Best Examples of MLA Format Thesis Statement Examples for 2024

Start with Real Examples of MLA Format Thesis Statement Examples

Before definitions and rules, it helps to look at actual sentences. Here are several examples of MLA format thesis statement examples that would fit in a typical high school or college paper.

Each one is written as it would appear in the first paragraph of an MLA-style essay (double-spaced, left-aligned, in Times New Roman 12-point, though those are formatting details you’d set in your document, not inside the sentence itself).

Literary analysis: example of MLA thesis in an English paper

In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald uses recurring images of light and color to expose the emptiness behind the American Dream, showing how wealth promises happiness but ultimately leads his characters toward isolation and moral decay.

Why this works in MLA context:

• It clearly names the work (The Great Gatsby) and the author.
• It makes a specific claim about how and why Fitzgerald uses imagery.
• It sets up the body paragraphs (light, color, emptiness, wealth, isolation, moral decay).

Another strong literary example:

Through Offred’s fragmented narration in The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood illustrates how authoritarian regimes control women’s bodies by first controlling their language, suggesting that resistance begins with reclaiming personal stories.

Again, this is an example of MLA format thesis statement examples that fits right into a standard literary essay: author, title, focus, and a clear argument.

Argument essay: examples include current 2024 topics

Let’s move to argument-style papers on timely issues.

While artificial intelligence tools can support student learning, relying on AI to generate entire essays undermines academic integrity, weakens critical thinking skills, and forces colleges to redesign writing instruction in 2024 and beyond.

This thesis:

• Takes a clear position.
• Names three specific consequences (integrity, thinking skills, instruction).
• Connects to current trends in 2024.

Another argument-focused example of MLA thesis:

Because social media platforms amplify misinformation faster than accurate health guidance, public schools should teach digital literacy alongside traditional health education to help students evaluate online claims about vaccines, nutrition, and mental health.

Notice how these examples of MLA format thesis statement examples don’t just state a topic; they make a claim that someone could reasonably debate.

Research paper: MLA thesis examples using sources

In a research paper, your thesis often hints at the kind of evidence you’ll use. Here are a few research-focused thesis statement examples written with MLA expectations in mind.

Recent studies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that consistent sleep schedules improve teen mental health, and high schools that start after 8:30 a.m. report lower rates of depression and absenteeism, indicating that later start times should be a national policy priority.

Here, the thesis:

• Signals that credible research (like the CDC) will be used.
• Connects evidence (later start times, lower depression) to a recommendation (national policy priority).

Another research-oriented example:

Analysis of college completion data from the National Center for Education Statistics reveals that first-generation students who participate in structured mentoring programs during their first year are significantly more likely to graduate, suggesting that universities should invest in mentoring as a core retention strategy rather than a supplemental service.

These are the kinds of best examples of MLA format thesis statement examples your instructor is hoping to see: grounded in research, specific, and arguable.

Examples of MLA format thesis statement examples in different subjects

To really see the pattern, it helps to compare thesis statements across subjects. Here are several more real examples, each tuned for an MLA-style academic paper.

History example:

Although the Montgomery Bus Boycott is often remembered as a spontaneous reaction to Rosa Parks’s arrest, the boycott’s success depended on years of quiet organizing by Black women’s clubs and church networks, showing that long-term community work laid the foundation for visible moments of protest.

Psychology / health example:

Because chronic loneliness has been linked to increased risk of heart disease and premature death, colleges should treat social connection as a public health priority by funding campus events, peer support programs, and accessible counseling services.

(You could easily connect this to research from sources like the National Institutes of Health.)

STEM / technology example:

Although wearable fitness trackers promise to help users improve their health, recent studies suggest that these devices can also increase anxiety, encourage obsessive behavior around step counts, and raise privacy concerns as companies collect sensitive biometric data.

Education example:

Because traditional timed exams reward memorization over deep understanding, project-based assessments that emphasize revision, collaboration, and real-world application better prepare high school students for college-level work and 21st-century careers.

All of these are examples of MLA format thesis statement examples that could anchor a well-organized essay in an MLA-formatted paper.

How MLA Format Shapes Your Thesis Statement

MLA format doesn’t change the grammar of your thesis, but it does shape where it goes and how it connects to the rest of your paper.

Here’s how MLA expectations affect your thesis:

• Placement: In an MLA paper, your thesis usually appears at the end of your introduction, often as the last one or two sentences of the first paragraph.
• Clarity: MLA-style academic writing values direct, readable sentences. Your thesis should be one clear sentence (sometimes two) that a reader can easily underline.
• Scope: Your thesis should match the length of your assignment. A 3–5 page paper needs a narrower claim than a 12-page research project.
• Tone: Since MLA is used in the humanities, your thesis should sound formal but not stiff. Avoid slang, but don’t hide behind vague phrases like “In today’s society.”

When teachers ask for examples of MLA format thesis statement examples, what they really want are sentences that are specific, arguable, and placed correctly in an MLA-style introduction.

Turning Weak Ideas into Strong MLA Thesis Statements

Let’s look at a few weak theses and then strengthen them. This is often how students move from “I kind of know what I want to say” to a clear MLA-style thesis.

Weak:

Social media is bad for teens.

This is too broad and too vague.

Stronger MLA thesis:

Because constant social media use exposes teens to unrealistic body standards, cyberbullying, and addictive design features, schools and parents should set daily screen time limits and teach students how to manage online pressure.

Now we have a clear claim and a roadmap for the body paragraphs.

Another example:

Weak:

Climate change is a big problem that affects everyone.

Stronger MLA thesis:

As climate change increases the frequency of extreme heat waves in U.S. cities, local governments should prioritize planting urban trees, redesigning public transit shelters, and funding cooling centers to protect low-income communities that face the highest health risks.

Again, this stronger version looks more like the best examples of MLA format thesis statement examples professors share: focused, specific, and ready to be supported with evidence (for instance, from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or related agencies).

MLA Format Details That Support Your Thesis

Your thesis doesn’t live alone; it sits inside a larger MLA structure. Here’s how to keep everything working together.

In-text citations:

Right after you make a claim that depends on a source, you’ll usually follow up with evidence and an MLA-style parenthetical citation.

For example, if your thesis is about teen sleep and school start times, your body paragraph might look like this:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that most middle and high school students in the United States do not get enough sleep on school nights ("Schools Start Too Early"). This lack of sleep is linked to lower academic performance and higher rates of depression, which supports the argument that later start times are a public health issue, not just a scheduling preference.

The thesis sets up the argument; the MLA citation style shows where the evidence comes from.

Works Cited page:

Every thesis that relies on sources should be backed up by a Works Cited page at the end of your paper. In MLA, that means:

• Alphabetical list of sources by author’s last name.
• Hanging indent for each entry.
• Consistent MLA 9th edition formatting.

For guidance, the MLA Style Center offers updated examples and explanations.

Quick Checklist for MLA-Style Thesis Statements

When you look at these examples of MLA format thesis statement examples, you’ll notice they all pass a few simple tests. Use these questions to check your own thesis:

• Can someone reasonably disagree with this statement?
• Does it clearly answer the assignment prompt?
• Is it narrow enough to cover in the number of pages you’ve been assigned?
• Does it hint at the structure of your paper (the main reasons or points)?
• Would a reader know what the paper is about after reading only this sentence?

If you can answer yes to those questions, you’re in good shape for an MLA-style paper.

More Real Examples of MLA Thesis Statements by Assignment Type

To give you even more to model, here are additional real examples of MLA format thesis statement examples organized by common assignments you might see in 2024–2025.

Compare-and-contrast essay:

Although community colleges and four-year universities both offer pathways to a bachelor’s degree, community colleges provide more flexible schedules, lower tuition, and stronger local partnerships, making them a better starting point for many first-generation students.

Cause-and-effect essay:

Because the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools to adopt emergency remote learning, many districts discovered long-standing gaps in technology access, leading to new investments in laptops, home internet programs, and teacher training that will permanently change how students experience homework.

Definition / concept essay:

True digital literacy goes beyond knowing how to use apps; it requires students to evaluate sources, recognize algorithmic bias, and understand how their data is collected and sold, which means schools must teach critical thinking alongside basic tech skills.

Literary theme essay:

In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare uses impulsive decisions, secret plans, and miscommunication to argue that immature love, when combined with rigid family conflict, can quickly turn destructive.

All of these sentences could sit comfortably at the end of an MLA-style introduction and serve as examples of MLA format thesis statement examples your instructor would approve.

FAQ: Examples of MLA Format Thesis Statements

Q: Can you give a short example of an MLA thesis statement for a research paper?
A: Here is a brief example of an MLA-style research thesis:

Because regular physical activity reduces the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and depression, U.S. workplaces should offer paid exercise breaks and on-site wellness programs to support employee health.

Q: Do thesis statement examples change for MLA vs. APA?
A: The basic idea of a thesis statement stays the same across styles: it’s your main claim in one or two sentences. MLA, used heavily in English and humanities, tends to emphasize close reading and textual analysis, while APA (often used in psychology and social sciences) leans more on empirical studies and dates. The content and tone may shift slightly, but the kind of examples of MLA format thesis statement examples you see here would still work conceptually in APA with minor adjustments.

Q: Should I include citations inside my thesis statement in MLA?
A: Usually, no. Your thesis announces your main claim; the citations come in the body paragraphs where you present the evidence. You might mention an author or organization in the thesis (for example, “According to recent CDC data…”), but the actual parenthetical citation belongs in the supporting sentences that follow.

Q: How long should an MLA thesis statement be?
A: Most MLA instructors prefer one clear, focused sentence. Occasionally, two sentences work if the idea is complex, but if your thesis spills over into three or four sentences, it’s probably trying to do too much and needs to be narrowed.

Q: Where can I see more examples of strong academic writing in MLA style?
A: Many colleges post writing guides online. For instance, universities like Harvard and other writing centers offer advice on developing a thesis, and the official MLA Style Center provides up-to-date guidance on formatting and citations. Reading sample essays from these sites can give you more real examples to model.

If you treat these examples of MLA format thesis statement examples as templates rather than scripts, you’ll start to see the pattern: clear topic, specific angle, and a claim you can actually prove. Once that clicks, the rest of the MLA paper—citations, paragraphs, Works Cited—becomes much easier to organize.