A thesis can be in the form of a single sentence or statement. Your thesis statement must be different from an opinion statement. It can also not be a statement of fact because a statement of fact is not debatable It must be worded in a way that allows for debate and inquiry. For example, "Basketball players are better athletes than football players" is an opinion statement. "Basketball players rookie contracts pay $100,000 more than football rookie contracts" is potentially factual and not debatable. " Basketball players' use of plyometric exercises makes them faster than football players" is specific, yet its truthfulness is up for debate and inquiry, making it a good one-sentence thesis statement.
Another option for writing a thesis is to present a series of related factual statements as part of the larger argument when placed in your introductory paragraph. In this manner, your first sentences will lay the groundwork for the thesis sentence that will conclude your paragraph. Using the previous example, your introductory paragraph would present some of the factual benefits of plyometrics and present how both sports utilize them for speed. This is serving to set the reader up to anticipate the eventual thesis statement that closes the paragraph.
The thesis is designed to evoke debate from your audience, and it can be written in the form of a question. The question directs you as the author to engage that debate in your paper. An example is "What components of plyometric exercises when used by basketball players make them faster runners than football players?" Here, the individual components and not overall plyometric exercises are open for consideration as the key for speed. This type of thesis is complex, because you must present the components mentioned and compare them for each sport. However, this technique will open your paper to the discussion of multiple perspectives and is good if you are not ready to commit to one.
You may choose to approach your thesis indirectly and imply it within your work. This will require that you maintain a firm control over the structure of your paper, making sure to reiterate the idea within each paragraph so the reader is able to identify and follow the implied thesis. If your thesis is about plyometrics but you choose to imply it, you would by example discuss things like speed, training and the differences in the sports in all paragraphs. You can use this way of writing a thesis-based paper when you want your readers to feel they have come to a particular conclusion on their own, but it has been guided by your argument.