You might already have a question in your assignment, but if not, try to come up with your own. What would you like to find out or decide about your topic?
A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay. Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.
A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay. It usually comes near the end of your introduction.
Everything mentioned in your thesis statement must be supported and explained in the rest of your paper.
Coming up with a thesis
Your thesis statement might mention several aspects of your topic, but they should all add up to a coherent whole, expressing one main idea.
- It gives your writing direction and focus.
- It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.
Your thesis shouldn’t be a simple statement of fact that everyone already knows. A good thesis statement is a claim that requires further evidence or analysis to back it up.
Revisit your thesis statement to add some controversy and counterarguments to it and improve its logic.
Need some practical advice on how to write a thesis statement for a research paper? Then continue reading.
- It is a complete sentence.
- It summarizes your point of view.
- It determines the purpose of your academic paper.
- It says something important about your research paper topic.
- It is specific enough for the academic paper’s assigned length.
- It serves as a guide for you to write your academic research paper.
When the thesis statement in your research paper is well developed, it displays several distinct characteristics:
Step 4: Give a plan for your paper
Want some final advice on how to write a thesis statement for a research paper? Use this simple formula for writing your thesis:
In other words, your thesis statement should guide all other elements of the research paper. The introductory paragraph of your academic paper should flow into the thesis, which is the last sentence of the introduction. The thesis statement usually consists of one sentence that contains between two and five points, depending on the academic paper’s length.
The thesis statement can help you make sure that all your research and writing is related to the purpose of your writing. If something you’ve written in your academic paper does not describe or explain evidence to support your thesis, it’s probably just distracting and should be removed.
A thesis is a document that is submitted to complete an academic degree or a professional qualification to present the research and findings of an author.
Add the details of all the sources that you have mentioned in your paper. It is sometimes known as a bibliography or works cited list.
It is impossible for you to write a good introduction if you don't know what the body of your paper says. It is a good approach to write the introduction after completing the rest of your paper.
Coming back to my thesis. Another important thing in the thesis is the thesis statement.
What is a Thesis?
- Technically (include supplies, materials )
- Financially (travel grant, departmental support etc.)
- Intellectually (advice, assistance)
- Avoid using footnotes
- List down all the references in alphabetical order
- Put the initials of the authors behind their last names, e.g. Pfirman, S.L.
- Cite the references for double authors by their surname with the publication date
Another common question to pop up is, “Can a thesis statement be a question?” The short answer would be “No”. The goal of the thesis is to explain what the paper will cover. It is impossible to fulfil this mission with a question. According to the definition, this part of the academic paper presents the argument a writer has to support using credible sources in the rest of the text. A claim can never be a question. The conclusion should pose no new questions, and the thesis can even be considered the overarching conclusion.
This statement is based on the idea that uniforms can limit students’ freedom, which is, in a way, a violation of basic human rights.
In a compare and contrast thesis statement your goal should be to compare, review, and juxtapose the two points.
In a cause and effect thesis statement you need to explain the reason for some event or happening.
Can a Thesis Statement Be a Question?
Example:The primary reason why high school bullying takes place is the fact that modern teens watch violent videos and play violent video games.
Option B goes more in-depth about why it's claim is correct and presents reasoning that can be justified from many external sources.
One of the main reasons students struggle with their thesis statements is a lack of technical understanding. It can be hard to grasp the fact that the thesis is, single-handedly, the most important sentence in the entire text. The rest of the paper is made up of supporting points to support the thesis statement.
In an informational essay, you are not arguing for one side of an argument, you are just providing information.
You can use some of the same vocabulary and structure from the questions to create a thesis statement. Drop the question words (like who, what, when, where, and why). Then, use the keywords in the question or prompt to start your thesis statement. Be sure to include because if the question asks “why?”
By the way, this same principle can also be applied to informational essay thesis statements. Take a look at this example for an idea:
In addition to being more specific than the bad thesis statement, the good thesis statement here is an example of how sometimes your thesis statement may require two sentences.
Informational essay thesis statements
Prompt: What are the three branches of government, and what do each of them do?
Bad thesis statement: There are many branches of government that do many different things.
Good thesis statement: Each of the three branches of government—the executive, the legislative, and the judicial—have different primary responsibilities. However, these roles frequently overlap.
Any one of these thesis statements (or all three!) could be used for an informational essay about the Pittsburgh Steelers football team and their impact on the history and culture of Pittsburgh.
Because it is so important, writing a good thesis statement can be tricky.