How To Write a Thesis Statement For a Research Paper

As you probably know, a thesis plays a crucial part in writing an essay. However, few students think that the same statement is an obligatory element of any research paper — that is, until they are assigned to write one. More than that, thesis statement plays an even more important part in a research paper than it does in an essay. After all, most researches run longer than an average essay, which is why readers will, first of all, pay attention to the thesis you are about to prove. Only then will they decide if your work is a worthy read. So, your ultimate goal when writing a research paper thesis is to provide interesting information to the reader. In other words, thesis for a research paper should be both engaging and informative — this way, you get a chance to hook your audience and make them want to read further.

You might think that writing a research paper for college does not mean hooking the reader. After all, your professor must read whatever you are submitting, right? Of course, but that does not mean that you have to bore your professors to death. First, this may (and probably will) negatively affect your grade. And second, it may damage your academic reputation and your standing with this professor. So, let’s find out how to write a thesis for a research paper and avoid such unfortunate course of events.

Writing a thesis for a research paper: the basics

Any time you feel lost writing a thesis statement for a research paper, you are free to explore some free samples online. Fortunately, there are plenty of sites to consult when looking for inspiration. However, you must remember that the topic of the research you are going through may not exactly correspond with yours. Plus, you should never forget that most of the free samples you can look through online are submitted by your fellow students, which is why the quality can often be disputable. After all, you do not know what grade the paper you are reading received. So, keep a clear head and try to think critically.

When working on your own thesis statement, it is, first of all, important to understand the purpose of your research, as well as the results you are trying to achieve. All in all, a thesis statement should be a gist of your whole research paper. If you can sum up your most important ideas in just one sentence — that’s it, this is a perfect thesis for a research paper.

Next, remember that a solid thesis — whether for a research paper or a five-paragraph essay — should not only be informative but also thought-provoking. Ideally, it should be arguable — so that your reader is urged to find out more about your personal position on a subject. Here are useful hints that should help you achieve just that.

• Make your position clear. Even though you are working on a research, it does not mean that you cannot present your opinion. You can, and you should. After all, the same subject can be approached from many different angles, and it is your goal, as a writer, to convey your position to the reader.
• Avoid asking questions. Sometimes, it seems logical to make your thesis statement sound like a question and then move on to giving answers in the main body of your research. Still, if you think of it, the idea is not the best one. After all, it is called a statement for a reason, so why turn a statement into a question? The best idea here is to define the questions you will be raising in your research and reformulate these questions into a single, logical statement.
• Do not reinvent the wheel. It is true that a thesis statement is placed at the end of your introductory paragraph. So, you might be tempted to write this section first. In practice, though, it is better to finish with the main research parts and jot down your intro (and your thesis statement) when most writing work is already finished. Do not forget, your goal is to prove your thesis, so it’s better to have the proof already when you are working on this statement. The standard approach would be to create a ‘draft’ for your thesis (that is, a relatively ‘vague’ formulation of what you are about to prove) and revise the statement when the main sections of your research are already finished. This way, you will make sure that the thesis statement is indeed precise, to the point, and informative.
• Keep it brief and focused. Avoid any vague formulations in the final version of your thesis statement. Remember, it should be both concise and informative. Try to include as much factual info as you can (without confusing the reader).
• Grab attention and engage! Once again, a thesis statement — even for a research paper — should not be boring. It should not only inform the audience but also make them think. Again, if you manage to make your thesis arguable, the chances are that your reader’s position on the same subject will be slightly different. This is a perfect way to engage and make your audience read further.

Looking for examples

Now that you know the theory behind writing a thesis statement for a research paper, it might be a wise idea to get back online and have a look at those free samples again. This way, you will easily determine which examples are good ones, and which are poorly structured. As you do, make sure you are looking at samples in your respective areas of study — this is the surest way to get the inspiration you are looking for.

Still, do not forget that all of the samples available online are given for inspiration, and inspiration only. You cannot copy the ideas and present them as your own — plagiarism is a serious offense, and your professors will definitely be scanning research papers for it.

Need more help with your paper?

Even students who know all of these tips (like you do now) sometimes need more help. As you can see, writing a thesis statement for a research paper is a time-consuming task. So, if your deadline is pressing, and you haven’t even started on this assignment, why not entrust it to custom writers?

Our writing team has helped thousands of students from all over the globe structure their research papers. If you are looking for a pro team you can rely on, you’ve come to the right place! We will research a compelling, informative, and very creative thesis statement for your paper. This way, you’ll get the highest grade you deserve so much!