Learn what a research paper thesis statement is and how to write one.
Thesis statements are an important part of academic research. As a summary of your main arguments and findings, they’re a shorthand for anyone reading your work. While they’re commonplace in academia, not everyone knows exactly what they are, let alone how to write one.
So, whether you’re writing up your latest findings, entering the world of higher education, or are simply curious, stick around to discover what a thesis is, or maybe more importantly, what it isn’t.
A thesis statement is one or two sentences that summarise the findings or the core argument of your research. Thesis statements sit at the end of your first paragraph, so anyone trying to understand your findings can get the gist without reading your full paper.
You can recognise a thesis statement by the following components. By and large, you’ll find that it:
Turning the above into a thesis statement might look something like:
Our research found that the light emitted by mobile phones can suppress melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep cycles. Therefore, excessive use of mobile phones can result in poorer sleep quality when compared to no or limited use.
There are three types of thesis statements used in academic writing. Each serve a different purpose, though it may not always be clear which is best for your work.
Expository writing provides, or exposes, new information that the reader may be unaware of. Expository thesis’ will often present their summary in a straightforward manner, offering up the key finding as fact.
Analytical thesis statements offer a brief insight into the methodical and in-depth approach to their subject matter. The overall body of work will leave no stone unturned in its effort to throw light on all aspects of the topic. However, as the thesis has to be succinct, it should only touch on the key points that are covered.
An argumentative thesis statement is designed to convince the reader using facts and evidence. The thesis statement should clearly define the writer’s position and the argument they are making.
Writing a thesis statement can sound daunting, but in theory you should have done all the hard work before you write it. Explore the steps to writing a thesis statement below.
Because your thesis is a summary of your work, you’ll need to do said work before you can write your thesis statement. Your next steps will depend on your area of study and the nature of your research.
Many start with a research question which will lead them to explore other avenues, though some academics may be interested in analysing existing theories. Depending on the path you take, it’s highly likely that your research question will feature in your thesis statement in one form or another.
You’ll need to address your research question with a tentative statement that can help you define your stance and the details of what you want to explore. You’ll then need to carry out your research to back up your statement.
Once you have your findings, you can begin to plan your thesis statement and develop your standpoint. You can think about how you want to define your argument and how you’ll back it up. Consider what’s important to you and what the highlights of your findings are. You may have found lots of new and exciting information, but try to stick to the key points. How can you summarise your argument?
Once you’ve figured this out, you can think about how best to phrase it. Naturally, there are multiple ways to approach this, and you might need to try a few options before you get to the right one.
One thing that can help is deciding on your thesis format.
Thesis formats come in three styles, argumentative, expository and analytical. Each has a distinctive style and serves as a preface to the style that will be continued in your overall thesis. As we explored above, some formats have more detail than others, but all will cover the basics of the overall thesis.
Argumentative will include a stance on an argument, you could be confirming one thing or disproving something else. Expository will be revealing new information or explore new schools of thought. An analytical thesis statement will touch on the many points covered within the analytic thesis.
Once you’ve done your research, thought about your thesis, and determined how you want to approach your statement, it’s time to begin writing. Typically, a thesis statement is one to two sentences long and will be found at the bottom of the first paragraph. However, when writing your statement, you may find it better to change the length or position of your statement.
In some scenarios, you might find it useful to think of counter arguments and try to anticipate these in your statement. Though as your thesis statement should remain relatively short, try to get your main points across first.
It’s rare that the first draft of your thesis is the one you’ll submit. Often, you’ll need to review what you’ve written, make amends and revise your findings. The same goes for your thesis statement: you’ll need to review your first attempt in an effort to improve it and create the best possible version.
If you wrote your thesis statement early on, or at least a draft of it, you might find that your latest findings mean your statement has to change. Whether you’re updating to better reflect the results of your research or are simply trying to rephrase your writing, a flexible approach is best.
If you’re in the middle of writing your thesis statement and have hit a wall, or are struggling to begin, Adobe Express can help. Sum up your thesis in no time with the following tools.
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For all intents and purposes a thesis works much like an essay. Learn how to write an essay that shows a deep understanding of the subject matter with Adobe Express.
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Sometimes it can be easier to visualise your thoughts with a spider diagram that allows you to get everything down on one page.
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The format of a research thesis follows a relatively simple structure. Regardless of your topic of study, you can stick to the following for your thesis.
A research thesis statement is just a statement about your entire thesis. It looks like a short and succinct summary that covers your findings. It should help those reading your thesis to understand the topic and the results of your work.
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