All About Theme Statements: Why You Need Them, How to Write Them, and How to Use Them

A theme statement is a short, effective sentence that describes the essence of your essay. It’s not a tagline or a mission statement. At its most basic, a theme statement is an easy way to express what you stand for as a subject. More than anything else, it’s an expression of your true identity. One that can be used to guide the creation of all your academic materials. The time has come — are you ready?

What is a theme statement?

A theme statement is a single sentence that captures the essence of your essay and what you stand for. It’s your reason for being.

If your essay is providing information and products that represent a particular perspective or interest to others, your theme statement is your mission statement.

Your theme statement should evoke memories or reflect a moment in the past when your company did something different or interesting. It’s a statement about the core of your company and why it’s different from the competition. Your theme statement should convey your culture, core values, and attention to detail. Give the reader something to look forward to — most often, you want it to come in the form of a newsletter and/or a public service announcement or brochure. Remember, you’re not in competition for your readers’ attention. You’re in competition for theirs only — and you should only entice them with a glimpse of the grandest, most fantastic vision you may have. No promises. Just something to look forward to, something that will draw a page from your subject’s history.

Creating your theme statement is like making a persuasive speech that includes tons of accolades, awards, and general praise. You need to offer a core, unifying theme to stay consistent with everything else you do.

There are two general ways to think about themes:

When choosing between these two perspectives, they’re pretty easy to sort out. Do you want to know everything there is to know about themes and spiral endlessly until you find out nothing? Or are you more interested in picking out a few natural and relevant themes that can also help you build trust with your audience?

Let’s take a moment to walk through each of these perspectives.

Let’s start with a thematic statement example: Since 1990, nearly every American has received consumer finances either directly or through a bank via derivatives. Nearly 20 percent of all Americans now have some level of debt.

Why do you need one?

First impressions matter and they count. An essay without a theme statement is analogous to a vacant house with a sign in the yard. Someone is already taking notice and because of this, you need to become the first person people see when they perform a search. Your essay needs to be taken seriously!

Yes, I do realize there are a lot of variables to consider in building and optimizing your essay. There are quick fixes, hacks, and ugly solutions that have proven to work in certain circumstances. Your essay needs to be unique — there is no such thing as a quick and easy essay. You need an essay that withstands the scrutiny of professors who will read your content, and investigate your essay. Building an essay that communicates your unique values will help people make a connection with you. This, after all, is the whole purpose of establishing a subject matter in the first place.

Design matters. Check how your essay looks and feels in the visitor’s eyes by filling out this quick survey. The results will help inform you how your essay utilizes language. Is it text-heavy? Text-heavy? Does it read well? Does it verbalize your value proposition? Provide the context for the happiest moments of your users and begin educating them about your brand. 

How to write a theme statement

You should be able to write one or two sentences that sum up why you’re in the business of writing, what your mission is, and what your target audience is. The theme statement is the foundation for your entire essay. Make sure it’s something that you’re passionate about. You don’t have to write the entire thing. You don’t have to use all four words or even do all of the points in the first paragraph. But if you can master the basics of a theme statement, you’ll have a powerful academic tool at your disposal.

When I first started writing theme statements, I knew it wasn’t going to be enough to win good grades from professors. What’s more, I didn’t have a well-defined theme in mind as I started. The initial version I prepared for this article looked like this: “I’m a freelance writer who helps my students write effective essays for their courses.” And while that may have been useful for understanding who I am and what I do, it didn’t help me with attracting professors and instructors.

I wasn’t having any luck getting good grades for my students and I was pessimistic about my chances. 

The next step was learning the basics of a theme statement. I’m sure you’ve needed to sprinkle a theme statement in from time to time.

A theme statement thus far has been a tool that has helped me craft positioning that speaks to my audience and connects me to their needs.

How to put your theme statement into practice

One of the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to their work is that they lack a clear vision or direction. So before you start working on your essay, you should have an idea of what you want to achieve with it. To help you get started, ask yourself the following questions: What is the purpose of your essay? What problems does it solve? How does it make people’s lives better? And finally, how do you want people to feel when they read your essay?

Now that you have these questions in mind, I want to share with you the ultimate checklist to help you nail your main message. Thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope it will be helpful for you and good luck!

“What is beautiful in the world is that we can all live in it together.” ― T.E. Lawrence

Your “why” statement brings clarity to the topic at hand and sets you apart from your classmates. For instance, can’t you think of a single reason why people need to buy your products or services? What would make you different from every company out there? Oh, I think I have an idea…

To fully appreciate the power of your theme statement, dig deep inside the roots of your answers and spend a few minutes writing down your “why.” It can be anything you want — and as long as it’s clearly expressed, it’s a start. Remember to avoid jargon and remember that the theme is to create something that’s memorable and makes people stop to read.

Three to seven words are enough to start a theme. Keep it short and effective. Try not to waste your reader’s time with an unnecessary word or phrase. Remember that your reader is more interested in how your essay will make them feel and how those feelings will make their life better. Always choose the simplest, most direct words you can find that perfectly expresses your message — don’t try to argue for your point with unnecessary or long-winded words.

Conclusion: 

Your theme statement should be short, easy to remember and convey what makes your essay unique in the classroom. Use it to guide all of your academic efforts and presentations! Our theme statement writers are on standby to help you. Place your order now.