Q. I have always had trouble with writing a thesis statement. What are some helpful tips?

I would defer when answering this to either your professor or to the Rose Werner Writing Center on campus as the best help you can get in writing your thesis statement.

Reading on your topic and giving yourself the time to be able to mull over what you have read is always a good way to get your cerebral juices flowing.

 I did dip into SOLAR to see if I could find something to help you, and here is one quote -

 “An effective thesis statement states your main idea, reveals your purpose, and shows how your argument will be structured. As you draft your thesis statement, consider what you want to prove.”

Complete Idiot’s Guide to Writing Well (p.238).
Available: https://akin.css.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=25373&site=eds-live

Here a brief page on writing a thesis statement from Point of View Reference Center -

https://akin.css.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pwh&AN=23627404&site=eds-live

You can also browse this search in SOLAR for other articles related to what the thesis statement should be, and how to write it –   

https://akin.css.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&bquery=(%26quot%3bthesis+statement%26quot%3b)&type=0&site=eds-live

One author said the thesis is not for the reader, but for the writer, to help you remember what you hope to argue for, or prove, as your paper evolves.

Good luck.