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How to Write a Research Paper: Thesis Statement

• Anatomy of a Research Paper
• Developing a Research Focus
• Background Research Tips
• Searching Tips
• Scholarly Journals vs. Popular Journals
• Thesis Statement
• Annotated Bibliography
• Citing Sources
• Evaluating Sources
• Literature Review
• Academic Integrity
• Scholarship as Conversation
• Understanding Fake News
• Data, Information, Knowledge

What is a Thesis Statement?

What is a Thesis Statement?  

A thesis statement is a concise statement of an academic work's main point. The thesis statement should identify both what the paper is about (the topic) and what you are saying about it. Your thesis statement should be as specific as possible. For a short essay, the length of your thesis statement should be one or two sentences. If you are writing a dissertation or book, your thesis statement should be about a paragraph in length. A thesis should avoid saying "This paper is about..." Your thesis statement should be as specific as possible. 

A basic pattern to follow is "An analysis of (insert topic here) will show that (point one), (point two), and (point three)." Keep in mind this is only an example, there is no one-size-fits-all formula. 

Who Needs a Thesis Statement?

All academic writing, from a short essay to a dissertation or a monograph, should have an identifiable thesis statement somewhere in it. The longer or more complicated an academic work is, the easier is becomes to get bogged down in details and lose sight of the overall argument, and the more important it is to clearly state the central point. 

Where Should I Put My Thesis Statement? 

Thesis statements are most commonly located near the beginning of the academic work, usually towards the end of the introduction. This strategic placement allows the reader to quickly understand specifically what the essay is about and be able to follow the arguments as they are presented. 

Tips for Writing Your Thesis Statement

Tips and Examples for Writing Thesis Statements: Purdue Owl 

This resource from Purdue University's Online Writing Lab (OWL) provides tips for creating a thesis statement and examples of different types of thesis statements. 

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Writing Effective Thesis Statements

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A good thesis statement can be the difference between making an argument about something, and simply re-stating what someone else has already said. In your thesis statement, you want to make a claim that you will continue to develop throughout the paper. It should represent your own ideas–perhaps in response to something someone else has said–but ultimately, it is your argument. As such, a good thesis statement should have 3 main traits. A good thesis:

• Can be developed with evidence throughout your paper. In other words, you should be able to say it in 1-2 sentences, but that shouldn’t be all that there is to say on the topic.
• Is argumentative, not in a negative sense, but in that it can be supported and may have counter-arguments. Test this by asking “Could I argue the reverse of this?”
• Should explain what, why, and how. What are you arguing? Why are you arguing that? And how will you show it? Think of the “what” as your basic position, the “why” as your reasoning, and the “how” as your evidence (theories, sources, etc.)

In all, the thesis is the backbone of your paper. In the rest of your paper, something in each paragraph should directly relate back to the paper. If you get lost in the writing process, you’ll want to be able to come back to your thesis and say, “this is what I’m arguing.” And remember, thesis statements can evolve with the paper. Once you’ve got your draft written, read through and make sure that what you’re saying in your paper matches up with what your thesis statement says you’re going to be saying.

H ere are a few helpful links to get you started:

• https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/545/01/

The Purdue OWL (Purdue University) is a great source for writing, and this page goes into detail on the different types of thesis statements.

• http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/thesis-statements/

Here’s another great source from the University of North Carolina with some tips and examples of strong thesis statements.

It can be useful to play around with and see examples, but DO NOT use it to create your actual thesis, as this may be considered plagiarism!

Best of luck with your writing endeavors!

–Your friends at the PLU Writing Center

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Creating a thesis statement.

Write with Might #6: Creating a Thesis Statement

This week we continue our exploration of the writing process, which again includes: (1) prewriting, (2) creating a thesis sentence, (3) developing an outline (4) reverse outlining and (5) proofreading. I would like to offer some support on how to create a thesis statement. The following information is adapted from the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) and the Odegaard Writing &Research Center, with citations following.

Creating a thesis statement

In writing a thesis statement, remember that your task is to take a stance, argue a position and support it thoroughly with academic evidence.

1. Determine the kind of paper to determine your thesis' task

An analytical paper: your thesis should break down an idea/issue and evaluate it An expository paper: your thesis should explain something

An argumentative paper: your thesis should make a claim (an opinion) and argue it

Got something different?: Perhaps you are writing a narrative or reflection paper. If so, your thesis statement is still important as it should communicate one central theme or main idea to your reader. It will also help you stay organized.

• Start with your claim

Locate the strongest idea you developed while prewriting, then ask yourself, "is it arguable?"  Thesis statements

MUST be arguable.

Revise your claim as needed so that it is arguable.

Arguable statements:

• are persuasive and convincing
• tackle an issue/problem/question for which no easy answers exist
• invite a variety of possible perspectives
• Add reasons to your claim

A working thesis is a claim (arguable statement) with REASONS attached

CLAIM: Readers should reject women's magazines with advertising that presents impossibly thin models. REASON: Excessive dieting can cause psychological problems.

WORKING THESIS: Because excessive dieting causes psychological problems, readers should reject women's

magazines with advertising that presents impossibly thin models.

4. Ask: Is my thesis statement specific?

It should only cover what you will argue/discuss/present in your paper and what you can thoroughly

support with evidence within the scope of the paper. Be honest with yourself, perhaps you could pare it down?

5. Ask: Where does my thesis statement appear?

Your thesis should generally fall near end of your first paragraph. You should warm up the reader at the beginning of your first paragraph, providing interest, context and perhaps a brief description of the larger discourse in which your thesis lives. Consider adding a roadmap for the reader, telling them how you are going to prove your mentioned thesis. EXAMPLE: "This paper will....1), 2), 3).

6. Ask: Do I need to change my thesis now that I've written part of/all of this paper?

You may find that after you really delve into writing the body of your paper, you realize you have taken a different path. This is not necessarily a problem. Perhaps you simply need to revisit your thesis statement and change it to ensure it exactly reflects what you are telling your reader throughout the paper. Remember, reverse outlining is a great help for gaining this awareness!

Brizee, A., Tardiff, E. (2011, February, 24). Tips and Examples for Writing Thesis Statements. Retrieved from:  http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/545/1 /

Odegaard Writing & Research (n.d.) Center. Claims, Claims, Claims. Retrieved from:

http://depts.washington.edu/owrc/Handouts/Claims%20Claims%20Claims.pdf

Have a wonderful, inspired week and take good care of yourself,

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Handouts and hyperlinks.

Sometimes, you just need a quick reference guide. The following documents and links serve that purpose—for a variety of topics. Save them, print them, share them—we’ve put them together to help you whenever and wherever you are.

If you’d like to recommend additional handout topics, please email us at [email protected] .

The following handouts should be used only as general guidelines; please use your professor or departmental guidelines when they conflict with those used on these references.

Academic Writing

Use these guides to build up your writing:

• Analyzing Your Assignment
• Analysis vs. Synthesis
• Annotating a Text
• Audience Analysis
• Evaluating Sources: The CRAAP Test
• Guide to Writing In-Class Essay Exams
• Guidelines for an Annotated Bibliography
• How to Organize an Academic Paper
• How to Write an Analysis
• How to Write a Literature Review
• How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis
• How to Write a Summary
• How to Write a Synthesis
• How to Write a Thesis Statement
• Key Strategies for Effective Revision
• Tips for Writing College Papers

Grammar and Usage

Grammar can be confusing; use these handouts as a guide:

• Colons, Semicolons, and Dashes
• Combining Clauses
• Formatting Microsoft Word Documents
• Signal Verbs and Phrases
• Transitions

Helpful Links

These additional links can help with other writing and style questions you may have:

• The Draft, the PFW Writing Center Blog
• Ask a Librarian and Schedule an Appointment with a PFW Librarian
• Purdue's OWL (Online Writing Lab)
• Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing
• APA Style.org
• International Writing Centers Association
• East Central Writing Centers Association
• Judging Sources: Is Your Journal Scholarly?
• Judging Sources: Is Your Book Scholarly?

Sources and Citations

The Writing Center recommends using the Purdue Online Writing Lab or the style organization's website for the most up-to-date information on citations and formatting. If you need assistance with Purdue OWL, please visit the Writing Center during our business hours. Please note, though we are a Purdue University campus, we have no control or impact on the content of the Purdue OWL. It’s run entirely through the Purdue West Lafayette campus, with a separate staff.

• Purdue Online Writing Lab
• Last Updated: Apr 30, 2024 1:58 PM
• URL: https://library.pfw.edu/writing

Thesis Statement Tips from Purdue OWL

Have you ever visited Purdue OWL ? Well, do yourself a favor and bookmark this amazing writing resource.

One of the many resources they share are tips on how to write a thesis statement .

Still need help? Sign up for our thesis statement writing worship taking place tonight from 7-9pm in the Writing Center.

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Open Source Citation Mangaement Programs

There are programs in addition to EndNote that do the same functions and are open source and cross-platform usable. All of the programs can import and export data to each other relatively easily, so find the one that works best for you, but if you find a need to change it will not be a problem.

• Browser plug-in for desktop support
• Syncs with remote copy of library
• Integrates with MS Word and Open Office
• Stores PDFs locally and syncs with remote copy
• Cite-O-Matic integration with MS Word
• Learn the basics of a literature review from Purdue Owl's Writing a Literature Review
• Want to learn about the different types of literature reviews, check out Literature Review: Outline, Strategies, and Examples by StudyCorgi
• Wondering if your literature is complete, if you have covered all your bases, check out How to Write a Literature Review by Jim Ollhoff

Writing and APA style help

The Writing Lab and the Online Writing Lab are excellent resources to assist all students. The Online Writing Lab (OWL) has APA format information, both for document formatting and reference formatting. The Writing Lab is located in Heavilon Hall, Room 226 and is available for one-on-one 30 minute consultations with tutors. The Writing Lab works with graduate and undergraduate students.

• APA Style Online guide to using APA Style from the American Psychological Association. Includes quick answers section along with a getting started tutorial.
• Purdue Global offers a comprehensive guide on the differences between quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing. Included are suggested signal phrases for quoting. Additionally, directions for proper citation for a variety of sources, such as electronic sources and graphics are included. Further reading materials are offered.

EndNote Information

Purdue University Libraries support the use of EndNote for citation management. EndNote Basic is the web based product and is free for Purdue students to establish an account and use. Instructions about how to establish an account from off-campus and video tutorials on how to use EndNote are all linked from the EndNote Basic guide . There are librarians which support different areas of research and their use of EndNote, a list of which can be found on the left side of the EndNote Basic guide page .

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Thesis & Dissertation Overview 

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When writing a long document such as a thesis or dissertation over a sustained time period, writers may find it difficult to stay motivated and make progress. Some institutions offer “dissertation retreats” or camps for helping writers make progress. An Intensive Writing Experience (IWE) is a similar event in which a writer makes a concerted effort both to make progress on a document and to become a better writer. The writer sets aside a predetermined amount of time in order to make progress on a particular writing project, such as a dissertation.  The material here is meant to be used to conduct a Personal IWE that a writer can use when a group event such as a retreat or camp is not available.  

This section contains detailed directions for setting up a Personal IWE.  We've included vidcasts and handouts useful for a potential three-day event covering a variety of writing-related topics. Writers can view the vidcasts and read through the handouts and then apply what they have learned to their own writing. We suggest starting with the handout entitled “Conducting a Personal Intensive Writing Experience (IWE)”; this will provide details for structuring time and offers a schedule for the order of topics across a multi-day event.

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Graduate Writing Center

Executive summaries and abstracts - graduate writing center.

• Citations / Avoiding Plagiarism
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• Generative AI
• iThenticate FAQ
• Types of Papers
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• Introductions, Thesis Statements, and Roadmaps
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Executive Summaries and Abstracts

• Punctuation
• Style: Clarity and Concision
• Writing Process
• Writing a Thesis
• Quick Clips & Tips
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Executive summaries and abstracts both capture the essence of a project in a shorter form, but with differing levels of detail: an abstract is a highly condensed overview of the document, while an executive summary is a standalone version of the thesis in miniature.

See our handout on " What Goes in a Thesis Abstract? An Executive Summary? " for an overview of standard content and length—then, for more information and examples, read on!

For a more detailed explanation of abstracts, check out our infographics, tailored to your discipline:

• Defense management
• Social sciences

An abstract is a brief encapsulation of a document. Abstracts are quite limited in length (often about 200 words) and thus must be very concise, clear statements that convey a few key ideas:

• The topic and significance of the research
• The research question driving the inquiry
• The methods used to answer the question
• The findings and implications of the research

Understanding how an abstract is structured can also help you as a researcher. When conducting research , get in the habit of reading abstracts carefully to determine which documents closely fit your research needs.

Not all documents require an abstract, and most of your class papers won't. However, all NPS theses must have an abstract, and abstracts are often required for conference papers and articles submitted for publication .

Executive Summaries

Executive summaries are longer than abstracts, often running 2–5 pages. They summarize a larger document's purpose, methods, results, conclusions, and recommendations such that someone who reads  only the summary can glean a solid understanding of the research as a whole. Unlike abstracts, executive summaries can include citations and references .

Not all theses require an executive summary, so check with your advisor or department for guidance. The links below contain further information on the differences between abstracts and executive summaries.

In order to make your research easier to find by other researchers, it is a good idea to think about what searchable keywords are associated with your project. Make sure to include them in your abstract and executive summary!

Executive Summaries and Abstracts Links

• " What Goes in a Thesis Abstract? An Executive Summary? , " GWC and TPO
• " Abstracts ," University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Writing Center
• " How to Write an Abstract ," Phil Koopman, Carnegie Mellon University
• " Executive Summaries ," Colorado State University
• Layering Reports: The Executive Summary 1 " (6:35), Zachery Koppleman, Purdue OWL
• Layering Reports: The Executive Summary A Closer Look Part 1 " (5:53), Zachery Koppleman, Purdue OWL
• Chapter from a book: " Technical Reports, Executive Summaries, and Abstracts , " Robert Shenk, The Naval Institute Guide to Naval Writing

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