Writing Research Paper Thesis
FINAL THESIS: After reviewing all of your note cards to begin preparing your outline, determine if you have found information on all aspects of your of Controlling Purpose and answers to all of your Research Questions. You are not bound by the original controlling purpose or research questions if, as you did your research, you were unable to find relevant information; and/or if, as you did your research, you uncovered new issues or aspects which you will include in your outline and paper.
Your FINAL THESIS should:
- control and focus the entire paper.
- give order to the details by providing unity and a sense of direction.
- specify to the reader the point of the research.
Your FINAL THESIS should conform to several conventions:
- It is expressed in a full, declarative sentence, which is not a question, not a statement of purpose, and not merely a topic.
(No "My/this paper will...." or "The purpose of this is....")
- It limits the subject to a narrow focus that grows from your research.
- It establishes an investigative, inventive edge to your research and thereby gives a reason for your work.
- It points forward to a conclusion.
- It conforms to your note cards and title.
To arrive at a thesis a research writer must ask "What is the point of my research?" The answer may lead to the thesis. Other possible questions to arrive at a thesis are:
- Can I tell my reader something new or different?
- Do I have a solution to a problem?
- Do I have a new slant on or new approach to this issue?
- Should I take a minority or contrary view of this topic?
- What exactly is my theory about this topic?
Example Thesis Statements
- Predicting the location of potential earthquakes is possible within certain guidelines.
- The use of repetition enables advertisers to pitch their products in thirty-second time slots.
- A company should program its computers to safeguard both valuable document and its own software.
- The year 2000 did not cause the great computer technology chaos that had been predicted.
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