imply a paper that summarizes or reports rather than synthesizes and analyzes. Instead, consider using words like argue, critique, question, and interrogate, which convey a more analytical approach.

By following these guidelines, you can craft a strong thesis statement that effectively conveys your argument and sets the stage for your nursing essay.