Thesis Statements for Research Paper

What Thesis Statements Provide

• Transition statement

• Argument/central point

• The “so what” and why people should care about your argument

• A guide to how the argument will be organized (roadmap)

“So what” and Why People Should Care

• Addresses a widespread belief in society that you will explain is mistaken

• Explain how this understanding of the topic will change the reader’s view of the world

Templates

1. In making this argument, I (disprove, dispel, challenge) the common belief that ———-

2. In making this argument, I address the academic debate on whether [topic] can be understood as ——- or as ——-

3. By understanding [topic'] in this way, we can see ——— - the best one to use

Roadmap - Guide to Argument Organization

• What are the main points of your argument?

• In what order will you discuss the general points/ideas in your argument

• You don’t need additional sentences just to create roadmaps

Transition Statement

• Don’t say “analyze” say “argue” to make it more clear that you’re demonstrating a thesis statement (Eg. “In this paper, I will argue that”)

Good Writing

• NO surprises (only do what you say you will in your thesis)

• Say exacrly what you mean, leaving nothing to the imagination

What Thesis Statements SHOULD NOT have

• The secondary texts that you’ll use (or any sources whatsoever)