which is the best thesis statement for an essay about the dangers and benefits of hydraulic fracking

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Fracking Has Its Costs And Benefits — The Trick Is Balancing Them

Written with  Janet Currie  of Princeton and  Kathrine Meckel  of UCLA.

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is perhaps the most important energy discovery in the last half century. As a result of fracking, U.S. production of oil and natural gas has increased dramatically. This increase has abruptly lowered energy prices, strengthened energy security and even lowered air pollution and carbon dioxide emissions by displacing coal in electricity generation. The lower energy prices have meant more money in the pockets of American families and businesses. And the lower emissions are certainly good news for our health with large reductions in air pollution dispersed across the country and, at least for the near term, our climate.

Whether or not we as a society continue to gain from the broad benefits of fracking rests on the shoulders of the local communities where drilling takes place, or could take place. These communities must determine if the local benefits exceed the local costs, a calculation that requires a lot of information to be done well. Over the past year, we have been part of two research efforts that have shed light on what’s at stake in the choices communities are making.

On the benefits side, fracking increases economic activity, employment, income and housing prices. But, it also brings more truck traffic, increases in crime and potential health impacts possibly due to air and/or water pollution. In some  recent work , we’ve added it all up. We discovered that for the average household living in a community where fracking takes place the benefits exceed the costs—indeed, it is worth about $2,000 per year to them. That calculation of $2,000 per year is based on people’s current understanding of the health impacts at the time of our study. If people’s understanding of the health impacts were to change, it is likely that this would alter the net benefits of allowing fracking.

Since health is such a critical factor, we decided to dig in further by looking at the health of those born near fracking sites. Our findings,  published recently  in the journal  Science Advances , present the first large-scale peer-reviewed evidence of a link between hydraulic fracturing and health.

Specifically, we found that babies born within 3 kilometers, about 2 miles, of a fracking site are more likely to suffer from poor health. The largest impacts were to babies born within 1 kilometer, about a half mile, of a site, with those babies being 25% more likely to be born at a low birth weight (i.e., less than 5.5 pounds). Equally important, those babies born to mothers living further than 3 kilometers didn’t show any health impacts, indicating that the health impacts are highly localized. Out of the nearly 4 million babies born in the United States each year, back of the envelop calculations suggest that about 30,000 of them are born within a kilometer of a fracking site and another 100,000 are born between 1 and 3 kilometers away.

Our findings are based on a massive amount of data: 9 years’ worth of birth records from throughout Pennsylvania, totaling 1.1 million births. These records included information about the infant’s health at birth, where the mother lived, and detailed demographic information about the mother such as race, education and marital status. We then combined this data with a list of all fractured wells in Pennsylvania through 2014, which included 7,757 wells.

One big question that naturally arises from this kind of work is whether the analysis controls for other factors that might contribute to low birth weight such as socio-economic or behavioral factors. For example, mothers who live nearby active fracking site are younger, less likely to have been married at the time of the birth, and less educated—characteristics that might lead to worse infant health outcomes.

We account for these differences by comparing infants born to mothers living up to 3 kilometers away from a site to those living between 3 and 15 kilometers, both before and after fracking began. Conducting the analysis this way does a great deal to control for these other factors that affect infant health. Specifically, any explanation besides fracking activity would need to involve differential changes in the determinants of health among infants born to mothers living within 3 kilometers of a fracking site, relative to infants born to mothers living 3-15 kilometers away, after fracking was initiated. In other words, at the onset of fracking, mothers living closer to wells would have to suddenly become poorer or use more  alcohol or eat less healthy, and they would have to do so more than mothers living farther away. We can’t rule out this possibility, but our investigations failed to turn up credible evidence for such changes in the data.

Nevertheless, we further probed the health of babies born after fracking, comparing it to that of their siblings born to the same mother before fracking. This test’s appeal is that many of the concerns about unobserved differences in determinants of infant health are much less likely to be relevant when comparing siblings that share the same mother. Here again, the data shows that the initiation of fracking is associated with an increase in the probability of low birth weight. The limitation of this test is that it is very demanding of the data, so these results are not significant on their own, but they provide a compelling validation of the main results.

While our study provides a link to fracking activities and poorer infant health, it doesn’t tell us what aspects of fracking lead to those poorer health outcomes. Because many people in the study got their water from municipal sources not close to fracking sites, we suspect water contamination isn’t to blame. The most plausible explanation appears to be localized air pollution caused by the increased truck traffic, the diesel generators powering the sites, or perhaps other emissions, but the evidence on the cause is not decisive. Indeed, future work exploring the mechanism is warranted. Another important area for future research is to explore whether fracking affects health at other ages. We hope that our paper will open up these lines of inquiry.

Fracking has upended the American energy system. It has brought substantial benefits to the nation in terms of lower energy prices, greater energy security, reduced air pollution, and fewer carbon emissions (although its long-run impact on carbon emissions is less clear). Our research shows that there are also health and other costs to local communities where fracking takes places.

As governments and communities with shale deposits in the United States and around the world continue to grapple with whether to allow fracking, it is vital that they have the facts on its impacts. This is the only way to ensure that we get fracking’s benefits and minimize its costs.

Continue Reading at Forbes…

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Internalizing externalities: disclosure regulation for hydraulic fracturing, drilling activity and water quality, fracking and poorer surface water quality link established – new research, large-sample evidence on the impact of unconventional oil and gas development on surface waters, what would happen if the u.s. banned fracking, research explained: hydraulic fracturing and infant health, hydraulic fracturing: new evidence from pennsylvania, the local economic and welfare consequences of hydraulic fracturing, uchicago community (if applicable)….

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Thesis Statements

What this handout is about.

This handout describes what a thesis statement is, how thesis statements work in your writing, and how you can craft or refine one for your draft.

Introduction

Writing in college often takes the form of persuasion—convincing others that you have an interesting, logical point of view on the subject you are studying. Persuasion is a skill you practice regularly in your daily life. You persuade your roommate to clean up, your parents to let you borrow the car, your friend to vote for your favorite candidate or policy. In college, course assignments often ask you to make a persuasive case in writing. You are asked to convince your reader of your point of view. This form of persuasion, often called academic argument, follows a predictable pattern in writing. After a brief introduction of your topic, you state your point of view on the topic directly and often in one sentence. This sentence is the thesis statement, and it serves as a summary of the argument you’ll make in the rest of your paper.

What is a thesis statement?

A thesis statement:

• tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion.
• is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper.
• directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself. The subject, or topic, of an essay might be World War II or Moby Dick; a thesis must then offer a way to understand the war or the novel.
• makes a claim that others might dispute.
• is usually a single sentence near the beginning of your paper (most often, at the end of the first paragraph) that presents your argument to the reader. The rest of the paper, the body of the essay, gathers and organizes evidence that will persuade the reader of the logic of your interpretation.

If your assignment asks you to take a position or develop a claim about a subject, you may need to convey that position or claim in a thesis statement near the beginning of your draft. The assignment may not explicitly state that you need a thesis statement because your instructor may assume you will include one. When in doubt, ask your instructor if the assignment requires a thesis statement. When an assignment asks you to analyze, to interpret, to compare and contrast, to demonstrate cause and effect, or to take a stand on an issue, it is likely that you are being asked to develop a thesis and to support it persuasively. (Check out our handout on understanding assignments for more information.)

How do I create a thesis?

A thesis is the result of a lengthy thinking process. Formulating a thesis is not the first thing you do after reading an essay assignment. Before you develop an argument on any topic, you have to collect and organize evidence, look for possible relationships between known facts (such as surprising contrasts or similarities), and think about the significance of these relationships. Once you do this thinking, you will probably have a “working thesis” that presents a basic or main idea and an argument that you think you can support with evidence. Both the argument and your thesis are likely to need adjustment along the way.

Writers use all kinds of techniques to stimulate their thinking and to help them clarify relationships or comprehend the broader significance of a topic and arrive at a thesis statement. For more ideas on how to get started, see our handout on brainstorming .

How do I know if my thesis is strong?

If there’s time, run it by your instructor or make an appointment at the Writing Center to get some feedback. Even if you do not have time to get advice elsewhere, you can do some thesis evaluation of your own. When reviewing your first draft and its working thesis, ask yourself the following :

• Do I answer the question? Re-reading the question prompt after constructing a working thesis can help you fix an argument that misses the focus of the question. If the prompt isn’t phrased as a question, try to rephrase it. For example, “Discuss the effect of X on Y” can be rephrased as “What is the effect of X on Y?”
• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? If your thesis simply states facts that no one would, or even could, disagree with, it’s possible that you are simply providing a summary, rather than making an argument.
• Is my thesis statement specific enough? Thesis statements that are too vague often do not have a strong argument. If your thesis contains words like “good” or “successful,” see if you could be more specific: why is something “good”; what specifically makes something “successful”?
• Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? If a reader’s first response is likely to  be “So what?” then you need to clarify, to forge a relationship, or to connect to a larger issue.
• Does my essay support my thesis specifically and without wandering? If your thesis and the body of your essay do not seem to go together, one of them has to change. It’s okay to change your working thesis to reflect things you have figured out in the course of writing your paper. Remember, always reassess and revise your writing as necessary.
• Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? If a reader’s first response is “how?” or “why?” your thesis may be too open-ended and lack guidance for the reader. See what you can add to give the reader a better take on your position right from the beginning.

Suppose you are taking a course on contemporary communication, and the instructor hands out the following essay assignment: “Discuss the impact of social media on public awareness.” Looking back at your notes, you might start with this working thesis:

Social media impacts public awareness in both positive and negative ways.

You can use the questions above to help you revise this general statement into a stronger thesis.

• Do I answer the question? You can analyze this if you rephrase “discuss the impact” as “what is the impact?” This way, you can see that you’ve answered the question only very generally with the vague “positive and negative ways.”
• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? Not likely. Only people who maintain that social media has a solely positive or solely negative impact could disagree.
• Is my thesis statement specific enough? No. What are the positive effects? What are the negative effects?
• Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? No. Why are they positive? How are they positive? What are their causes? Why are they negative? How are they negative? What are their causes?
• Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? No. Why should anyone care about the positive and/or negative impact of social media?

After thinking about your answers to these questions, you decide to focus on the one impact you feel strongly about and have strong evidence for:

Because not every voice on social media is reliable, people have become much more critical consumers of information, and thus, more informed voters.

This version is a much stronger thesis! It answers the question, takes a specific position that others can challenge, and it gives a sense of why it matters.

Let’s try another. Suppose your literature professor hands out the following assignment in a class on the American novel: Write an analysis of some aspect of Mark Twain’s novel Huckleberry Finn. “This will be easy,” you think. “I loved Huckleberry Finn!” You grab a pad of paper and write:

Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn is a great American novel.

You begin to analyze your thesis:

• Do I answer the question? No. The prompt asks you to analyze some aspect of the novel. Your working thesis is a statement of general appreciation for the entire novel.

Think about aspects of the novel that are important to its structure or meaning—for example, the role of storytelling, the contrasting scenes between the shore and the river, or the relationships between adults and children. Now you write:

In Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain develops a contrast between life on the river and life on the shore.

• Do I answer the question? Yes!
• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? Not really. This contrast is well-known and accepted.
• Is my thesis statement specific enough? It’s getting there–you have highlighted an important aspect of the novel for investigation. However, it’s still not clear what your analysis will reveal.
• Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? Not yet. Compare scenes from the book and see what you discover. Free write, make lists, jot down Huck’s actions and reactions and anything else that seems interesting.
• Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? What’s the point of this contrast? What does it signify?”

After examining the evidence and considering your own insights, you write:

Through its contrasting river and shore scenes, Twain’s Huckleberry Finn suggests that to find the true expression of American democratic ideals, one must leave “civilized” society and go back to nature.

This final thesis statement presents an interpretation of a literary work based on an analysis of its content. Of course, for the essay itself to be successful, you must now present evidence from the novel that will convince the reader of your interpretation.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Anson, Chris M., and Robert A. Schwegler. 2010. The Longman Handbook for Writers and Readers , 6th ed. New York: Longman.

Lunsford, Andrea A. 2015. The St. Martin’s Handbook , 8th ed. Boston: Bedford/St Martin’s.

Ramage, John D., John C. Bean, and June Johnson. 2018. The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing , 8th ed. New York: Pearson.

Ruszkiewicz, John J., Christy Friend, Daniel Seward, and Maxine Hairston. 2010. The Scott, Foresman Handbook for Writers , 9th ed. Boston: Pearson Education.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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How to Write a Strong Thesis Statement: 4 Steps + Examples

What’s Covered:

What is the purpose of a thesis statement, writing a good thesis statement: 4 steps, common pitfalls to avoid, where to get your essay edited for free.

When you set out to write an essay, there has to be some kind of point to it, right? Otherwise, your essay would just be a big jumble of word salad that makes absolutely no sense. An essay needs a central point that ties into everything else. That main point is called a thesis statement, and it’s the core of any essay or research paper.

You may hear about Master degree candidates writing a thesis, and that is an entire paper–not to be confused with the thesis statement, which is typically one sentence that contains your paper’s focus. 

Read on to learn more about thesis statements and how to write them. We’ve also included some solid examples for you to reference.

Typically the last sentence of your introductory paragraph, the thesis statement serves as the roadmap for your essay. When your reader gets to the thesis statement, they should have a clear outline of your main point, as well as the information you’ll be presenting in order to either prove or support your point. 

The thesis statement should not be confused for a topic sentence , which is the first sentence of every paragraph in your essay. If you need help writing topic sentences, numerous resources are available. Topic sentences should go along with your thesis statement, though.

Since the thesis statement is the most important sentence of your entire essay or paper, it’s imperative that you get this part right. Otherwise, your paper will not have a good flow and will seem disjointed. That’s why it’s vital not to rush through developing one. It’s a methodical process with steps that you need to follow in order to create the best thesis statement possible.

Step 1: Decide what kind of paper you’re writing

When you’re assigned an essay, there are several different types you may get. Argumentative essays are designed to get the reader to agree with you on a topic. Informative or expository essays present information to the reader. Analytical essays offer up a point and then expand on it by analyzing relevant information. Thesis statements can look and sound different based on the type of paper you’re writing. For example:

• Argumentative: The United States needs a viable third political party to decrease bipartisanship, increase options, and help reduce corruption in government.
• Informative: The Libertarian party has thrown off elections before by gaining enough support in states to get on the ballot and by taking away crucial votes from candidates.
• Analytical: An analysis of past presidential elections shows that while third party votes may have been the minority, they did affect the outcome of the elections in 2020, 2016, and beyond.

Step 2: Figure out what point you want to make

Once you know what type of paper you’re writing, you then need to figure out the point you want to make with your thesis statement, and subsequently, your paper. In other words, you need to decide to answer a question about something, such as:

• What impact did reality TV have on American society?
• How has the musical Hamilton affected perception of American history?
• Why do I want to major in [chosen major here]?

If you have an argumentative essay, then you will be writing about an opinion. To make it easier, you may want to choose an opinion that you feel passionate about so that you’re writing about something that interests you. For example, if you have an interest in preserving the environment, you may want to choose a topic that relates to that. 

If you’re writing your college essay and they ask why you want to attend that school, you may want to have a main point and back it up with information, something along the lines of:

“Attending Harvard University would benefit me both academically and professionally, as it would give me a strong knowledge base upon which to build my career, develop my network, and hopefully give me an advantage in my chosen field.”

Step 3: Determine what information you’ll use to back up your point

Once you have the point you want to make, you need to figure out how you plan to back it up throughout the rest of your essay. Without this information, it will be hard to either prove or argue the main point of your thesis statement. If you decide to write about the Hamilton example, you may decide to address any falsehoods that the writer put into the musical, such as:

“The musical Hamilton, while accurate in many ways, leaves out key parts of American history, presents a nationalist view of founding fathers, and downplays the racism of the times.”

Once you’ve written your initial working thesis statement, you’ll then need to get information to back that up. For example, the musical completely leaves out Benjamin Franklin, portrays the founding fathers in a nationalist way that is too complimentary, and shows Hamilton as a staunch abolitionist despite the fact that his family likely did own slaves. 

Step 4: Revise and refine your thesis statement before you start writing

Read through your thesis statement several times before you begin to compose your full essay. You need to make sure the statement is ironclad, since it is the foundation of the entire paper. Edit it or have a peer review it for you to make sure everything makes sense and that you feel like you can truly write a paper on the topic. Once you’ve done that, you can then begin writing your paper.

When writing a thesis statement, there are some common pitfalls you should avoid so that your paper can be as solid as possible. Make sure you always edit the thesis statement before you do anything else. You also want to ensure that the thesis statement is clear and concise. Don’t make your reader hunt for your point. Finally, put your thesis statement at the end of the first paragraph and have your introduction flow toward that statement. Your reader will expect to find your statement in its traditional spot.

If you’re having trouble getting started, or need some guidance on your essay, there are tools available that can help you. CollegeVine offers a free peer essay review tool where one of your peers can read through your essay and provide you with valuable feedback. Getting essay feedback from a peer can help you wow your instructor or college admissions officer with an impactful essay that effectively illustrates your point.

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How to write a thesis statement + examples

What is a thesis statement?

Is a thesis statement a question, how do you write a good thesis statement, how do i know if my thesis statement is good, examples of thesis statements, helpful resources on how to write a thesis statement, frequently asked questions about writing a thesis statement, related articles.

A thesis statement is the main argument of your paper or thesis.

The thesis statement is one of the most important elements of any piece of academic writing . It is a brief statement of your paper’s main argument. Essentially, you are stating what you will be writing about.

You can see your thesis statement as an answer to a question. While it also contains the question, it should really give an answer to the question with new information and not just restate or reiterate it.

Your thesis statement is part of your introduction. Learn more about how to write a good thesis introduction in our introduction guide .

A thesis statement is not a question. A statement must be arguable and provable through evidence and analysis. While your thesis might stem from a research question, it should be in the form of a statement.

Tip: A thesis statement is typically 1-2 sentences. For a longer project like a thesis, the statement may be several sentences or a paragraph.

A good thesis statement needs to do the following:

• Condense the main idea of your thesis into one or two sentences.
• Answer your project’s main research question.
• Clearly state your position in relation to the topic .
• Make an argument that requires support or evidence.

Once you have written down a thesis statement, check if it fulfills the following criteria:

• Your statement needs to be provable by evidence. As an argument, a thesis statement needs to be debatable.
• Your statement needs to be precise. Do not give away too much information in the thesis statement and do not load it with unnecessary information.
• Your statement cannot say that one solution is simply right or simply wrong as a matter of fact. You should draw upon verified facts to persuade the reader of your solution, but you cannot just declare something as right or wrong.

As previously mentioned, your thesis statement should answer a question.

If the question is:

What do you think the City of New York should do to reduce traffic congestion?

A good thesis statement restates the question and answers it:

In this paper, I will argue that the City of New York should focus on providing exclusive lanes for public transport and adaptive traffic signals to reduce traffic congestion by the year 2035.

Here is another example. If the question is:

How can we end poverty?

A good thesis statement should give more than one solution to the problem in question:

In this paper, I will argue that introducing universal basic income can help reduce poverty and positively impact the way we work.

• The Writing Center of the University of North Carolina has a list of questions to ask to see if your thesis is strong .

A thesis statement is part of the introduction of your paper. It is usually found in the first or second paragraph to let the reader know your research purpose from the beginning.

In general, a thesis statement should have one or two sentences. But the length really depends on the overall length of your project. Take a look at our guide about the length of thesis statements for more insight on this topic.

Here is a list of Thesis Statement Examples that will help you understand better how to write them.

Every good essay should include a thesis statement as part of its introduction, no matter the academic level. Of course, if you are a high school student you are not expected to have the same type of thesis as a PhD student.

Here is a great YouTube tutorial showing How To Write An Essay: Thesis Statements .

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By Will Weldon

Published: July 31, 2022

Arguably the most debated topic in modern society, climate change, is one strongly linked to the process of fracking. While fracking, in the minds of many Americans, is the champion of the United States energy industry, there are those who call for the elimination of the practice. Such opponents from the environmental health arena point to the risks the process poses to the environment and individual health, as well as to the widespread notion that the world must soon transition to renewable resources. Though many call for the immediate move away from fossil fuels in America, the relatively innocuous nature of natural gas makes it a prospective “transition fuel” to be used en route to clean energy. The question of whether or not fracking should continue in the United States deals with two systems which hold great power over the American citizen: the economy and the climate. While the sustained use of fossil fuels may have detrimental effects on Earth’s climate, the abolition of fracking in the United States will almost certainly leave the American economy devastated and render us dependent on foreign countries for energy. Such consequences have led to the development of two chief sides to the fracking debate. Either we should end fracking immediately in an attempt to prevent any further climate change, or we should gradually reduce the practice of fracking over time. In our current world, you will find the latter is far more economically, environmentally, and politically practical.

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a method of natural-gas-and-crude-oil extraction that involves the pumping of high-pressure fluid into underground rock formations. The fluid, which is typically a mixture of sand, water, and chemical additives, is used to fracture the rock layers and release natural gas and oil (“Fracking in the United States”). These resources then flow into a wellbore and are extracted to the surface. An additional technique used in the modern fracking industry is the process of horizontal drilling. This technology involves the well turning ninety degrees and extending horizontally along the desired rock layer, allowing fracking companies to maximize their output for each well. Horizontal drilling, as well as other developments achieved for fracking, including those in machinery and fluid, is partly responsible for the fracking industry’s boom in the United States (Denchak).

Since the turn of the century, the fracking industry has grown at an exponential rate across the United States. Technological developments have allowed fracking to successfully be applied to dense rock formations which were previously unusable, such as shale. Equally influential in the industry’s boom was the United States’s vulnerability to fluctuations in the global fossil fuels price, leading to an influx of investors (Denchak). The number of natural gas wells in the U.S. doubled from 2000 to 2010 and has continued growing over the last decade (“Fracking in the United States”). This is evident in the U.S. jumping from third in global oil production ten years ago to first, all while increasing natural gas production by another two-thirds (Elliot and Santiago).

Despite the fracking boom in the United States and the continued use of fossil fuels throughout the world, it is understood that such resources are finite. Estimates on when non-renewable resources will eventually run out are complex and lead to widespread disagreement. Though there is no universally accepted timeline for how long fossil fuels can be sustained, it is generally agreed that natural gas and coal reserves will hold out longer than oil. This consensus gives little assurance, however, as the timeline for natural gas ranges from 50 years to upwards of 350 years (Lorenz). Thus, the question is not whether the United States should transition towards renewable resources; it is simply how soon and how aggressively this transition should take place.

The fracking industry is deeply intertwined with the United States economy. At the height of the fracking boom in 2015, the natural gas and oil industry was credited with supporting 10.3 million jobs, as well as $714 billion in labor income and $1.3 trillion in economic benefit. This accounted for 7.6 percent of the total United States GDP (“Hydraulic Fracturing”). The benefits of this economic impact extend far beyond the states historically credited with the production of oil and natural gas, however, as all fifty states were shown to experience residual benefits (Fleisher). Perhaps the most pervasive of such benefits has been the lowering of gas and energy prices nationwide. A 2019 study found that motor fuel in the United States would cost 43 percent more in the absence of fracking, while electrical prices would cost 31 percent more (Fleisher). Such a decrease in gas prices has similarly affected gas-consuming households. From 2007 to 2013, the increase in fracking saw consumer gas bills drop by $13 billion annually. This total indicates an average saving of $200 per gas-consuming household per year. Moreover, other energy sectors, including commercial, industrial, and electric power consumers, witnessed economic gains totaling $74 billion per year (Fleisher).

Equally indicative of fracking’s role in the U.S. economy is its dominance over the energy sector and its creation of jobs. 2019 marked the first year since 1957 where the United States energy production exceeded consumption, with total production increasing by six percent (“U.S. Energy Facts”). Natural gas and oil are largely responsible for this feat, as they make up 34.7% and 23.6% of the U.S.’s energy industry, respectively. Due to the fact that fracking is responsible for two-thirds of natural gas and 59% of crude oil produced, the fracking industry makes up just under 40% of the total United States energy industry (“U.S. Energy Facts”). Such pervasiveness has led to the shale energy sector (fracking) supporting approximately 9.8 million jobs. This makes up 5.6% of the total U.S. employment pool (Wissman). Moreover, the development of U.S. natural gas reserves is expected to create upwards of one million jobs in the manufacturing industry by 2025. The global hydraulic fracturing market is expected to see even greater rates of growth, as statistics on the growth of fracking suggest that the natural gas market will reach $68 billion dollars by 2024 (“Hydraulic Fracturing Market”). Such a projected leap from the $37.23 billion market value in 2018 is reminiscent of the fracking boom in the early 2010s, giving even more value to the already instrumental fracking industry.

The advent of fracking has also had major economic impacts on a local scale. Fracking has been primarily an industry of the Great Plains region into southern Texas and an area known as the Marcellus Shale, which stretches along the Appalachians from central New York south into Ohio and Virginia. These regions—especially the Marcellus Shale, which has been dubbed the “Saudi Arabia of natural gas”—have seen local communities lifted by the economic benefits of natural gas wells. A study by researchers at the University of Chicago concluded that the shale boom produced benefits to nearby communities valued at $1,900-a-year for the average household (Handy). The same research found that there was an increase in income, employment, and housing prices. On average, employment climbed by 10%, income by 7%, and home prices by 6% in these communities—though in North Dakota, home prices rose an average of 20%, showing the potential economic explosion fracking can cause in communities. These results are validated by another study, which found that fracked communities saw similar increases in employment (3.7–5.5%), income (3.3-6.1%), and housing prices (5.7%). They also found that the average salary increased from anywhere between 5.4 and 11% (Fleisher). Even when the tradeoffs associated with living near natural gas wells are accounted for, nearby communities see benefits of tens of thousands of dollars.

The ingrained nature of fracking in the U.S. energy industry means its removal would devastate the nation’s economy. Naturally, a fracking ban would greatly increase the cost of natural gas and electricity. A report by the Department of Energy estimated that a ban on fracking in the U.S. would increase retail natural gas costs by more than $400 billion between 2021 and 2025, and retail electrical prices by more than $480 billion. The same report calculated the probable price increase which gasoline and diesel fuels would experience. They found there would be an annual price increase by over 100% for gasoline, bringing prices to over $4.20 per gallon in 2022 and 2023. Similarly, the annual average diesel fuel price would increase by 95%, bringing the cost to $4.56 per gallon in 2022 (“Department of Energy”). Cumulatively, the costs associated with a fracking ban could lead to a $7.1 trillion hit to the GDP by 2030. A report to the President in 2021 warned that the elimination of the industry would lead to a loss of 7.7 million jobs in 2022, which would make up 5% of the total American workforce ( Economic and National Security ). An additional report by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce found that the average American family could see their cost-of-living rise by roughly $4,000 (“New Energy Institute Report”). Such consequences would ravage the United States economy, likely triggering another recession.

Not only does the hydraulic fracking industry hold the United States economy together, but it serves as a safeguard against the risks associated with the global energy market. Recent years have seen the United States achieve complete energy security, a feat that has been the goal of Administrations since the 1970’s energy crisis. This means that the U.S. is able to export more energy than it imports, freeing us from reliance on foreign countries for energy, such as Russia and Saudi Arabia. The strength of U.S. oil and natural gas production has made the U.S. far less vulnerable to global oil price shocks, giving domestic consumers reliable and affordable power ( Economic and National Security ). As put by U.S. Representative Fred Keller, “The less reliant the United States and our allies are on energy resources produced by countries that hate us, the less influence they have over us” (“Fracking—Top 3”). Without energy independence, the U.S.’s national security is at risk. Such vulnerability can be seen by our national security assets’ reliance on hydrocarbons to fuel the majority of our military and its operations. This makes a steady supply of fuel necessary to effectively operate our nation’s military. In addition to this, there are several potential chokepoints along international shipping lanes that could be used to cut off fuel supplies to the United States in times of conflict. While a conflict of such magnitude seems farfetched in today’s world, a reliance on foreign energy supplies nonetheless poses a threat to our military security. A more common threat energy reliance poses is foreign countries’ ability to influence our economy. An example of this is the 1973 OAPEC oil embargo, which led to oil shortages and extreme prices, resulting in the 1970’s energy crisis and limited economic growth ( Economic and National Security ). In short, a ban on fracking would put the U.S. economy in the hands of foreign nations.

Though the end of fossil fuels is inevitable, natural gas is a necessary component in the transition to clean energy. The role of natural gas as a “transition fuel” comes as a result of its relatively clean nature in comparison to coal and petroleum. Natural gas has been shown to produce 50% to 60% fewer carbon emissions than coal while generating the same amount of energy. Similarly, it has been shown to give off 30% less CO2 than oil (Wissman). The replacement of coal and petroleum with natural gas has allowed the United States to achieve immediate reductions in greenhouse gases while renewable energy sectors such as wind and solar are built into viable industries (“Fracking—Top 3”). In the last decade, the switching from coal and petroleum to natural gas has eliminated approximately 500 million tons of CO2 emissions from our nation's carbon footprint (“The Role of Gas”).

Despite the environmental benefits of natural gas, the process of hydraulic fracking has been criticized as a danger to the environment and individual health. Opponents of fracking point to the large number of chemicals used in well fluid as a potential danger to local water supplies and overall health. Such concern is due to the fact that, assuming each mixture is approximately 1% chemical additives, over 70,000 gallons of chemicals are required per well. A study by Yale Public Health found that over 80% of such chemicals had never been reviewed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Out of those that had been reviewed, 55 were found to be carcinogenic (Pokladnik). These chemicals, which pose the risk of becoming airborne during the fracking process, could contribute to immediate and long-term health issues for nearby communities, according to a study from Colorado School of Public Health (qtd. in Lallanilla). Such additives also present the danger of leaking into local water supplies. In 2012, for example, Chesapeake Energy Corp. was cited with contaminating the drinking water of three families, resulting in a $1.6 settlement (Lallanilla). On a larger scale, the process of fracking has been known to inadvertently release methane, a greenhouse gas known to be 80% to 90% more potent than CO2. Some fracking wells may have methane leakage rates as high as 7.9%, which would outweigh the benefits of using natural gas and make the process of fracking worse than coal (“Fracking”). The uncertainty that characterizes both the chemicals used in fracking and those leaked from it make it easy to see why the process has been criticized by environmentalists.

The use of natural gas as a bridge fuel to renewable energy has also come under fire from climate change advocates. According to thousands of scientists at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, there is no scenario in which the world can continue digging for fossil fuels, including natural gas obtained from fracking, without causing irreversible damage to the climate (Stein). Research published by the Stockholm Environment Institute reveals that, despite the rhetoric about moving towards renewable energy, the world is on pace to produce 120 % more fossil fuels than would limit global warming to 1.5-degrees Celsius, the goal set by the Paris Agreement in 2015 (Stein). An article by Green America confirms the futility in using natural gas as a transition fuel, stating “The money spent on natural gas power facilities and infrastructure takes decades to recuperate. Companies would need to use these facilities for their full lifetimes, delaying the switch to renewables for far too long” (“Natural Gas: The Myth”). In summary, opponents of fracking argue that a transition fuel is both a futile combatant against climate change and an ideological fantasy which cannot be realistically applied in the industrial world.

Fracking’s role in the United States’s natural security has received similar scrutiny. Many point to the futility in staking energy independence on a resource that is doomed to run out. Due to the fact that fossil fuels are expected to last the U.S. a few more hundred years, at best, 100% renewable energy is the only means by which to obtain long-term energy security. Recent shifts in the global economy due to the COVID-19 pandemic have also highlighted the nature of natural gas as a market-dependent resource, as total demand for fossil fuels dropped 6% in 2020. The only energy industry that experienced growth during this period was renewable, demonstrating its value as the energy of the future (“Fracking—Top 3”).

In light of both the benefits and detriments of hydraulic fracking, I believe the industry should be gradually reduced in favor of renewable resources, though it cannot be completely removed from the energy and economic plan for many years. This is largely because the renewable energy sector is not viable enough to fill the shoes of fracking if eliminated.

Firstly, the economic impact of a fracking ban would far outweigh any progress made towards combating climate change. The economic decline that would occur in the absence of fracking would have great implications for all U.S. citizens, most likely sending us into another recession, if not a depression. Such an economic hit would not only have a negative impact on the lives of almost all Americans, but it would leave the U.S. economy and investors with even less capital to invest in the development of the renewable energy industry. Therefore, the elimination of fracking in the U.S. would have little, if any, immediate impact on improving the strength of the renewable energy sector, all while ravaging the economy.

Perhaps most important in my claim against an immediate ban on fracking is the fact that such a policy would have an overall negative impact on the environment. While a fracking ban would eventually lead to growth and development in the renewable energy industry (after an economic recovery), clean energy would, for many years, be incapable of providing energy for all of America. Thus, the United States would resort to coal, petroleum, and other fossil fuels for energy. This increased usage of “dirtier” energies to compensate for the loss of natural gas would greatly increase the amount of CO2 released in our nation for years to come; optimistic predictions dismiss the possibility of renewable energy being viable any time before 2050 (Roberts). This implies that the United States will also not be able to pin our nation's national security on fossil fuels until at least 2050. The timetable for when the renewable energy sector would become viable is far too long for the U.S. military and government to remain dependent on foreign nations for energy imports. In the long run, while energy security based on renewables is the most ideal, its immediate consequences pose far too great a risk to our national security.

The conversation concerning fracking, in recent years, has become increasingly synonymous with that concerning climate change. While fracking undoubtedly impacts the environment, the question of whether to eliminate the practice is far more nuanced than the general public knows. By backing the argument that fracking cannot be removed from our nation for many years, I am not simply placing the economic prosperity of our nation above the ecological integrity of our planet. Rather, I am asserting that the economic, ecological, and political consequences of such a policy outweigh the benefits. A ban on fracking would have immediate negative implications for our economy, environment, and national security. However, this does not mean that it should never be phased out, as the move to 100 % renewable energy is necessary to avoid irreversible damage to our climate. Such a stance is rarely announced in the polarizing atmosphere of today’s world, and it is one that I feel must be considered if we are to properly address an issue which has such significant implications for our nation's future.

Works Cited

Denchak, Melissa. “Fracking 101.” NRDC , 19 April, 2019, https://www.nrdc.org/stories/fracking-101 . Accessed 21 Nov. 2021.

“Department of Energy Releases Report on Economic and National Security Impacts of a Hydraulic Fracturing Ban.” Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, Energy.Gov , 14 Jan. 2021, https://www.energy.gov/fecm/articles/department-energy-releases-report-economic-and-national-security-impacts-hydraulic . Accessed 21 Nov. 2021.

Economic and National Security Impacts under a Hydraulic Fracturing Ban . U.S. Department of Energy, Jan. 2021, https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2021/01/f82/economic-and-national-security-impacts-under-a-hydraulic-fracturing-ban.pdf .

Elliott, Rebecca and Luis Santiago. “A Decade in which Fracking Rocked the Oil World.” The Wall Street Journal , 17 Dec. 2019, https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-decade-in-which-fracking-rocked-the-oil-world-11576630807 . Accessed 21 Nov. 2021.

Fleisher, Chris. “Weighing the Impacts of Fracking.” American Economic Association , https://www.aeaweb.org/research/fracking-shale-local-impact-net . Accessed 21 Nov. 2021.

“Fracking.” Center for Biological Diversity , https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/fracking/ . Accessed 21 Nov. 2021.

“Fracking—Top 3 Pros and Cons.” ProCon.Org , Britannica, 21 Jan 2022, https://www.procon.org/headlines/fracking-top-3-pros-and-cons/ . Accessed 11 May 2022.

“Fracking in the United States.” Ballotpedia , https://ballotpedia.org/Fracking_in_the_United_States . Accessed 21 Nov. 2021.

Handy, Ryan Maye. “Overall, Fracking Benefits Nearby Communities, Study Finds.” Houston Chronicle , 23 Dec. 2016, https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/Overall-fracking-benefits-nearby-communities-10814313.php .

“Hydraulic Fracturing: Better for the Environment and the Economy.” American Petroleum Institute, https://www.api.org/-/media/Files/Oil-and-Natural-Gas/Hydraulic-Fracturing/Environment-Economic-Benefits/API_FrackingBenefits_FINAL_.pdf .

“Hydraulic Fracturing Market Worth $71.72 Billion by 2026, at 8.69% CAGR; Increasing Demand for Energy Worldwide to Augment Growth: Fortune Business Insights TM .” Fortune Business Insights , Global Newswire, 24 Jan. 2020, https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2020/01/24/1974749/0/en/Hydraulic-Fracturing-Market-Worth-71-72-Billion-by-2026-at-8-69-CAGR-Increasing-Demand-for-Energy-Worldwide-to-Augment-Growth-Fortune-Business-Insights.html .

Lallanilla, Marc. “Facts About Fracking.” LiveScience 09 Feb. 2018, https://www.livescience.com/34464-what-is-fracking.html . Accessed 11 May 2022.

Lorenz, Ama. “When Will Fossil Fuels Run Out?” FairPlanet , 5 May 2020, https://www.fairplanet.org/story/when-will-fossil-fuels-run-out/ . Accessed 21 Nov. 2021.

“Natural Gas: The Myth of Transition Fuels.” Green America , https://www.greenamerica.org/fight-dirty-energy/amazon-build-cleaner-cloud/natural-gas-transition-fuel-myth . Accessed 21 Nov. 2021.

‘Natural Gas vs. Coal – a Positive Impact on the Environment’. GASVESSEL , 24 Sept. 2018, https://www.gasvessel.eu/news/natural-gas-vs-coal-impact-on-the-environment/ .

“New Energy Institute Report Finds That U.S. Could Lose Nearly 15 Million Jobs If Hydraulic Fracturing Is Banned,” Global Energy Institute , U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 4 Nov. 2016, https://www.globalenergyinstitute.org/new-energy-institute-report-finds-us-could-lose-nearly-15-million-jobs-if-hydraulic-fracturing . Accessed 21 Nov. 2021.

Pokladnik, Randi. “Op-Ed: A Fact-Based Conversation about Fracking.” The Parkersburg News and Sentinel , 31 Oct. 2020, https://www.newsandsentinel.com/opinion/local-columns/2020/10/op-ed-a-fact-based-conversation-about-fracking/ . Accessed 21 Nov. 2021.

PricewaterhouseCoopers. “Impacts of the Natural Gas and Oil Industry on the U.S. Economy in 2015.” https://www.api.org/-/media/Files/Policy/Jobs/National-Factsheet.pdf?la=en&hash=E22F58E3D724DC9D8D7EF76BE86BC3FC953588D5 .

Roberts, David. “Is 100% Renewable Energy Realistic? Here’s What We Know.” Vox , 7 Apr. 2017, https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2017/4/7/15159034/100-renewable-energy-studies .

“The Role of Gas in Today’s Energy Transitions—Analysis.” IEA , July 2019, https://www.iea.org/reports/the-role-of-gas-in-todays-energy-transitions . Accessed 21 Nov. 2021.

Stein, Mark. “Climate and Energy Experts Debate How to Respond to a Warming World.” The New York Times , 7 Oct. 2019, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/07/business/energy-environment/climate-energy-experts-debate.html .

“U.S. Energy Facts Explained—Consumption and Production.” EIA—U.S. Energy Information Administration , https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/us-energy-facts/ . Accessed 21 Nov. 2021.

Wissman, Stephanie Catarino. “Fracking Ban Threatens American Jobs, Derails Environmental Progress.” GoErie , 21 March 2021, https://www.goerie.com/story/opinion/2021/03/26/op-ed-fracking-ban-threatens-jobs-derails-environmental-progress/6986385002/ . Accessed 21 Nov. 2021.

Will Weldon

William Weldon is an Economics major in the College of Arts and Letters who lives in Alumni Hall, the center of the universe. Will is from Upstate New York and grew up in the small town of Cooperstown. Though best known for the Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, for a period of time, was more focused on protesting the migration of fracking companies into the area than on anything else. The prospect of companies moving into the area and possibly polluting the nearby lake resulted in an abundance of “No Fracking” yard signs and bumper stickers across town. Such controversy sparked Will’s interest and drove him to research the issue for himself. Will looks forward to further pursuing his studies at Notre Dame and would like to thank the Notre Dame community, especially professor Michelle Marvin, for their support.

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II. Getting Started

2.5 Writing Thesis Statements

Kathryn Crowther; Lauren Curtright; Nancy Gilbert; Barbara Hall; Tracienne Ravita; and Kirk Swenson

To be effective, all support in an essay must work together to convey a central point; otherwise, an essay can fall into the trap of being out of order and confusing. Just as a topic sentence focuses and unifies a single paragraph, the thesis statement focuses and unifies an entire essay. This statement is like a signpost that signals the essay’s destination; it tells the reader the point you want to make in your essay, while the essay itself supports that point.

Because writing is not a linear process, you may find that the best thesis statement develops near the end of your first draft. However, creating a draft or working thesis early in the writing project helps give the drafting process clear direction. You should form your thesis before you begin to organize an essay, but you may find that it needs revision as the essay develops.

A thesis is not just a topic, but rather the writer’s comment or interpretation of the question or subject. For whatever topic you select (for example, school uniforms, social networking), you must ask yourself, “What do I want to say about it?” Asking and then answering this question is vital to forming a thesis that is precise, forceful, and confident.

In the majority of essays, a thesis is one sentence long and appears toward the end of the introductory paragraph. It is specific and focuses on one to three points of a single idea—points that are able to be demonstrated in the body paragraphs. It forecasts the content of the essay and suggests how you will organize your information. Remember that a thesis statement does not summarize an issue but rather dissects it.

Working Thesis Statements

A strong thesis statement must have the following qualities:

• It must be arguable.  A thesis statement must state a point of view or judgment about a topic. An established fact is not considered arguable.
• It must be supportable.  The thesis statement must contain a point of view that can be supported with evidence (reasons, facts, examples).
• It must be specific. A thesis statement must be precise enough to allow for a coherent argument and remain focused on the topic.

Examples of Appropriate Thesis Statements

• Closing all American borders for a period of five years is one solution that will tackle illegal immigration.
• Compared to an absolute divorce, no-fault divorce is less expensive, promotes fairer settlements, and reflects a more realistic view of the causes for marital breakdown.
• Exposing children from an early age to the dangers of drug abuse is a sure method of preventing future drug addicts.
• In today’s crumbling job market, a high school diploma is not significant enough education to land a stable, lucrative job.
• The societal and personal struggles of Troy Maxson in the play Fences symbolize the challenges of black males who lived through segregation and integration in the United States.

Pitfalls to Avoid

A thesis is weak when it is simply a declaration of your subject or a description of what you will discuss in your essay.

Weak Thesis Statement Example

My paper will explain why imagination is more important than knowledge.

A thesis is weak when it makes an unreasonable or outrageous claim or insults the opposing side.

Religious radicals across America are trying to legislate their Puritanical beliefs by banning required high school books.

A thesis is weak when it contains an obvious fact or something that no one can disagree with or provides a dead end.

Advertising companies use sex to sell their products.

A thesis is weak when the statement is too broad.

The life of Abraham Lincoln was long and challenging.

Ways to Revise Your Thesis

Your thesis statement begins as a working thesis statement, an indefinite statement that you make about your topic early in the writing process for the purpose of planning and guiding your writing. Working thesis statements often become stronger as you gather information and develop new ideas and reasons for those ideas. Revision helps you strengthen your thesis so that it matches what you have expressed in the body of the paper.

You can cut down on irrelevant aspects and revise your thesis by taking the following steps:

• Pinpoint and replace all non specific words, such as people, everything, society, or life, with more precise words in order to reduce any vagueness.

Pinpoint and Replace Example

Working thesis:  Young people have to work hard to succeed in life.

Revised thesis:  Recent college graduates must have discipline and persistence in order to find and maintain a stable job in which they can use, and be appreciated for, their talents.

Explanation:  The original includes too broad a range of people and does not define exactly what success entails. By replacing those general words like people and work hard , the writer can better focus their research and gain more direction in their writing. The revised thesis makes a more specific statement about success and what it means to work hard.

• Clarify ideas that need explanation by asking yourself questions that narrow your thesis.

Clarify Example

Working thesis:  The welfare system is a joke.

Revised thesis:  The welfare system keeps a socioeconomic class from gaining employment by alluring members of that class with unearned income, instead of programs to improve their education and skill sets.

Explanation:  A joke means many things to many people. Readers bring all sorts of backgrounds and perspectives to the reading process and would need clarification for a word so vague. This expression may also be too informal for the selected audience. By asking questions, the writer can devise a more precise and appropriate explanation for joke and more accurately defines their stance, which will better guide the writing of the essay.

• Replace any linking verbs with action verbs. Linking verbs are forms of the verb to be , a verb that simply states that a situation exists.

Replace with Action Verbs Example

Working thesis:  Kansas City school teachers are not paid enough.

Revised thesis:  The Kansas City legislature cannot afford to pay its educators, resulting in job cuts and resignations in a district that sorely needs highly qualified and dedicated teachers.

Explanation:  The linking verb in this working thesis statement is the word are . Linking verbs often make thesis statements weak because they do not express action. Rather, they connect words and phrases to the second half of the sentence. Readers might wonder, “Why are they not paid enough?” But this statement does not compel them to ask many more questions.

• Who is not paying the teachers enough?
• How much is considered “enough”?
• What is the problem?
• What are the results?
• Omit any general claims that are hard to support.

Omit General Claims Example

Working thesis:  Today’s teenage girls are too sexualized.

Revised thesis: Teenage girls who are captivated by the sexual images on the internet and social media are conditioned to believe that a woman’s worth depends on her sensuality, a feeling that harms their self-esteem and behavior.

Explanation:  It is true that some young women in today’s society are more sexualized than in the past, but that is not true for all girls. Many girls have strict parents, dress appropriately, and do not engage in sexual activity while in middle school and high school. The writer of this thesis should ask the following questions:

• Which teenage girls?
• What constitutes “too” sexualized?
• Why are they behaving that way?
• Where does this behavior show up?
• What are the repercussions?

This section contains material from:

Crowther, Kathryn, Lauren Curtright, Nancy Gilbert, Barbara Hall, Tracienne Ravita, and Kirk Swenson. Successful College Composition . 2nd ed. Book 8. Georgia: English Open Textbooks, 2016. http://oer.galileo.usg.edu/english-textbooks/8 . Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License .

Relating to lines; a way of explaining information logically and/or sequentially; can refer to the chronological relaying of information.

A brief and concise statement or series of statements that outlines the main point(s) of a longer work. To summarize is to create a brief and concise statement or series of statements that outlines the main point(s) of a longer work.

To analyze closely or minutely; to scrutinize every aspect. Unlike the fields of biology, anatomy, or medicine, in rhetoric and writing, dissect does not refer to the cutting apart of a physical body but to the taking apart the body of an argument or idea piece by piece to understand it better.

A logical, rational, lucid, or understandable expression of an idea, concept, or notion; consistent and harmonious explanation.

Assertion or announcement of belief, understanding, or knowledge; a formal statement or proclamation.

Without a defined number or limit; unlimited, infinite, or undetermined.

An altered version of  a written work. Revising means to rewrite in order to improve and make corrections. Unlike editing, which involves minor changes, revisions include major and noticeable changes to a written work.

Not relevant; unimportant; beside the point; not relating to the matter at hand.

Attractive, tempting, or seductive; to have an appealing and charismatic quality.

To influence or convince; to produce a certain or specific result through the use of force.

2.5 Writing Thesis Statements Copyright © 2022 by Kathryn Crowther; Lauren Curtright; Nancy Gilbert; Barbara Hall; Tracienne Ravita; and Kirk Swenson is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Yale Climate Connections

Pros and cons of fracking: 5 key issues

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There’s an issue where the underlying science remains a political football, and scientists are regularly challenged and called out personally . Where energy needs and short-term economic growth are set against our children’s health and future. Where the consequences of bad, short-sighted decisions may be borne primarily by a small subset of under-served and undeserving persons. And where the very descriptive terms in the debate are radioactive, words spun as epithets.

We’re not talking here about global warming, and “deniers” versus “warmists.” We’re talking about the game-changing new set of unconventional oil and gas extraction technologies and techniques collectively known as hydraulic fracturing , or “fracking.”

Ask the most hardcore of pro-fracking boosters for their take, and they’ll describe the modern miracle of America’s new-found energy independence, a reality almost inconceivable just a decade ago. For them, the oil and gas boom around the U.S. has helped to reboot the economy at a time of great need. Prices at the pump have plummeted. Sure, they may acknowledge, there are a few safety issues to be worked out and techniques yet to be perfected, but just look at the big picture.

Fracking detractors in environmental and social justice circles, meanwhile, will conjure up the iconic image: Flammable water flowing from a home faucet. And with that come other haunting images: The double-crossed landowner hapless in the face of aggressive Big Energy. The ugly rigs rising up amid the tranquility of America’s farm, pasture, and suburban lands. The stench of unknown – even secret – chemicals, sickness, and looming illnesses, and death.

Refereeing these confrontations is no easy thing, and unlike the “settled science” of climate change and its causes, the science of fracking is far from settled. But a review of the research can help clarify some of the chief points of contention.

If there’s a single source plausibly seen as the fairest, most comprehensive, and cogent assessment, it might be the 2014 literature review published in Annual Reviews of Environment and Resources . It’s titled “ The Environmental Costs and Benefits of Fracking ,” authored by researchers affiliated with leading universities and research organizations who reviewed more than 160 studies.

Below are the arguments and synthesized evidence on some key issues, based on the available research literature and conversations with diverse experts.

Air quality, health, and the energy menu

ISSUE: The new supply of natural gas reachable by fracking is now changing the overall picture for U.S. electricity generation, with consequences for air quality.

PRO FRACKING: Increasing reliance on natural gas, rather than coal, is indisputably creating widespread public health benefits, as the burning of natural gas produces fewer harmful particles in the air. The major new supply of natural gas produced through fracking is displacing the burning of coal, which each year contributes to the early death of thousands of people. Coal made up about 50 percent of U.S. electricity generation in 2008, 37 percent by 2012; meanwhile, natural gas went from about 20 percent to about 30 percent during that same period. In particular, nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide emissions have been reduced dramatically . Fracking saves lives, and it saves them right now and not at some indiscernible date well into the future.

CON FRACKING: First, it is not the case that a new natural gas facility coming online always replaces a legacy coal-fired power plant. It may displace coal in West Virginia or North Carolina, but less so in Texas and across the West. So fracking is no sure bet for improving regional air quality. Second, air quality dynamics around fracking operations are not fully understood, and cumulative health impacts of fracking for nearby residents and workers remain largely unknown. Some of the available research evidence from places such as Utah and Colorado suggests there may be under-appreciated problems with air quality, particularly relating to ozone. Further, natural gas is not a purely clean and renewable source of energy, and so its benefits are only relative. It is not the answer to truly cleaning up our air, and in fact could give pause to a much-needed and well thought-out transition to wind, solar, geothermal, and other sources that produce fewer or no harmful airborne fine particulates.

Greenhouse gas leaks, methane and fugitive emissions

ISSUE: The extraction process results in some greenhouse gas emissions leakage.

PRO FRACKING: We know that, at the power plant level, natural gas produces only somewhere between 44 and 50 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions compared with burning of coal. This is known for certain; it’s basic chemistry. That is a gigantic benefit. Further, some research that claims methane is so harmful uses a 20-year time horizon; but over a 100-year time horizon – the way we generally measure global warming potential – methane is not nearly so harmful as claimed. Thus, methane’s impact is potent but relatively brief compared with impacts of increased carbon dioxide emissions. The number-one priority must be to reduce the reliance on coal, the biggest threat to the atmosphere right now. Fears about emissions leaks are overblown. Even if the true leakage rate were slightly more than EPA and some states estimate, it is not that dramatic. We are developing technology to reduce these leaks and further narrow the gap. Moreover, research-based modeling suggests that even if energy consumption increases overall, the United States still will reap greenhouse benefits as a result of fracking.

CON FRACKING: Research from Cornell has suggested that leaked methane – a powerful greenhouse gas – from wells essentially wipes out any greenhouse gas benefits of natural gas derived from fracking. And at other points in the life cycle, namely transmission and distribution, there are further ample leaks. Falling natural gas prices will only encourage more energy use, negating any “cleaner” benefits of gas. Finally, there is no question that the embrace of cheap natural gas will undercut incentives to invest in solar, wind, and other renewables. We are at a crucial juncture over the next few decades in terms of reducing the risk of “tipping points” and catastrophic melting of the glaciers. Natural gas is often seen as a “bridge,” but it is likely a bridge too far, beyond the point where scientists believe we can go in terms of greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere.

Drinking water wars

ISSUE: Fracking may threaten human health by contaminating drinking water supplies.

PRO FRACKING: It is highly unlikely that well-run drilling operations, which involve extracting oil and gas from thousands of feet down in the ground, are creating cracks that allow chemicals to reach relatively shallow aquifers and surface water supplies. Drinking water and oil and gas deposits are at very different levels in the ground. To the extent that there are problems, we must make sure companies pay more attention to the surface operations and the top 500 to 1,000 feet of piping. But that’s not the fracking – that’s just a matter of making sure that the steel tubing, the casing, is not leaking and that the cement around it doesn’t have cracks. Certain geologies, such as those in Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale region, do require more care; but research has found that between 2008 and 2011, only a handful of major incidents happened across more than 3,500 wells in the Marcellus. We are learning and getting better. So this is a technical, well-integrity issue, not a deal-breaker. As for the flammable water, it is a fact that flammable water was a reality 100 years ago in some of these areas. It can be made slightly worse in a minority of cases, but it’s unlikely and it is often the result of leaks from activities other than fracking. In terms of disclosure, many of the chemicals are listed on data sheets available to first-responders: The information is disclosed to relevant authorities.

CON FRACKING: This April, yet another major study , published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , confirmed that high-volume hydraulic fracturing techniques can contaminate drinking water. There have been numerous reports by citizens across the country of fouled tap water; it is a fact that some of the tap water has even turned bubbly and flammable, as a result of increased methane. Well blowouts have happened, and they are a complete hazard to the environment. The companies involved cannot be trusted, and roughly one in five chemicals involved in the fracking process are still classified as trade secrets. Even well-meaning disclosure efforts such as FracFocus.org do not provide sufficient information. And we know that there are many who cut corners out in the field, no matter the federal or state regulations we try to impose. They already receive dozens of violation notices at sites, with little effect. We’ve created a Gold Rush/Wild West situation by green-lighting all of this drilling, and in the face of these economic incentives, enforcement has little impact.

Infrastructure, resources, and communities

ISSUE: Fracking operations are sometimes taking place near and around populated areas, with consequences for the local built and natural environments.

PRO FRACKING: Water intensity is lower for fracking than other fossil fuels and nuclear: Coal, nuclear and oil extraction use approximately two, three, and 10 times, respectively, as much water as fracking per energy unit, and corn ethanol may use 1,000 times more if the plants are irrigated. For communities, the optics, aesthetics, and quality of life issues are real, but it’s worth remembering that drilling operations and rigs don’t go on forever – it’s not like putting up a permanent heavy manufacturing facility. The operations are targeted and finite, and the productivity of wells is steadily rising , getting more value during operations. Moreover, the overall societal benefits outweigh the downsides, which are largely subjective in this respect.

CON FRACKING: More than 15 million Americans have had a fracking operation within a mile of their home. Still, that means that a small proportion of people shoulder the burden and downsides, with no real compensation for this intrusive new industrial presence. Fracking is hugely water-intensive: A well can require anywhere from two- to 20-million gallons of water, with another 25 percent used for operations such as drilling and extraction. It can impact local water sources. The big, heavy trucks beat up our roads over hundreds of trips back-and-forth – with well-documented consequences for local budgets and infrastructure. In places such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Colorado, the drilling rigs have popped up near where people have their homes, diminishing the quality of life and creating an industrial feel to some of our communities. This is poor planning at best, and sheer greed at its worst. It seldom involves the preferences of the local residents.

Finally, it’s also the case that relatively low impact fees are being charged and relatively little funding is being set aside to mitigate future problems as wells age and further clean-up is necessary. It is the opposite of a sustainable solution, as well production tends to drop sharply after initial fracking. Within just five years, wells may produce just 10 percent of what they did in the first month of operation. In short order, we’re likely to have tens of thousands of sealed and abandoned wells all over the U.S. landscape, many of which will need to be monitored, reinforced, and maintained. It is a giant unfunded scheme.

Earthquakes: Seismic worries

ISSUE: Fracking wells, drilled thousands of feet down, may change geology in a potentially negative way, leading to earthquakes.

PRO FRACKING: Earthquakes are a naturally occurring phenomenon, and even in the few instances where fracking operations likely contributed to them, they were minor. We’ve had tens of thousands of wells drilled over many years now, and there are practically zero incidents in which operations-induced seismic effects impacted citizens. There’s also research to suggest that the potential for earthquakes can be mitigated through safeguards.

CON FRACKING: We are only just beginning to understand what we are doing to our local geologies, and this is dangerous. The 2014 Annual Reviews of Environment and Resources paper notes that “between 1967 and 2000, geologists observed a steady background rate of 21 earthquakes of 3.0 Mw or greater in the central United States per year. Starting in 2001, when shale gas and other unconventional energy sources began to grow, the rate rose steadily to [approximately] 100 such earthquakes annually, with 188 in 2011 alone.” New research on seismology in places such as Texas and Oklahoma suggests risky and unknown changes. It is just not smart policy to go headlong first – at massive scale – and only later discover the consequences.

Also see: Pros and cons of fracking: Research updates

John Wihbey

John Wihbey, a writer, educator, and researcher, is an assistant professor of journalism at Northeastern University and a correspondent for Boston Globe Ideas. Previously, he was an assistant director... More by John Wihbey

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9.1 Developing a Strong, Clear Thesis Statement

Learning objectives.

• Develop a strong, clear thesis statement with the proper elements.
• Revise your thesis statement.

Have you ever known a person who was not very good at telling stories? You probably had trouble following his train of thought as he jumped around from point to point, either being too brief in places that needed further explanation or providing too many details on a meaningless element. Maybe he told the end of the story first, then moved to the beginning and later added details to the middle. His ideas were probably scattered, and the story did not flow very well. When the story was over, you probably had many questions.

Just as a personal anecdote can be a disorganized mess, an essay can fall into the same trap of being out of order and confusing. That is why writers need a thesis statement to provide a specific focus for their essay and to organize what they are about to discuss in the body.

Just like a topic sentence summarizes a single paragraph, the thesis statement summarizes an entire essay. It tells the reader the point you want to make in your essay, while the essay itself supports that point. It is like a signpost that signals the essay’s destination. You should form your thesis before you begin to organize an essay, but you may find that it needs revision as the essay develops.

Elements of a Thesis Statement

For every essay you write, you must focus on a central idea. This idea stems from a topic you have chosen or been assigned or from a question your teacher has asked. It is not enough merely to discuss a general topic or simply answer a question with a yes or no. You have to form a specific opinion, and then articulate that into a controlling idea —the main idea upon which you build your thesis.

Remember that a thesis is not the topic itself, but rather your interpretation of the question or subject. For whatever topic your professor gives you, you must ask yourself, “What do I want to say about it?” Asking and then answering this question is vital to forming a thesis that is precise, forceful and confident.

A thesis is one sentence long and appears toward the end of your introduction. It is specific and focuses on one to three points of a single idea—points that are able to be demonstrated in the body. It forecasts the content of the essay and suggests how you will organize your information. Remember that a thesis statement does not summarize an issue but rather dissects it.

A Strong Thesis Statement

A strong thesis statement contains the following qualities.

Specificity. A thesis statement must concentrate on a specific area of a general topic. As you may recall, the creation of a thesis statement begins when you choose a broad subject and then narrow down its parts until you pinpoint a specific aspect of that topic. For example, health care is a broad topic, but a proper thesis statement would focus on a specific area of that topic, such as options for individuals without health care coverage.

Precision. A strong thesis statement must be precise enough to allow for a coherent argument and to remain focused on the topic. If the specific topic is options for individuals without health care coverage, then your precise thesis statement must make an exact claim about it, such as that limited options exist for those who are uninsured by their employers. You must further pinpoint what you are going to discuss regarding these limited effects, such as whom they affect and what the cause is.

Ability to be argued. A thesis statement must present a relevant and specific argument. A factual statement often is not considered arguable. Be sure your thesis statement contains a point of view that can be supported with evidence.

Ability to be demonstrated. For any claim you make in your thesis, you must be able to provide reasons and examples for your opinion. You can rely on personal observations in order to do this, or you can consult outside sources to demonstrate that what you assert is valid. A worthy argument is backed by examples and details.

Forcefulness. A thesis statement that is forceful shows readers that you are, in fact, making an argument. The tone is assertive and takes a stance that others might oppose.

Confidence. In addition to using force in your thesis statement, you must also use confidence in your claim. Phrases such as I feel or I believe actually weaken the readers’ sense of your confidence because these phrases imply that you are the only person who feels the way you do. In other words, your stance has insufficient backing. Taking an authoritative stance on the matter persuades your readers to have faith in your argument and open their minds to what you have to say.

Even in a personal essay that allows the use of first person, your thesis should not contain phrases such as in my opinion or I believe . These statements reduce your credibility and weaken your argument. Your opinion is more convincing when you use a firm attitude.

On a separate sheet of paper, write a thesis statement for each of the following topics. Remember to make each statement specific, precise, demonstrable, forceful and confident.

• Texting while driving
• The legal drinking age in the United States
• Steroid use among professional athletes

Examples of Appropriate Thesis Statements

Each of the following thesis statements meets several of the following requirements:

• Specificity
• Ability to be argued
• Ability to be demonstrated
• Forcefulness
• The societal and personal struggles of Troy Maxon in the play Fences symbolize the challenge of black males who lived through segregation and integration in the United States.
• Closing all American borders for a period of five years is one solution that will tackle illegal immigration.
• Shakespeare’s use of dramatic irony in Romeo and Juliet spoils the outcome for the audience and weakens the plot.
• J. D. Salinger’s character in Catcher in the Rye , Holden Caulfield, is a confused rebel who voices his disgust with phonies, yet in an effort to protect himself, he acts like a phony on many occasions.
• Compared to an absolute divorce, no-fault divorce is less expensive, promotes fairer settlements, and reflects a more realistic view of the causes for marital breakdown.
• Exposing children from an early age to the dangers of drug abuse is a sure method of preventing future drug addicts.
• In today’s crumbling job market, a high school diploma is not significant enough education to land a stable, lucrative job.

You can find thesis statements in many places, such as in the news; in the opinions of friends, coworkers or teachers; and even in songs you hear on the radio. Become aware of thesis statements in everyday life by paying attention to people’s opinions and their reasons for those opinions. Pay attention to your own everyday thesis statements as well, as these can become material for future essays.

Now that you have read about the contents of a good thesis statement and have seen examples, take a look at the pitfalls to avoid when composing your own thesis:

A thesis is weak when it is simply a declaration of your subject or a description of what you will discuss in your essay.

Weak thesis statement: My paper will explain why imagination is more important than knowledge.

A thesis is weak when it makes an unreasonable or outrageous claim or insults the opposing side.

Weak thesis statement: Religious radicals across America are trying to legislate their Puritanical beliefs by banning required high school books.

A thesis is weak when it contains an obvious fact or something that no one can disagree with or provides a dead end.

Weak thesis statement: Advertising companies use sex to sell their products.

A thesis is weak when the statement is too broad.

Weak thesis statement: The life of Abraham Lincoln was long and challenging.

Read the following thesis statements. On a separate piece of paper, identify each as weak or strong. For those that are weak, list the reasons why. Then revise the weak statements so that they conform to the requirements of a strong thesis.

• The subject of this paper is my experience with ferrets as pets.
• The government must expand its funding for research on renewable energy resources in order to prepare for the impending end of oil.
• Edgar Allan Poe was a poet who lived in Baltimore during the nineteenth century.
• In this essay, I will give you lots of reasons why slot machines should not be legalized in Baltimore.
• Despite his promises during his campaign, President Kennedy took few executive measures to support civil rights legislation.
• Because many children’s toys have potential safety hazards that could lead to injury, it is clear that not all children’s toys are safe.
• My experience with young children has taught me that I want to be a disciplinary parent because I believe that a child without discipline can be a parent’s worst nightmare.

Writing at Work

Often in your career, you will need to ask your boss for something through an e-mail. Just as a thesis statement organizes an essay, it can also organize your e-mail request. While your e-mail will be shorter than an essay, using a thesis statement in your first paragraph quickly lets your boss know what you are asking for, why it is necessary, and what the benefits are. In short body paragraphs, you can provide the essential information needed to expand upon your request.

Thesis Statement Revision

Your thesis will probably change as you write, so you will need to modify it to reflect exactly what you have discussed in your essay. Remember from Chapter 8 “The Writing Process: How Do I Begin?” that your thesis statement begins as a working thesis statement , an indefinite statement that you make about your topic early in the writing process for the purpose of planning and guiding your writing.

Working thesis statements often become stronger as you gather information and form new opinions and reasons for those opinions. Revision helps you strengthen your thesis so that it matches what you have expressed in the body of the paper.

The best way to revise your thesis statement is to ask questions about it and then examine the answers to those questions. By challenging your own ideas and forming definite reasons for those ideas, you grow closer to a more precise point of view, which you can then incorporate into your thesis statement.

Ways to Revise Your Thesis

You can cut down on irrelevant aspects and revise your thesis by taking the following steps:

1. Pinpoint and replace all nonspecific words, such as people , everything , society , or life , with more precise words in order to reduce any vagueness.

Working thesis: Young people have to work hard to succeed in life.

Revised thesis: Recent college graduates must have discipline and persistence in order to find and maintain a stable job in which they can use and be appreciated for their talents.

The revised thesis makes a more specific statement about success and what it means to work hard. The original includes too broad a range of people and does not define exactly what success entails. By replacing those general words like people and work hard , the writer can better focus his or her research and gain more direction in his or her writing.

2. Clarify ideas that need explanation by asking yourself questions that narrow your thesis.

Working thesis: The welfare system is a joke.

Revised thesis: The welfare system keeps a socioeconomic class from gaining employment by alluring members of that class with unearned income, instead of programs to improve their education and skill sets.

A joke means many things to many people. Readers bring all sorts of backgrounds and perspectives to the reading process and would need clarification for a word so vague. This expression may also be too informal for the selected audience. By asking questions, the writer can devise a more precise and appropriate explanation for joke . The writer should ask himself or herself questions similar to the 5WH questions. (See Chapter 8 “The Writing Process: How Do I Begin?” for more information on the 5WH questions.) By incorporating the answers to these questions into a thesis statement, the writer more accurately defines his or her stance, which will better guide the writing of the essay.

3. Replace any linking verbs with action verbs. Linking verbs are forms of the verb to be , a verb that simply states that a situation exists.

Working thesis: Kansas City schoolteachers are not paid enough.

Revised thesis: The Kansas City legislature cannot afford to pay its educators, resulting in job cuts and resignations in a district that sorely needs highly qualified and dedicated teachers.

The linking verb in this working thesis statement is the word are . Linking verbs often make thesis statements weak because they do not express action. Rather, they connect words and phrases to the second half of the sentence. Readers might wonder, “Why are they not paid enough?” But this statement does not compel them to ask many more questions. The writer should ask himself or herself questions in order to replace the linking verb with an action verb, thus forming a stronger thesis statement, one that takes a more definitive stance on the issue:

• Who is not paying the teachers enough?
• What is considered “enough”?
• What is the problem?
• What are the results

4. Omit any general claims that are hard to support.

Working thesis: Today’s teenage girls are too sexualized.

Revised thesis: Teenage girls who are captivated by the sexual images on MTV are conditioned to believe that a woman’s worth depends on her sensuality, a feeling that harms their self-esteem and behavior.

It is true that some young women in today’s society are more sexualized than in the past, but that is not true for all girls. Many girls have strict parents, dress appropriately, and do not engage in sexual activity while in middle school and high school. The writer of this thesis should ask the following questions:

• Which teenage girls?
• What constitutes “too” sexualized?
• Why are they behaving that way?
• Where does this behavior show up?
• What are the repercussions?

In the first section of Chapter 8 “The Writing Process: How Do I Begin?” , you determined your purpose for writing and your audience. You then completed a freewriting exercise about an event you recently experienced and chose a general topic to write about. Using that general topic, you then narrowed it down by answering the 5WH questions. After you answered these questions, you chose one of the three methods of prewriting and gathered possible supporting points for your working thesis statement.

Now, on a separate sheet of paper, write down your working thesis statement. Identify any weaknesses in this sentence and revise the statement to reflect the elements of a strong thesis statement. Make sure it is specific, precise, arguable, demonstrable, forceful, and confident.

Collaboration

Please share with a classmate and compare your answers.

In your career you may have to write a project proposal that focuses on a particular problem in your company, such as reinforcing the tardiness policy. The proposal would aim to fix the problem; using a thesis statement would clearly state the boundaries of the problem and tell the goals of the project. After writing the proposal, you may find that the thesis needs revision to reflect exactly what is expressed in the body. Using the techniques from this chapter would apply to revising that thesis.

Key Takeaways

• Proper essays require a thesis statement to provide a specific focus and suggest how the essay will be organized.
• A thesis statement is your interpretation of the subject, not the topic itself.
• A strong thesis is specific, precise, forceful, confident, and is able to be demonstrated.
• A strong thesis challenges readers with a point of view that can be debated and can be supported with evidence.
• A weak thesis is simply a declaration of your topic or contains an obvious fact that cannot be argued.
• Depending on your topic, it may or may not be appropriate to use first person point of view.
• Revise your thesis by ensuring all words are specific, all ideas are exact, and all verbs express action.

Writing for Success Copyright © 2015 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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How to write a strong thesis statement step-by-step

You are reading this article because you want to write a good thesis statement for your essay or research paper. Maybe you have been writing weak thesis statements and want to write strong ones henceforth.

Congratulations because you came to the right place and space.

Writing a strong thesis statement is instrumental for essays and other papers such as proposals, research papers, theses, and dissertations. However, you will also be required to write a thesis statement in many pieces, such as speeches, advertisements, and sometimes songs; writing a thesis statement for essays is common. But for many essays , you must have a thesis statement.

You need a thesis for your personal narrative, compare and contrast paper, an argumentative or persuasive paper, or a common app essay. It is the glue that holds together the entire essay making the arguments stand out, and the information in the essay focused.

And since a thesis statement is a vital ingredient in academic writing, it is critical to learn more about it, look at the types, steps, and tips, and, where possible, have examples, which is the core of this article�to help you write a strong thesis. Let's dive in!

What is a thesis statement?

Congratulations, because you came to the right place and space.

A strong thesis statement is instrumental for essays and other papers such as proposals, research papers, theses, and dissertations. However, you will also be required to write a thesis statement in many pieces, such as speeches, advertisements, and sometimes songs; writing a thesis statement for essays is common. But for many essays , you must have a thesis statement.

You need a thesis for your personal narrative, compare and contrast paper, an argumentative or persuasive paper, or a common app essay. It is also the glue that holds together the entire essay, making the arguments stand out and the information in the essay focused.

And since a thesis statement is a vital ingredient in academic writing, it is critical to learn more about it, look at the types, steps, and tips, and, where possible, have examples, which is the core of this article - to help you write a strong thesis. Let's dive in!

Qualities of a strong thesis statement

Whenever you write a thesis statement, it needs to be clear, arguable, precise, and direct for it to be strong.

It should not be an obvious sentence or statement that everyone agrees is true, as this makes up a weak thesis statement.

A strong thesis statement is brief and has valuable information. It should show your opinion through clear arguments.

You might ask yourself, "What makes a good thesis statement?"

Here are a few attributes that should signal you that your thesis statements are strong or weak thesis statement:

• Makes a claim that others may either agree or disagree with
• Appears at the end of your introduction
• It can be one or two sentences long
• Provides the readers with a main idea, main aim, or central argument of your paper
• Tells your readers what your paper addresses or discusses
• Is a statement and not a question
• It is written in your own words and is not a quote from a source
• It is a road map of your paper, telling your readers what to expect as they read it.

After researching the different types of thesis statements widely, we have highlighted some of the common thesis statements you will encounter as you write your essays.

Remember, even your personal statement or other subjective essays can have a thesis statement.

Related Reading:

• ACT Thesis statement and other ACT tips and tricks .
• Writing an argumentative essay quickly .
• Tips and steps for expository writing.
• Steps and tips for analytical writing.

Types of Thesis Statements with Examples

The kind of thesis statement you write depends on the type of paper you are writing. Below are some types of thesis statements and their respective examples. You are headed for the best grades when you master how to write a strong thesis because any reader will get the main point of your paper.

1. Explanatory thesis

The explanatory or informative thesis announces the subject to the reader without declaring the stance, which needs an argument to defend. They are commonly used in expository essays and research papers, commonly assigned in school. Also known as the expository thesis, the explanatory thesis clearly states the central point or controlling idea about a topic and mentions the key aspects that an essay explains.

Example 1: The invention of drones transformed life in very many aspects, including photography, transport, and videography, making it easier for people to do things that were previously hard to accomplish.

Example 2: Wind and solar energy are both clean sources of energy that reduce greenhouse gases, which are the largest contributor to climate change.

2. Evaluative thesis

An evaluation thesis statement assesses the strengths and weaknesses of an argument. It encompasses the evaluation and reasons. The evaluation thesis declares one subject as better or worse compared to another. It brings the difference between the two subjects.

Example 1: Although solar panels and wind turbines are clean energy sources, solar panels are environmentally friendlier, less costly to set up and maintain, and practical for both large-scale and small-scale use. It contains a claim that provokes opposition.

3. Argument thesis

This thesis statement incorporates your topic, your position or stance, and the reasons for your position. An argumentative thesis statement is usually a claim that provokes opposition and one that the readers can refute.

• Example 1: Mandatory drug tests in the workplace should be abolished because they infringe on the fundamental rights of the employees and increase anxiety, low productivity, and intentions to leave.
• Example 2: Dependence on technology has not only improved relationships because it has given rise to platforms such as social media, text messages, and phones that allows people to check on one another instantly, interact and share moments.

Formula or template for a strong argumentative thesis

--------------------.it is true because of-------------------------------.,-----------------, and-------------------- .is true because of------------------------..

4. Cause and Effect thesis

The cause-and-effect thesis focuses on how actions or events contribute to given outcomes. It entails the causes and the resulting effects.

• Example: Covid-19 has had detrimental effects on families, including increased domestic violence, separations, suicides and homicides, and homelessness.

5. Comparison thesis statement

A comparison thesis statement entails the similarities and differences of objects, ideas, texts, or ideas. It announces the objects of comparison and the conclusion.

• Example: comparing flying to traveling by sea (objects of comparison), even though both forms are efficient, flying seems faster, more reliable, and more efficient than traveling by sea (conclusion).

Related: How to write a perfect compare and contrast essay .

6. Analytical thesis statement

An analytical thesis statement entails the components of a text, song, movie, essay, idea, or object and discusses how the components work together. It contains a specific claim, how it is supported, and its meaning (its significance, implication, and meaning). It addresses the "what," "how," and "so what."

• Example 1: In Jane Eyre, the use of supernatural elements, fairy tale motifs, and mythic references contributes to the sense of uneasiness throughout the book, making a conventionally happy ending implausible.
• Example 2: In the hit song 'Missing You,' Escalade draws on his experience of losing his mother and raps about the importance of not taking time with family for granted to connect with a broad audience."
• Example 3: A close analysis of electric vehicle production further reveals that it might not be as sustainable to the environment as it is hugely speculated and supported by marketers and policymakers.

Template for Analytical theses: Through______________. (how), we can conclude or see that_______________ (what?)____________which is essential because___________. (So what?).

7. Persuasive thesis

A persuasive thesis statement contains an opinion and specific reasons the opinion is true or should be adopted.

• Example 1: Guns should not be permitted on campuses, given the increased likelihood of violence and criminal activity affecting innocent students.
• Example 2: Although Facebook users might appear to have a competent social life, they are more isolated because they cannot hold face-to-face interactions and have poor interpersonal skills.
• Example 3: Today's society is too dependent on technology that it has forgotten the efficient things achieved through analog approaches, making people struggle to think independently.
• Example 4: Childhood vaccinations should be mandatory because children are vulnerable to illnesses, and vaccines can protect other children and people from contiguous diseases.
• Example 5 : Compulsory Covid-19 vaccination in the workplace or for access to services violates human rights, especially given that the effectiveness, risks, and benefits of the vaccines are still questionable, and it amounts to discrimination that disregards human rights.

Two Major Styles of Thesis Statements

You can approach your thesis statement in two ways. First, you can write it as a list of two or more points. As you list the points in your essay, you allow your readers to connect to the ideas when they are still in the introduction section. The style is effective when writing short essays with two to three paragraphs.

And because we have longer essays, which is where the second thesis statement style mainly falls, let us consider it too. You will need a more versatile thesis statement for essays over five paragraphs. So instead of listing the major points, you develop one overarching point covering the entire body paragraphs.

Steps for Coming up with a thesis statement

Creating a good thesis requires in-depth thinking, research, and analysis. It is not usually the first thing you do immediately after reading the essay prompt and rubric. Instead, you collect and organize evidence, look for specific links between facts, and consider these links' significance.

After choosing the topic, you often begin by developing a preliminary or initial thesis statement, a working thesis statement.

A working thesis is a thesis statement that presents the main idea and an argument you aim to support with evidence. It will likely be tweaked as you advance your research and writing process. This is a mandatory step during the early stages of writing. This thesis aims to give your body paragraphs a sense of direction.

As you research further and tweak the body paragraphs, you refine the working thesis to the final one you write in your introduction paragraph.

There is no single effective technique or approach for developing a thesis statement for any topic.

Here are some practical steps to follow if you are developing a thesis statement:

Step 1: Begin by asking a question and answering it

Although sometimes your essay prompt already has a question declared, it is good to convert the essay prompt into a question. Alternatively, ask about what you would like to explore about your topic. You should be specific enough to make your writing seamless. If you have a topic, frame your argument as a question.

Step 2: Write an Initial answer

You adopt a position or state your opinion by writing an initial answer. Of course, this should follow an initial research process where you find more about the topic and what other scholars have written about it. The preliminary response or tentative answer to the specific question should be brief and straightforward during this stage. The question should be able to guide writing and research.  

For instance, if you asked: should colleges resume physical learning? Or if your topic is on resuming physical learning in colleges.

Your answer could read : Colleges should resume physical in-person classes because COVID-19 is no longer a threat.

Step 3: Develop the answer

Now that you have your tentative answer, you need to refine the answer into a working thesis. While refining the answer, consider why you chose it as your answer and how you will use it to convince your readers.

You need to research widely on your topic to refine the answer. Refining means making the answer more detailed to summarize your paper's major argument.

Your answer should be clear, concise, coherent, and engaging. As much as possible, try to avoid vague and ambiguous words.

Besides, avoid using adjectives and adverbs, which only add wordiness without concrete meaning. As you refine the thesis, anticipate counterarguments .

Also, ensure that you use decisive language. For example, suppose you notice you struggle to fit the thesis statement into a single sentence. In that case, you can move the secondary statement into the next sentence. You can go a notch higher and improve the thesis statement.

A list of 40 Good Thesis Statement Examples

It is important to review some of the best examples you can confidently benchmark when crafting a thesis statement based on your selected topic to reinforce what we have learned.

While these examples of thesis statements might not be refined, they show what an ideal thesis should look like. They show you how you can transform your ideas into the main argument that you support in the body paragraphs.

Only use these for illustration or further refine them if they fit the context of your essay, research paper, or academic paper. The key role of the thesis examples below is to enable you to frame one that suits the context of your writing and do it clearly.

• Although school uniforms come at a onetime cost to parents and families, they effectively eliminate the visual differences in social status and income among students, providing a classless environment where every student can thrive.
• District boards should sponsor students from low-income families because doing so helps improve the literacy levels among children born and raised by low-income families.
• Parents should not allow their minors to get tattoos because they might later regret the decision as they grow to know the meaning, implications, and consequences.
• Fracking should be banned because it leads to irreversible environmental damage, including air, soil, and water pollution, that affects ecological sustainability.
• Local governments should invest heavily in public libraries because they are an essential resource that improves literacy levels in the community.
• Given the proliferation of smartphones and their corresponding use among teenagers, more and more teenagers are being exposed to the detrimental effects of cyberbullying, such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts, which makes it necessary for parents to limit the exposure and use of smartphones.
• Schools should establish safe spaces where students discuss issues at school and home to promote unburdening among students, a habit that can help them share their issues through adulthood.
• Going by the findings of many studies that have reported the benefits of medical marijuana among veterans with PTSD, all states should legalize medical marijuana prescriptions for veterans. States must also champion research to help integrate veterans into civilian life.
• Multinational corporations should have a similar pay structure for expatriates and employees from the host countries to promote equality and diversity in the workplace.
• Even though people believe that free college education can improve literacy levels and graduation rates in society, evidence suggests that it has negligible effects on the current graduation rates and should not be a priority.
• Parents should teach their children about sexual consent from a young age using age-appropriate lessons to understand consensual sex because doing so could reduce cases of sexual assault.
• Cats make better pets than dogs because they are affordable to own and maintain, take up less space, are more content indoors, are quieter, fight pests, and offer better companionship.
• Reading bedtime stories for children should be a routine for parents who want to build the IQ and EQ of their children.
• Riding bikes develop a child's mind, memory, and physical strength, enabling them to interact with others, overcome challenges, and endure while simultaneously enjoying the outdoors.
• Statistically, 75% of older Americans prefer to relocate to Florida to settle, making it a preferred destination for retirees because they can quickly improve their social lives.
• The digital divide leads to the loss of opportunity for growth and development at a personal, country, and international level since people cannot access the wide array of courses, educational materials, exchange of ideas, and available economic opportunities.
• Donating kidneys comes with lifelong anatomical, emotional, and physiologic changes coupled with invasive surgery, and kidney donors should be compensated financially for their heroic act of self-sacrifice.
• Drunk driving has detrimental effects such as accidents, incapacitation, destruction of property, harm to other road users, drivers, pedestrians, and other drivers, and should have punitive measures for the culprits.
• Governments should emancipate the masses about texting because texting while driving divides the driver's attention, limiting their alertness and response times in case anything goes on the road.
• Although most people would argue about life being sacred, the death penalty should be mandated for people who commit brutal crimes such as murder and have no benefit to society.
• The benefits of bilingual education, such as improving diversity, raising culturally competent generations, and improving interactions among people, should be implemented in schools.
• When a candidate for a job possesses the requisite experience, knowledge, skills, and competency, they should bypass the mandatory degree requirement and go directly to other aspects of recruitment.
• A college degree is expensive, important, and valuable but not mandatory because someone can build and earn from skills they can grow with compared to a degreed person.
• Students should find alternative ways to pay for college before graduation because they cannot put it off until after graduation.
• Given the rising living costs and increasing debt, students should consider alternative funding mechanisms such as savings, grants, scholarships, work-study aids, and fundraising to finance their college education.
• Volunteering should be mandatory for college students because it instills empathy and compassion and improves awareness of civic engagement's role, which benefits an individual's social and life skills.
• Although sometimes expensive, given a chance, students should embrace studying abroad because it inculcates different cultures, languages, and points of view of life as they interact with students from diverse backgrounds and countries.
• Given that the heavy cigarette tax looks good on paper and does not deter smokers from purchasing and smoking cigarettes, the focus should be educating smokers on the dangers of smoking and emancipating potential smokers from these effects.
• University athletes should be compensated for their service because they build the name of the universities and dedicate most of their time to training and studying, which makes them not pursue jobs outside their busy schedules, yet they have bills to pay.
• Diversity in the workplace means richer ideas, improved teamwork, a more engaged workforce, and productivity, steering companies to greater levels.
• Students should be introduced to digital literacy early enough to help them understand the content they interact with and consume, reducing the spread of fake news.
• There should be a level ground for women to participate in politics without being judged or bogged down because women's leadership appears transparent, effective, and successful.
• The fast-food industry is not to blame for the rising cases of obesity because consuming fast-food is about choice rather than availability.
• Corrupt leaders should be recalled, prosecuted, and jailed to act as good lessons for those who want to go that way, improving leadership performance and outcomes in developing nations.
• Intermittent fasting helps build an autonomous body and should be encouraged among people who want to lose weight without going to the gym or with moderate exercise.
• Online education is as valuable as traditional education because students can access online course content and share it with their instructors.
• Vaccinating children should be mandatory because failing to vaccinate children leads to vulnerable immune systems that eventually stress the healthcare system.
• Nurses should be compensated well, and their well-being addressed to reduce their intentions to leave and the increasing turnover rates.
• Pet stores should be allowed to sell rescued pets from animal shelters or animals from adoption centers to raise money to run the facilities and reduce overcrowding in animal shelters.
• Embryonic stem cell research should not only be permitted but should also be funded, given the immense potential benefits of saving lives and treating diseases.

Checklist for a Good Thesis Statement

Here is a list of questions to help determine the strength of your thesis statement. Then, after revising the working thesis into a more effective statement, ask yourself:

• Does my thesis statement introduce readers to the argument or claim headlining the essay?
• Will this thesis evoke discussions or arguments? Can it be opposed? Or is it merely a factual statement?
• Is my thesis obscure? Is it too general? Would making it more specific be helpful for readers?
• Does my thesis guide the essay? Is it the foundation for the topics discussed in the essay?
• Is it clear that the progression of the essay pertains to the thesis statement?
• Are my word choices in the thesis statement correct? Are all the words used in the right context? Could I make the sentence stronger by cutting unnecessary words?
• If I write a research paper, does my thesis place the essay and reader into a larger, contemporary scholastic discourse?
• Overall, do I feel comfortable with and confident about the final revision of the thesis statement? Do I feel it would pique a reader's interest?

Your opening paragraph for any essay or academic paper bears your thesis statement. You are expected to have already mastered essay writing when writing papers in high school or university.

Teachers love good thesis statements. Our discussion and inquiry from some of the best essay writing experts, who are themselves, teachers, reveals that when you get the thesis statement writing process right, there is no way your essay will derail. It is the glue that holds together the paragraphs in your essay. Majorly, the body paragraphs must relate to the thesis, and so do the topic sentences.

In this guide, you have learned what it takes to write a thesis statement that fits the context of your writing. You have access to some of the best examples to help you know what exactly to do when given a chance to write. We believe that you now own the art of writing, do it to your advantage.

Let the reader know you are in control. It will amaze you how you can write a first-class essay without struggling. Every assignment henceforth should be easy to accomplish, and writer's block should have nothing on you.

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Hydraulic Fracturing - List of Free Essay Examples And Topic Ideas

Hydraulic fracturing, a controversial yet significant technological advancement in the energy sector, enables the extraction of previously inaccessible natural gas and oil reserves. Essays could delve into the mechanics and evolution of hydraulic fracturing technology, exploring its impact on energy markets, geopolitics, and energy security. The discourse might extend to the examination of the environmental concerns associated with hydraulic fracturing, including potential groundwater contamination, methane emissions, and induced seismic activity. Discussions could also focus on the regulatory and policy frameworks governing hydraulic fracturing, evaluating the effectiveness of existing regulations in ensuring environmental safety and public health. Moreover, a comprehensive analysis could include a discussion on the societal perceptions, stakeholder interests, and the ongoing research aimed at improving hydraulic fracturing practices, exploring the broader implications of this technology for the transition towards a more sustainable and secure energy future. A vast selection of complimentary essay illustrations pertaining to Hydraulic Fracturing you can find at Papersowl. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

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