Help me develop a thesis statement for [ASSIGNMENT]. My topic is [TOPIC], my tentative answer or position is [TENTATIVE POSITION], and the evidence or course material I can use is [AVAILABLE EVIDENCE]. My audience, required length, and assignment limits are [REQUIREMENTS]. Do not write the full paper. First, distinguish the topic from the research question and from a thesis. Identify the central question my assignment needs to answer. Then assess my tentative position for four qualities: it must be arguable rather than obvious; specific enough for the assignment length; supportable with the available evidence; and meaningful enough to show why the claim matters. Offer three thesis options with different but defensible angles. Each must make a single clear claim and preview the main line of reasoning without becoming a list of facts or a vague announcement such as "this essay will discuss." For each option, include: the exact claim; 2-3 reasons the body could develop; the likely scope problem or objection; and a one-sentence revision if the evidence is insufficient.
Recommend one option and explain why it best fits the evidence and constraints. Then give a simple outline with an introduction purpose, body-paragraph claims, and a conclusion implication. Keep claims calibrated: do not turn limited evidence into universal language, and do not invent research, quotations, or historical facts. Before answering, check that the recommended thesis can be challenged by a reasonable reader and that every previewed reason could be supported by my supplied material. Flag evidence gaps clearly. Ask up to 3 clarifying questions only if a required input is missing.
Fill in
| Placeholder | What to enter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| [ASSIGNMENT] | Paste the essay or paper assignment prompt. | Write a literary analysis explaining how setting shapes a central conflict in The House on Mango Street |
| [TOPIC] | Enter the subject you are exploring. | The neighborhood setting and Esperanza's choices |
| [TENTATIVE POSITION] | Enter your current answer, interpretation, or claim. | The neighborhood makes Esperanza want to leave |
| [AVAILABLE EVIDENCE] | Paste the sources, notes, passages, or research you may use. | Notes on the house on Mango Street, the Four Skinny Trees, Alicia Who Sees Mice, and Bums in the Attic |
| [REQUIREMENTS] | Enter the audience, word count, format, and any limits on scope or sources. | 1,200 words for an 11th-grade English class; analyze the novel only; include three quoted passages |
How to use
- Paste the assignment prompt and the evidence you are actually permitted to use.
- Choose the thesis whose reasons match the evidence you can develop in separate paragraphs.
- Check that the outline contains claims to prove, not just topics to describe.
- Follow up with: "Challenge the recommended thesis as a skeptical reader, then narrow it only where the objection exposes a real weakness."
Variations
Research thesis
Use this for a source-based academic paper.
Develop a research-paper thesis for [RESEARCH QUESTION] using only [SOURCE NOTES]. The paper is for [AUDIENCE AND LENGTH]. Give three arguable, appropriately scoped thesis options. For each, map which source supports each part of the claim and identify one limitation or counterargument. Recommend the option with the strongest source coverage, then produce a four-part outline. Do not invent findings, statistics, or citations. Flag claims that need additional evidence. Ask up to 3 questions only if essential information is missing.
Literary thesis
Use this for an analysis of a text.
Help me write a literary-analysis thesis about [TEXT] focused on [ELEMENT] and [INTERPRETATION]. My usable passages and notes are [TEXTUAL EVIDENCE], and the assignment requires [REQUIREMENTS]. Offer three thesis options that connect a craft choice to an effect or meaning, rather than summarizing plot. For each, name the passages that could support it and the analytical move each paragraph would make. Do not invent quotations or page numbers. Ask up to 3 questions only if a required input is missing.
Thesis narrowing
Use this when your claim is too broad.
Narrow this draft thesis for [ASSIGNMENT]: [DRAFT THESIS]. My evidence is [AVAILABLE EVIDENCE] and my length limit is [WORD COUNT]. Diagnose whether it is too broad, descriptive, obvious, compound, or unsupported. Return three narrower revisions, each with a one-sentence reason it is more defensible and two body claims it invites. Preserve my intended meaning where possible. Do not add facts or sources not supplied. Ask up to 3 questions only if needed.
Tips
- A thesis should make a claim that needs proof; “social media affects teenagers” is a topic-level observation, not yet an argument.
- Match the number of reasons previewed in the thesis to the number of body sections you can develop within the word limit.
- For literary analysis, connect a textual choice to an interpretation instead of treating a theme word as evidence.
- If the available sources only show correlation, do not write a thesis that claims direct causation.
FAQ
Can a thesis be more than one sentence?
Usually one focused sentence is easiest for readers to follow, but a two-sentence thesis can work when the claim needs a brief qualification.
Should I state my three body points in the thesis?
Preview them when they form the paper's main line of reasoning. Do not force a rigid list if the essay is organized by a more natural progression.
Can AI choose my thesis for me?
It can compare options, but you should choose a claim you can genuinely support with your assigned texts and research.