What is an analysis of a topic thesis statement?
An analysis thesis statement is a thesis statement that is used in assignments where you are asked to analyze, evaluate, and interpret a specific topic or body of research. The goal with an analytical thesis is to move beyond restating facts. The objective is to research a complex issue, determine the major findings, and explain their significance.
Common assignments where you'll do this include, but aren't limited to:
- In Business classes, when you investigate a case study.
- In an IDS course, if you are asked to discuss a social issue, the cause and effect.
- In an English class, writing a critical analysis paper of a piece of literature.
- In Education classes, when you need to discuss learner outcomes to teaching practices.
- In a Psychology class, in an essay analyzing a theory or a theorist's work.
The Analytical Thesis Blueprint:
You can think of your thesis as the blueprints for your paper. An effective thesis helps you, the writer, to build the assignment to align with the rubric, step by step, through each body paragraph. The thesis statement also lays the foundation to show your audience your design plans for the assignment and how it will take shape. It is typically a single sentence, placed at the end of your introduction paragraph. Below, you will find a formula that can be utilized when crafting an analytical thesis statement:
“An analysis of (topic/research article being examined) displays that (the core findings/discovery), which suggests (the conclusion/result/relationship to the topic).”
Important analysis thesis structure guidelines:
Use your own critical thinking skills. Throughout the research process, you must observe trends, results, and research gaps to draw valid conclusions. Do not simply rely on the existing literature; instead, extend it by taking a stance.
Do not use personal pronouns.
When using an academic tone, we state our assertions as facts. Instead of saying "I believe" or "In my opinion", let the data that you present speak for you. Make the claim in your thesis, and prove it in your body paragraphs.
Confirm that your thesis is in alignment with the rubric.
Your instructor should be able to see each part of the rubric's prompt/directions represented in your thesis statement. While you will elaborate on your reasoning in each body paragraph, your thesis should represent a summary of your key findings.
| Weak Analysis of a Topic Examples | Strong Examples |
|---|---|
| IDS: People can’t get to public transit when they live in rural areas, which is bad for business and impacts a lot of things. | An analysis of public transportation in remote areas reveals that a lack of public transit impacts economic growth, access to healthcare, and employment opportunities, demonstrating that infrastructure investments are essential when addressing geographic-based inequality. |
| Buisness: I believe many people are going back to using flip phones because they are simple and cheap. | An analysis of 2024 cellphone sale trends reveals that over 15% of new cellphone sales are flip phones, driven by increased durability, lower costs, and reduced distractions, suggesting that cutting-edge technology is no longer the number one driving factor in cellphone purchases. |
| English: Ophelia drowned in the story Hamlet, which was significant to the storyline, changing the story a lot. | An analysis of Ophelia’s drowning in Hamlet explores Shakespeare’s use of her ambiguous death to symbolize contradictory expectations in responding to trauma based on gender, which suggests that the demise of one’s mental health occurs when an individual is forced into a position that requires silencing the truth. |
| Education: I analyzed Socratic Seminars, and the research showed that they can get students talking and considering perspectives that they wouldn’t usually. | An analysis of the Socratic Seminar methodology and outcomes reveals that student-led approaches result in significantly deeper understanding of content due to the utilization of peer-to-peer collaboration and critical thinking skills. |
| Psychology: I agree with most of Bowlby’s Theory of Attachment, but his book even admits that it’s missing a few parts that we will explore in this paper. | An analysis of Attachment and Loss by John Bowlby examines adolescent and caregiver interactions, highlighting long-term implications of secure vs insecure attachment on development, yet it does not consider other external factors such as culture and environment. |
Analysis of a Thesis Self-Check Questions
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