Definition And Purpose Of A Thesis Statement

The thesis of a research essay is the fundamental idea that you want to argue. A thesis statement normally appears at the end of your essay’s introduction. It takes everything you have said in the introduction and boils it down into one or two sentences. These two sentences are the basis of your argument.

Developing a thesis is one of the crucial first steps of any essay writing process. Without a thesis statement, you will not be able to develop your research quite so effectively. How can you know what to look for if you don’t have solid ideas of what you want to say? How can you direct your essay properly if you don’t have something to use as a direction?

When you create a research paper thesis, you are creating a shorthand for people to understand your work. Anybody who reads the introduction of your essay will know exactly what your arguments boil down to. Your thesis statement should be strong and able to withstand criticism. You should have it in your introduction and your conclusion, and you should try and reference it in each body paragraph as well.

Steps to Developing a Good Thesis Statement for a Research Paper

Start with a thesis statement

If I go to a writing site and ask them to write my research paper for me, they will start by creating a thesis statement. It would be best if you started your writing journey the same way. Start with your thesis statement, and then work from there. Any good essay needs a thesis statement because that is how you make sure all your research stays confined to your chosen topic. You can use a thesis statement to check each paragraph as you write it – if it doesn’t fit with your statement, then you know you need to change it.

Figure out what your main argument is going to be

To form a research paper thesis, you need to figure out what your main argument is. By the main argument, we don’t mean the arguments you will cover in each of your body paragraphs. The main argument is the one that you mention in your introduction and conclusion. It’s the argument that all your minor arguments feedback into. This argument is what you will write about in your thesis statement. Make sure that you know what your argument is, and then work from there.

Do enough research to construct a strong argument

Any thesis of a research paper needs to withstand scrutiny. It would be best if you didn’t do a lot of research before you have fully fleshed out your main argument. Research takes time, and when you are writing a research paper, you may not have enough time to redirect your focus if it turns out badly. Do just enough research to determine what the potential arguments are, and then make your choice. That way, you can then use your thesis to direct the rest of your time researching. Since each minor argument feeds back into the main one, this will ensure that all your arguments work well together.

Condense your argument into one or two sentences

A good thesis for a research paper is short and to the point. You should condense everything down into (preferably) one-sentence – two sentences at the outside. A thesis’s idea is that somebody can look at it and instantly understand what you want to say. A short statement has less room for problems to come up. You want to avoid as many problems as possible! You want a thesis statement that people can take in at a glance. You don’t want people to have to work to understand your argument.

Make sure that all your minor arguments have a strong connection with the thesis statement

Any good working thesis for a research paper should have a strong connection to its minor arguments. Remember that your thesis statement is the main argument you want to make in the paper. Every smaller argument needs to make sense concerning your main thesis. Make sure that all your arguments link back to your thesis statement in some way. This is easier than it sounds. You should mention the thesis statement in some way in all your body paragraphs anyway. Having a physical reminder of your statement will encourage you to check what you are writing.

Keep your thesis statement handy when writing

A thesis for a research paper is one of the most important things to have. To keep everything flowing smoothly, you should always aim to keep your thesis statement handy when writing. Keeping the handy statement means that you can always refer back to it when you need to. You won’t find yourself wandering off-topic because the main topic will always be right in front of your eyes. Keeping your statement handy means that you can always refer to it whether you are doing research, writing, or editing work.

Important Points to Keep in Mind When You Write a Thesis Statement for a Research Paper

Here is some important point one must keep in mind when writing a thesis statement:

• Remember that you are writing down your main argument for the paper when writing a research paper thesis.
• Keep your thesis statement near you when you are writing, so you can continually refer to it, and keep your main argument in mind.
• Remember that a research paper’s thesis is what everybody will look for to understand your subject’s angle.

Good and Bad Thesis Statement Examples