Determine whether the thesis statement is debatable. If it states the obvious (“Exercise is good for your health.”), readers have no compelling reason to continue; the position doesn’t beg further exploration. Conversely, provocative statements invite the reader in.
Assess the scope of the statement. A strong thesis is narrowly focused on one main point and previews the material discussed in the paper; it provides a clear structure for the essay.
Look for the author’s position within the thesis statement. You want an opinion -- not a fact -- supported by evidence contained in the body of the paper.
Gauge the statement’s suitability to the paper’s purpose. For instance, thesis statements for an analytical paper should present components of the topic accompanied by an evaluation, according to the Purdue Online Writing Lab. OWL also notes that an expository paper’s thesis should provide a clear explanation and that the thesis for an argumentative paper must state a position.
Locate the thesis at the beginning of the paper. It should appear in the first or second paragraph.