Develop a thesis
What Is a Thesis?
Your thesis is the heart of your research paper. It encapsulates your special idea about your subject clearly and concisely.
Examples of statements that are, and are not, theses:
- The United Nations was founded to maintain world peace -- not a thesis. This is a statement of fact.
- The United Nations has failed to keep world peace -- though this is a debatable point, it is not really a thesis. To change it from an opinion to an argument, you will have to show awareness of the historical context and alternative arguments.
- During the Cold War, the veto powers given to permanent members of the Security Council prevented the United Nations from keeping world peace -- this is a start on a thesis. While it can still be refined and improved considerably, it presents an argument that is rooted in historical context.
Developing a Thesis Statement
A thesis statement has to state your argument concisely and clearly. A thesis statement is not a question.
Testing Your Thesis
Here are some questions you can ask yourself to judge if you have a strong thesis statement:
- Do I answer the question posed in the assignment?
- Could someone reasonably challenge my position? Your thesis should be framed as a statement that others can agree or disagree with. 'This poem is a bad poem' would not be a good thesis, since it's hard to agree or disagree with this statement.
- Will people care about my idea? If not, you might need to clarify your statement or connect it to a larger issue.
Useful Links
- The University of North Carolina Writing Centre on info developing your thesis statement
- The Harvard Writing Centre's handout on info developing a thesis
