The thesis statement generally appears at the end of your or .


A thesis statement is needed in an essay or dissertation. There are multiple types of thesis statements – but generally we can divide them into expository and argumentative. An expository statement is a statement of fact (common in expository essays and process essays) while an argumentative statement is a statement of opinion (common in and dissertations). Below are examples of each.
Beyond exploring these limits, review your work to make sure the argument corresponds to the detailed research. If gaps remain, consider how best to explain them and discuss these issues with your instructor. Sharpening and refining your argument like this not only improves your research paper; it improves your understanding. It’s a learning experience well beyond most course work. Another possibility is that your original argument is too broad. Your research may reveal it applies perfectly well to the United States but not to Canada, or vice versa. If your thesis statement incorrectly says it should apply to both countries, or perhaps to all democracies, then you need to delimit it. Put a fence around your argument, saying where it applies and where it doesn’t. Don’t do that in an arbitrary or ad hoc way. Specify the limits in clear, general terms, if possible—the same way you stated the thesis itself. You’ll usually find the thesis statement at the end of the first paragraph in an essay. This is a good spot because it lets you introduce the topic and give some background information before telling the reader what you think. For example, a thesis statement saying, “Not taking care of yourself when pregnant is bad” has no particular stand. What does “taking care of yourself” in this case entails? You should consider revising the thesis statement in several ways as you work on the research paper. One, which we’ve just mentioned, is in response to testing and evaluation. If some predictions are wrong, then you need to take that into account and modify the argument. Having done that, test the revised predictions against different evidence. Your thesis statement states what you will discuss in your essay. Not only does it define the scope and focus of your essay, it also tells your reader what to expect from the essay.

Example format of research paper thesis: Expository

This article on the examples of thesis statements would be incomplete if we haven’t given a few examples of analytical thesis statements. These thesis statements are used where your academic paper is of an analytical nature, that is, where it breaks down a particular concept in order for its different pieces to be discussed.

Example format of research paper thesis: Analytical

As mentioned above, learning how to write a good thesis statement is first aided by knowing the types. Now that you have learned them, the question becomes, what are things to keep in mind when attempting to compose your thesis statement? They are as discussed below:

A strong thesis statement should tell the reader:

That is exactly what you want to accomplish in your own thesis statement for your research paper. In the first few months of thesis research, you’ll take aim. As you move forward with your research and writing, you will adjust your sights. Revising your thesis statement is not a concession. It’s learning. Finally, you will draw conclusions and try to show how your argument hits the bull’s-eye. Don’t worry if your argument changes during your research project. That’s learning!

How to write a thesis statement:

Writing a good thesis statement is an important part of doing well in school writing. By following these four easy steps, you can create a strong argument for your essay that will help you get your point across.

A thesis statement is the main argument of your paper or thesis.

In each case, the thesis statement shows that the project is coherent, that its multiple strands are bound together by a single aim. This aim, stated in the argument, is the focal point of the entire work.

Rather than using a general statement, like you could say,

The thesis statements shown here are vastly different in their subject matter. Yet all of them are concise, forceful, and original. As they stand, however, they are little more than assertions. The authors spend most of their books developing these arguments, supporting them, defending them against likely objections, and showing their full implications. In the process, they build great books around interesting arguments.