a thesis for a research paper

Developing a Thesis Statement

Many papers you write require developing a thesis statement. In this section you’ll learn what a thesis statement is and how to write one.

Keep in mind that not all papers require thesis statements . If in doubt, please consult your instructor for assistance.

What is a thesis statement?

A thesis statement . . .

• Makes an argumentative assertion about a topic; it states the conclusions that you have reached about your topic.
• Makes a promise to the reader about the scope, purpose, and direction of your paper.
• Is focused and specific enough to be “proven” within the boundaries of your paper.
• Is generally located near the end of the introduction ; sometimes, in a long paper, the thesis will be expressed in several sentences or in an entire paragraph.
• Identifies the relationships between the pieces of evidence that you are using to support your argument.

Not all papers require thesis statements! Ask your instructor if you’re in doubt whether you need one.

Identify a topic

Your topic is the subject about which you will write. Your assignment may suggest several ways of looking at a topic; or it may name a fairly general concept that you will explore or analyze in your paper.

Consider what your assignment asks you to do

Inform yourself about your topic, focus on one aspect of your topic, ask yourself whether your topic is worthy of your efforts, generate a topic from an assignment.

Below are some possible topics based on sample assignments.

Sample assignment 1

Analyze Spain’s neutrality in World War II.

Identified topic

Franco’s role in the diplomatic relationships between the Allies and the Axis

This topic avoids generalities such as “Spain” and “World War II,” addressing instead on Franco’s role (a specific aspect of “Spain”) and the diplomatic relations between the Allies and Axis (a specific aspect of World War II).

Sample assignment 2

Analyze one of Homer’s epic similes in the Iliad.

The relationship between the portrayal of warfare and the epic simile about Simoisius at 4.547-64.

This topic focuses on a single simile and relates it to a single aspect of the Iliad ( warfare being a major theme in that work).

Developing a Thesis Statement–Additional information

Your assignment may suggest several ways of looking at a topic, or it may name a fairly general concept that you will explore or analyze in your paper. You’ll want to read your assignment carefully, looking for key terms that you can use to focus your topic.

Sample assignment: Analyze Spain’s neutrality in World War II Key terms: analyze, Spain’s neutrality, World War II

After you’ve identified the key words in your topic, the next step is to read about them in several sources, or generate as much information as possible through an analysis of your topic. Obviously, the more material or knowledge you have, the more possibilities will be available for a strong argument. For the sample assignment above, you’ll want to look at books and articles on World War II in general, and Spain’s neutrality in particular.

As you consider your options, you must decide to focus on one aspect of your topic. This means that you cannot include everything you’ve learned about your topic, nor should you go off in several directions. If you end up covering too many different aspects of a topic, your paper will sprawl and be unconvincing in its argument, and it most likely will not fulfull the assignment requirements.

For the sample assignment above, both Spain’s neutrality and World War II are topics far too broad to explore in a paper. You may instead decide to focus on Franco’s role in the diplomatic relationships between the Allies and the Axis , which narrows down what aspects of Spain’s neutrality and World War II you want to discuss, as well as establishes a specific link between those two aspects.

Before you go too far, however, ask yourself whether your topic is worthy of your efforts. Try to avoid topics that already have too much written about them (i.e., “eating disorders and body image among adolescent women”) or that simply are not important (i.e. “why I like ice cream”). These topics may lead to a thesis that is either dry fact or a weird claim that cannot be supported. A good thesis falls somewhere between the two extremes. To arrive at this point, ask yourself what is new, interesting, contestable, or controversial about your topic.

As you work on your thesis, remember to keep the rest of your paper in mind at all times . Sometimes your thesis needs to evolve as you develop new insights, find new evidence, or take a different approach to your topic.

Derive a main point from topic

Once you have a topic, you will have to decide what the main point of your paper will be. This point, the “controlling idea,” becomes the core of your argument (thesis statement) and it is the unifying idea to which you will relate all your sub-theses. You can then turn this “controlling idea” into a purpose statement about what you intend to do in your paper.

Look for patterns in your evidence

Compose a purpose statement.

Consult the examples below for suggestions on how to look for patterns in your evidence and construct a purpose statement.

• Franco first tried to negotiate with the Axis
• Franco turned to the Allies when he couldn’t get some concessions that he wanted from the Axis

Possible conclusion:

Spain’s neutrality in WWII occurred for an entirely personal reason: Franco’s desire to preserve his own (and Spain’s) power.

Purpose statement

This paper will analyze Franco’s diplomacy during World War II to see how it contributed to Spain’s neutrality.

• The simile compares Simoisius to a tree, which is a peaceful, natural image.
• The tree in the simile is chopped down to make wheels for a chariot, which is an object used in warfare.

At first, the simile seems to take the reader away from the world of warfare, but we end up back in that world by the end.

This paper will analyze the way the simile about Simoisius at 4.547-64 moves in and out of the world of warfare.

Derive purpose statement from topic

To find out what your “controlling idea” is, you have to examine and evaluate your evidence . As you consider your evidence, you may notice patterns emerging, data repeated in more than one source, or facts that favor one view more than another. These patterns or data may then lead you to some conclusions about your topic and suggest that you can successfully argue for one idea better than another.

For instance, you might find out that Franco first tried to negotiate with the Axis, but when he couldn’t get some concessions that he wanted from them, he turned to the Allies. As you read more about Franco’s decisions, you may conclude that Spain’s neutrality in WWII occurred for an entirely personal reason: his desire to preserve his own (and Spain’s) power. Based on this conclusion, you can then write a trial thesis statement to help you decide what material belongs in your paper.

Sometimes you won’t be able to find a focus or identify your “spin” or specific argument immediately. Like some writers, you might begin with a purpose statement just to get yourself going. A purpose statement is one or more sentences that announce your topic and indicate the structure of the paper but do not state the conclusions you have drawn . Thus, you might begin with something like this:

• This paper will look at modern language to see if it reflects male dominance or female oppression.
• I plan to analyze anger and derision in offensive language to see if they represent a challenge of society’s authority.

At some point, you can turn a purpose statement into a thesis statement. As you think and write about your topic, you can restrict, clarify, and refine your argument, crafting your thesis statement to reflect your thinking.

As you work on your thesis, remember to keep the rest of your paper in mind at all times. Sometimes your thesis needs to evolve as you develop new insights, find new evidence, or take a different approach to your topic.

Compose a draft thesis statement

If you are writing a paper that will have an argumentative thesis and are having trouble getting started, the techniques in the table below may help you develop a temporary or “working” thesis statement.

Begin with a purpose statement that you will later turn into a thesis statement.

Assignment: Discuss the history of the Reform Party and explain its influence on the 1990 presidential and Congressional election.

Purpose Statement: This paper briefly sketches the history of the grassroots, conservative, Perot-led Reform Party and analyzes how it influenced the economic and social ideologies of the two mainstream parties.

Question-to-Assertion

If your assignment asks a specific question(s), turn the question(s) into an assertion and give reasons why it is true or reasons for your opinion.

Assignment : What do Aylmer and Rappaccini have to be proud of? Why aren’t they satisfied with these things? How does pride, as demonstrated in “The Birthmark” and “Rappaccini’s Daughter,” lead to unexpected problems?

Beginning thesis statement: Alymer and Rappaccinni are proud of their great knowledge; however, they are also very greedy and are driven to use their knowledge to alter some aspect of nature as a test of their ability. Evil results when they try to “play God.”

Write a sentence that summarizes the main idea of the essay you plan to write.

Main idea: The reason some toys succeed in the market is that they appeal to the consumers’ sense of the ridiculous and their basic desire to laugh at themselves.

Make a list of the ideas that you want to include; consider the ideas and try to group them.

• nature = peaceful
• war matériel = violent (competes with 1?)
• need for time and space to mourn the dead
• war is inescapable (competes with 3?)

Use a formula to arrive at a working thesis statement (you will revise this later).

• although most readers of _______ have argued that _______, closer examination shows that _______.
• _______ uses _______ and _____ to prove that ________.
• phenomenon x is a result of the combination of __________, __________, and _________.

What to keep in mind as you draft an initial thesis statement

Beginning statements obtained through the methods illustrated above can serve as a framework for planning or drafting your paper, but remember they’re not yet the specific, argumentative thesis you want for the final version of your paper. In fact, in its first stages, a thesis statement usually is ill-formed or rough and serves only as a planning tool.

As you write, you may discover evidence that does not fit your temporary or “working” thesis. Or you may reach deeper insights about your topic as you do more research, and you will find that your thesis statement has to be more complicated to match the evidence that you want to use.

You must be willing to reject or omit some evidence in order to keep your paper cohesive and your reader focused. Or you may have to revise your thesis to match the evidence and insights that you want to discuss. Read your draft carefully, noting the conclusions you have drawn and the major ideas which support or prove those conclusions. These will be the elements of your final thesis statement.

Sometimes you will not be able to identify these elements in your early drafts, but as you consider how your argument is developing and how your evidence supports your main idea, ask yourself, “ What is the main point that I want to prove/discuss? ” and “ How will I convince the reader that this is true? ” When you can answer these questions, then you can begin to refine the thesis statement.

Refine and polish the thesis statement

To get to your final thesis, you’ll need to refine your draft thesis so that it’s specific and arguable.

• Ask if your draft thesis addresses the assignment
• Question each part of your draft thesis
• Clarify vague phrases and assertions
• Investigate alternatives to your draft thesis

Consult the example below for suggestions on how to refine your draft thesis statement.

Sample Assignment

Choose an activity and define it as a symbol of American culture. Your essay should cause the reader to think critically about the society which produces and enjoys that activity.

• Ask The phenomenon of drive-in facilities is an interesting symbol of american culture, and these facilities demonstrate significant characteristics of our society.This statement does not fulfill the assignment because it does not require the reader to think critically about society.

Drive-ins are an interesting symbol of American culture because they represent Americans’ significant creativity and business ingenuity.

Among the types of drive-in facilities familiar during the twentieth century, drive-in movie theaters best represent American creativity, not merely because they were the forerunner of later drive-ins and drive-throughs, but because of their impact on our culture: they changed our relationship to the automobile, changed the way people experienced movies, and changed movie-going into a family activity.

While drive-in facilities such as those at fast-food establishments, banks, pharmacies, and dry cleaners symbolize America’s economic ingenuity, they also have affected our personal standards.

While drive-in facilities such as those at fast- food restaurants, banks, pharmacies, and dry cleaners symbolize (1) Americans’ business ingenuity, they also have contributed (2) to an increasing homogenization of our culture, (3) a willingness to depersonalize relationships with others, and (4) a tendency to sacrifice quality for convenience.

This statement is now specific and fulfills all parts of the assignment. This version, like any good thesis, is not self-evident; its points, 1-4, will have to be proven with evidence in the body of the paper. The numbers in this statement indicate the order in which the points will be presented. Depending on the length of the paper, there could be one paragraph for each numbered item or there could be blocks of paragraph for even pages for each one.

Complete the final thesis statement

The bottom line.

As you move through the process of crafting a thesis, you’ll need to remember four things:

• Context matters! Think about your course materials and lectures. Try to relate your thesis to the ideas your instructor is discussing.
• As you go through the process described in this section, always keep your assignment in mind . You will be more successful when your thesis (and paper) responds to the assignment than if it argues a semi-related idea.
• Your thesis statement should be precise, focused, and contestable ; it should predict the sub-theses or blocks of information that you will use to prove your argument.
• Make sure that you keep the rest of your paper in mind at all times. Change your thesis as your paper evolves, because you do not want your thesis to promise more than your paper actually delivers.

In the beginning, the thesis statement was a tool to help you sharpen your focus, limit material and establish the paper’s purpose. When your paper is finished, however, the thesis statement becomes a tool for your reader. It tells the reader what you have learned about your topic and what evidence led you to your conclusion. It keeps the reader on track–well able to understand and appreciate your argument.

Writing Process and Structure

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

Getting Started with Your Paper

Interpreting Writing Assignments from Your Courses

Generating Ideas for

Creating an Argument

Thesis vs. Purpose Statements

Architecture of Arguments

Working with Sources

Quoting and Paraphrasing Sources

Using Literary Quotations

Citing Sources in Your Paper

Drafting Your Paper

Generating Ideas for Your Paper

Introductions

Paragraphing

Developing Strategic Transitions

Conclusions

Revising Your Paper

Peer Reviews

Reverse Outlines

Revising an Argumentative Paper

Revision Strategies for Longer Projects

Finishing Your Paper

Twelve Common Errors: An Editing Checklist

How to Proofread your Paper

Writing Collaboratively

Collaborative and Group Writing

Reference management. Clean and simple.

How to write a thesis statement + examples

What is a thesis statement?

Is a thesis statement a question, how do you write a good thesis statement, how do i know if my thesis statement is good, examples of thesis statements, helpful resources on how to write a thesis statement, frequently asked questions about writing a thesis statement, related articles.

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

The thesis statement is one of the most important elements of any piece of academic writing . It is a brief statement of your paper’s main argument. Essentially, you are stating what you will be writing about.

You can see your thesis statement as an answer to a question. While it also contains the question, it should really give an answer to the question with new information and not just restate or reiterate it.

Your thesis statement is part of your introduction. Learn more about how to write a good thesis introduction in our introduction guide .

A thesis statement is not a question. A statement must be arguable and provable through evidence and analysis. While your thesis might stem from a research question, it should be in the form of a statement.

Tip: A thesis statement is typically 1-2 sentences. For a longer project like a thesis, the statement may be several sentences or a paragraph.

A good thesis statement needs to do the following:

• Condense the main idea of your thesis into one or two sentences.
• Answer your project’s main research question.
• Clearly state your position in relation to the topic .
• Make an argument that requires support or evidence.

Once you have written down a thesis statement, check if it fulfills the following criteria:

• Your statement needs to be provable by evidence. As an argument, a thesis statement needs to be debatable.
• Your statement needs to be precise. Do not give away too much information in the thesis statement and do not load it with unnecessary information.
• Your statement cannot say that one solution is simply right or simply wrong as a matter of fact. You should draw upon verified facts to persuade the reader of your solution, but you cannot just declare something as right or wrong.

As previously mentioned, your thesis statement should answer a question.

If the question is:

What do you think the City of New York should do to reduce traffic congestion?

A good thesis statement restates the question and answers it:

In this paper, I will argue that the City of New York should focus on providing exclusive lanes for public transport and adaptive traffic signals to reduce traffic congestion by the year 2035.

Here is another example. If the question is:

How can we end poverty?

A good thesis statement should give more than one solution to the problem in question:

In this paper, I will argue that introducing universal basic income can help reduce poverty and positively impact the way we work.

• The Writing Center of the University of North Carolina has a list of questions to ask to see if your thesis is strong .

A thesis statement is part of the introduction of your paper. It is usually found in the first or second paragraph to let the reader know your research purpose from the beginning.

In general, a thesis statement should have one or two sentences. But the length really depends on the overall length of your project. Take a look at our guide about the length of thesis statements for more insight on this topic.

Here is a list of Thesis Statement Examples that will help you understand better how to write them.

Every good essay should include a thesis statement as part of its introduction, no matter the academic level. Of course, if you are a high school student you are not expected to have the same type of thesis as a PhD student.

Here is a great YouTube tutorial showing How To Write An Essay: Thesis Statements .

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Writing a Paper: Thesis Statements

Basics of thesis statements.

The thesis statement is the brief articulation of your paper's central argument and purpose. You might hear it referred to as simply a "thesis." Every scholarly paper should have a thesis statement, and strong thesis statements are concise, specific, and arguable. Concise means the thesis is short: perhaps one or two sentences for a shorter paper. Specific means the thesis deals with a narrow and focused topic, appropriate to the paper's length. Arguable means that a scholar in your field could disagree (or perhaps already has!).

Strong thesis statements address specific intellectual questions, have clear positions, and use a structure that reflects the overall structure of the paper. Read on to learn more about constructing a strong thesis statement.

Being Specific

This thesis statement has no specific argument:

Needs Improvement: In this essay, I will examine two scholarly articles to find similarities and differences.

This statement is concise, but it is neither specific nor arguable—a reader might wonder, "Which scholarly articles? What is the topic of this paper? What field is the author writing in?" Additionally, the purpose of the paper—to "examine…to find similarities and differences" is not of a scholarly level. Identifying similarities and differences is a good first step, but strong academic argument goes further, analyzing what those similarities and differences might mean or imply.

Better: In this essay, I will argue that Bowler's (2003) autocratic management style, when coupled with Smith's (2007) theory of social cognition, can reduce the expenses associated with employee turnover.

The new revision here is still concise, as well as specific and arguable.  We can see that it is specific because the writer is mentioning (a) concrete ideas and (b) exact authors.  We can also gather the field (business) and the topic (management and employee turnover). The statement is arguable because the student goes beyond merely comparing; he or she draws conclusions from that comparison ("can reduce the expenses associated with employee turnover").

Making a Unique Argument

This thesis draft repeats the language of the writing prompt without making a unique argument:

Needs Improvement: The purpose of this essay is to monitor, assess, and evaluate an educational program for its strengths and weaknesses. Then, I will provide suggestions for improvement.

You can see here that the student has simply stated the paper's assignment, without articulating specifically how he or she will address it. The student can correct this error simply by phrasing the thesis statement as a specific answer to the assignment prompt.

Better: Through a series of student interviews, I found that Kennedy High School's antibullying program was ineffective. In order to address issues of conflict between students, I argue that Kennedy High School should embrace policies outlined by the California Department of Education (2010).

Words like "ineffective" and "argue" show here that the student has clearly thought through the assignment and analyzed the material; he or she is putting forth a specific and debatable position. The concrete information ("student interviews," "antibullying") further prepares the reader for the body of the paper and demonstrates how the student has addressed the assignment prompt without just restating that language.

Creating a Debate

This thesis statement includes only obvious fact or plot summary instead of argument:

Needs Improvement: Leadership is an important quality in nurse educators.

A good strategy to determine if your thesis statement is too broad (and therefore, not arguable) is to ask yourself, "Would a scholar in my field disagree with this point?" Here, we can see easily that no scholar is likely to argue that leadership is an unimportant quality in nurse educators.  The student needs to come up with a more arguable claim, and probably a narrower one; remember that a short paper needs a more focused topic than a dissertation.

Better: Roderick's (2009) theory of participatory leadership  is particularly appropriate to nurse educators working within the emergency medicine field, where students benefit most from collegial and kinesthetic learning.

Here, the student has identified a particular type of leadership ("participatory leadership"), narrowing the topic, and has made an arguable claim (this type of leadership is "appropriate" to a specific type of nurse educator). Conceivably, a scholar in the nursing field might disagree with this approach. The student's paper can now proceed, providing specific pieces of evidence to support the arguable central claim.

Choosing the Right Words

This thesis statement uses large or scholarly-sounding words that have no real substance:

Needs Improvement: Scholars should work to seize metacognitive outcomes by harnessing discipline-based networks to empower collaborative infrastructures.

There are many words in this sentence that may be buzzwords in the student's field or key terms taken from other texts, but together they do not communicate a clear, specific meaning. Sometimes students think scholarly writing means constructing complex sentences using special language, but actually it's usually a stronger choice to write clear, simple sentences. When in doubt, remember that your ideas should be complex, not your sentence structure.

Better: Ecologists should work to educate the U.S. public on conservation methods by making use of local and national green organizations to create a widespread communication plan.

Notice in the revision that the field is now clear (ecology), and the language has been made much more field-specific ("conservation methods," "green organizations"), so the reader is able to see concretely the ideas the student is communicating.

Leaving Room for Discussion

This thesis statement is not capable of development or advancement in the paper:

Needs Improvement: There are always alternatives to illegal drug use.

This sample thesis statement makes a claim, but it is not a claim that will sustain extended discussion. This claim is the type of claim that might be appropriate for the conclusion of a paper, but in the beginning of the paper, the student is left with nowhere to go. What further points can be made? If there are "always alternatives" to the problem the student is identifying, then why bother developing a paper around that claim? Ideally, a thesis statement should be complex enough to explore over the length of the entire paper.

Better: The most effective treatment plan for methamphetamine addiction may be a combination of pharmacological and cognitive therapy, as argued by Baker (2008), Smith (2009), and Xavier (2011).

In the revised thesis, you can see the student make a specific, debatable claim that has the potential to generate several pages' worth of discussion. When drafting a thesis statement, think about the questions your thesis statement will generate: What follow-up inquiries might a reader have? In the first example, there are almost no additional questions implied, but the revised example allows for a good deal more exploration.

Thesis Mad Libs

If you are having trouble getting started, try using the models below to generate a rough model of a thesis statement! These models are intended for drafting purposes only and should not appear in your final work.

• In this essay, I argue ____, using ______ to assert _____.
• While scholars have often argued ______, I argue______, because_______.
• Through an analysis of ______, I argue ______, which is important because_______.

Words to Avoid and to Embrace

When drafting your thesis statement, avoid words like explore, investigate, learn, compile, summarize , and explain to describe the main purpose of your paper. These words imply a paper that summarizes or "reports," rather than synthesizing and analyzing.

Instead of the terms above, try words like argue, critique, question , and interrogate . These more analytical words may help you begin strongly, by articulating a specific, critical, scholarly position.

Read Kayla's blog post for tips on taking a stand in a well-crafted thesis statement.

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Didn't find what you need? Email us at [email protected] .

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Thesis Statements

What this handout is about.

This handout describes what a thesis statement is, how thesis statements work in your writing, and how you can craft or refine one for your draft.

Introduction

Writing in college often takes the form of persuasion—convincing others that you have an interesting, logical point of view on the subject you are studying. Persuasion is a skill you practice regularly in your daily life. You persuade your roommate to clean up, your parents to let you borrow the car, your friend to vote for your favorite candidate or policy. In college, course assignments often ask you to make a persuasive case in writing. You are asked to convince your reader of your point of view. This form of persuasion, often called academic argument, follows a predictable pattern in writing. After a brief introduction of your topic, you state your point of view on the topic directly and often in one sentence. This sentence is the thesis statement, and it serves as a summary of the argument you’ll make in the rest of your paper.

What is a thesis statement?

A thesis statement:

• tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion.
• is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper.
• directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself. The subject, or topic, of an essay might be World War II or Moby Dick; a thesis must then offer a way to understand the war or the novel.
• makes a claim that others might dispute.
• is usually a single sentence near the beginning of your paper (most often, at the end of the first paragraph) that presents your argument to the reader. The rest of the paper, the body of the essay, gathers and organizes evidence that will persuade the reader of the logic of your interpretation.

If your assignment asks you to take a position or develop a claim about a subject, you may need to convey that position or claim in a thesis statement near the beginning of your draft. The assignment may not explicitly state that you need a thesis statement because your instructor may assume you will include one. When in doubt, ask your instructor if the assignment requires a thesis statement. When an assignment asks you to analyze, to interpret, to compare and contrast, to demonstrate cause and effect, or to take a stand on an issue, it is likely that you are being asked to develop a thesis and to support it persuasively. (Check out our handout on understanding assignments for more information.)

How do I create a thesis?

A thesis is the result of a lengthy thinking process. Formulating a thesis is not the first thing you do after reading an essay assignment. Before you develop an argument on any topic, you have to collect and organize evidence, look for possible relationships between known facts (such as surprising contrasts or similarities), and think about the significance of these relationships. Once you do this thinking, you will probably have a “working thesis” that presents a basic or main idea and an argument that you think you can support with evidence. Both the argument and your thesis are likely to need adjustment along the way.

Writers use all kinds of techniques to stimulate their thinking and to help them clarify relationships or comprehend the broader significance of a topic and arrive at a thesis statement. For more ideas on how to get started, see our handout on brainstorming .

How do I know if my thesis is strong?

If there’s time, run it by your instructor or make an appointment at the Writing Center to get some feedback. Even if you do not have time to get advice elsewhere, you can do some thesis evaluation of your own. When reviewing your first draft and its working thesis, ask yourself the following :

• Do I answer the question? Re-reading the question prompt after constructing a working thesis can help you fix an argument that misses the focus of the question. If the prompt isn’t phrased as a question, try to rephrase it. For example, “Discuss the effect of X on Y” can be rephrased as “What is the effect of X on Y?”
• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? If your thesis simply states facts that no one would, or even could, disagree with, it’s possible that you are simply providing a summary, rather than making an argument.
• Is my thesis statement specific enough? Thesis statements that are too vague often do not have a strong argument. If your thesis contains words like “good” or “successful,” see if you could be more specific: why is something “good”; what specifically makes something “successful”?
• Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? If a reader’s first response is likely to  be “So what?” then you need to clarify, to forge a relationship, or to connect to a larger issue.
• Does my essay support my thesis specifically and without wandering? If your thesis and the body of your essay do not seem to go together, one of them has to change. It’s okay to change your working thesis to reflect things you have figured out in the course of writing your paper. Remember, always reassess and revise your writing as necessary.
• Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? If a reader’s first response is “how?” or “why?” your thesis may be too open-ended and lack guidance for the reader. See what you can add to give the reader a better take on your position right from the beginning.

Suppose you are taking a course on contemporary communication, and the instructor hands out the following essay assignment: “Discuss the impact of social media on public awareness.” Looking back at your notes, you might start with this working thesis:

Social media impacts public awareness in both positive and negative ways.

You can use the questions above to help you revise this general statement into a stronger thesis.

• Do I answer the question? You can analyze this if you rephrase “discuss the impact” as “what is the impact?” This way, you can see that you’ve answered the question only very generally with the vague “positive and negative ways.”
• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? Not likely. Only people who maintain that social media has a solely positive or solely negative impact could disagree.
• Is my thesis statement specific enough? No. What are the positive effects? What are the negative effects?
• Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? No. Why are they positive? How are they positive? What are their causes? Why are they negative? How are they negative? What are their causes?
• Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? No. Why should anyone care about the positive and/or negative impact of social media?

After thinking about your answers to these questions, you decide to focus on the one impact you feel strongly about and have strong evidence for:

Because not every voice on social media is reliable, people have become much more critical consumers of information, and thus, more informed voters.

This version is a much stronger thesis! It answers the question, takes a specific position that others can challenge, and it gives a sense of why it matters.

Let’s try another. Suppose your literature professor hands out the following assignment in a class on the American novel: Write an analysis of some aspect of Mark Twain’s novel Huckleberry Finn. “This will be easy,” you think. “I loved Huckleberry Finn!” You grab a pad of paper and write:

Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn is a great American novel.

You begin to analyze your thesis:

• Do I answer the question? No. The prompt asks you to analyze some aspect of the novel. Your working thesis is a statement of general appreciation for the entire novel.

Think about aspects of the novel that are important to its structure or meaning—for example, the role of storytelling, the contrasting scenes between the shore and the river, or the relationships between adults and children. Now you write:

In Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain develops a contrast between life on the river and life on the shore.

• Do I answer the question? Yes!
• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? Not really. This contrast is well-known and accepted.
• Is my thesis statement specific enough? It’s getting there–you have highlighted an important aspect of the novel for investigation. However, it’s still not clear what your analysis will reveal.
• Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? Not yet. Compare scenes from the book and see what you discover. Free write, make lists, jot down Huck’s actions and reactions and anything else that seems interesting.
• Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? What’s the point of this contrast? What does it signify?”

After examining the evidence and considering your own insights, you write:

Through its contrasting river and shore scenes, Twain’s Huckleberry Finn suggests that to find the true expression of American democratic ideals, one must leave “civilized” society and go back to nature.

This final thesis statement presents an interpretation of a literary work based on an analysis of its content. Of course, for the essay itself to be successful, you must now present evidence from the novel that will convince the reader of your interpretation.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Anson, Chris M., and Robert A. Schwegler. 2010. The Longman Handbook for Writers and Readers , 6th ed. New York: Longman.

Lunsford, Andrea A. 2015. The St. Martin’s Handbook , 8th ed. Boston: Bedford/St Martin’s.

Ramage, John D., John C. Bean, and June Johnson. 2018. The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing , 8th ed. New York: Pearson.

Ruszkiewicz, John J., Christy Friend, Daniel Seward, and Maxine Hairston. 2010. The Scott, Foresman Handbook for Writers , 9th ed. Boston: Pearson Education.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Tips and Examples for Writing Thesis Statements

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Tips for Writing Your Thesis Statement

1. Determine what kind of paper you are writing:

• An analytical paper breaks down an issue or an idea into its component parts, evaluates the issue or idea, and presents this breakdown and evaluation to the audience.
• An expository (explanatory) paper explains something to the audience.
• An argumentative paper makes a claim about a topic and justifies this claim with specific evidence. The claim could be an opinion, a policy proposal, an evaluation, a cause-and-effect statement, or an interpretation. The goal of the argumentative paper is to convince the audience that the claim is true based on the evidence provided.

If you are writing a text that does not fall under these three categories (e.g., a narrative), a thesis statement somewhere in the first paragraph could still be helpful to your reader.

2. Your thesis statement should be specific—it should cover only what you will discuss in your paper and should be supported with specific evidence.

3. The thesis statement usually appears at the end of the first paragraph of a paper.

4. Your topic may change as you write, so you may need to revise your thesis statement to reflect exactly what you have discussed in the paper.

Thesis Statement Examples

Example of an analytical thesis statement:

The paper that follows should:

• Explain the analysis of the college admission process
• Explain the challenge facing admissions counselors

Example of an expository (explanatory) thesis statement:

• Explain how students spend their time studying, attending class, and socializing with peers

Example of an argumentative thesis statement:

• Present an argument and give evidence to support the claim that students should pursue community projects before entering college

Research Paper: A step-by-step guide: 3. Thesis Statement & Outline

• 1. Getting Started
• 2. Topic Ideas
• 3. Thesis Statement & Outline
• 4. Appropriate Sources
• 5. Search Techniques
• 6. Taking Notes & Documenting Sources
• 7. Evaluating Sources
• 8. Citations & Plagiarism
• 9. Writing Your Research Paper

About Thesis Statements

Qualities of a thesis statement.

Thesis statements:

• state the subject matter and main ideas of a paper.
• appear in the first paragraph and announces what you will discuss in your paper.
• define the scope and focus of your essay, and tells your reader what to expect.  
• are not a simple factual statement.  It is an assertion that states your claims and that you can prove with evidence.
• should be the product of research and your own critical thinking.
• can be very helpful in constructing an outline for your essay; for each point you make, ask yourself whether it is relevant to the thesis.

Steps you can use to create a thesis statement

1. Start out with the main topic and focus of your essay.

youth gangs + prevention and intervention programs

2. Make a claim or argument in one sentence.  It can be helpful to start with a question which you then turn into an argument

Can prevention and intervention programs stop youth gang activities?  How?  ►►►  "Prevention and intervention programs can stop youth gang activities by giving teens something else to do."

3. Revise the sentence by using specific terms.

"Early prevention programs in schools are the most effective way to prevent youth gang involvement by giving teens good activities that offer a path to success."

4. Further revise the sentence to cover the scope of your essay and make a strong statement.

"Among various prevention and intervention efforts that have been made to deal with the rapid growth of youth gangs, early school-based prevention programs are the most effective way to prevent youth gang involvement, which they do by giving teens meaningful activities that offer pathways to achievement and success."

5. Keep your thesis statement flexible and revise it as needed. In the process of researching and writing, you may find new information or refine your understanding of the topic.

You can view this short video for more tips on how to write a clear thesis statement.

An outline is the skeleton of your essay, in which you list the arguments and subtopics in a logical order. A good outline is an important element in writing a good paper. An outline helps to target your research areas, keep you within the scope without going off-track, and it can also help to keep your argument in good order when writing the essay.  Once your outline is in good shape, it is much easier to write your paper; you've already done most of the thinking, so you just need to fill in the outline with a paragraph for each point.

To write an outline: The most common way to write an outline is the list format.  List all the major topics and subtopics with the key points that support them. Put similar topics and points together and arrange them in a logical order.    Include an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. 

A list outline should arrange the main points or arguments in a hierarchical structure indicated by Roman numerals for main ideas (I, II, III...), capital letters for subtopics (A, B, C...), Arabic numerals for details (1,2,3...), and lower-case letters for fine details if needed (a,b,c...). This helps keep things organized.  

Here is a shortened example of an outline:

Introduction: background and thesis statement

I. First topic

1. Supporting evidence 2. Supporting evidence

II. Second Topic

III. Third Topic

I. Summarize the main points of your paper II. Restate your thesis in different words III. Make a strong final statement

You can see examples of a few different kinds of outlines and get more help at the Purdue OWL .

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How to Write a Research Paper: Thesis Statement

• Anatomy of a Research Paper
• Developing a Research Focus
• Background Research Tips
• Searching Tips
• Scholarly Journals vs. Popular Journals
• Thesis Statement
• Annotated Bibliography
• Citing Sources
• Evaluating Sources
• Literature Review
• Academic Integrity
• Scholarship as Conversation
• Understanding Fake News
• Data, Information, Knowledge

What is a Thesis Statement?

What is a Thesis Statement?  

A thesis statement is a concise statement of an academic work's main point. The thesis statement should identify both what the paper is about (the topic) and what you are saying about it. Your thesis statement should be as specific as possible. For a short essay, the length of your thesis statement should be one or two sentences. If you are writing a dissertation or book, your thesis statement should be about a paragraph in length. A thesis should avoid saying "This paper is about..." Your thesis statement should be as specific as possible. 

A basic pattern to follow is "An analysis of (insert topic here) will show that (point one), (point two), and (point three)." Keep in mind this is only an example, there is no one-size-fits-all formula. 

Who Needs a Thesis Statement?

All academic writing, from a short essay to a dissertation or a monograph, should have an identifiable thesis statement somewhere in it. The longer or more complicated an academic work is, the easier is becomes to get bogged down in details and lose sight of the overall argument, and the more important it is to clearly state the central point. 

Where Should I Put My Thesis Statement? 

Thesis statements are most commonly located near the beginning of the academic work, usually towards the end of the introduction. This strategic placement allows the reader to quickly understand specifically what the essay is about and be able to follow the arguments as they are presented. 

Tips for Writing Your Thesis Statement

Tips and Examples for Writing Thesis Statements: Purdue Owl 

This resource from Purdue University's Online Writing Lab (OWL) provides tips for creating a thesis statement and examples of different types of thesis statements. 

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• URL: https://libguide.umary.edu/researchpaper

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A thesis statement is a declarative sentence that asserts the position a paper will be taking. This statement should be both specific and arguable. Generally, the thesis statement will be placed at the end of the first paragraph of your paper. The remainder of your paper will support this thesis.

After you've landed on a satisfactory topic, your next step will be to solidify the position you would like to take and write a clear and succinct thesis statement which will lay the foundation for the rest of your paper.

For the sake of example, let's say that you've chosen to argue the merits of eating locally grown foods. You want to focus on the positive effects that this will have on one's health, the local economy, and on global ecology. You also want to dispel the myth that eating locally is more expensive, and therefore, the exclusive purview of the upper middle class.

An example of a thesis statement outlining your position might look like this:

The locavore movement that has gained popularity in the United States over the past several years offers a way to increase health, support the local economy, and promote global ecology by making some simple changes to the way that you and your family eat. Although frequently criticized for being far more expensive than eating factory-farmed foods, the truth is that the costs of home gardening and the prices for which you can purchase food at your local farmer's market are often far less expensive alternatives than buying from a chain grocer, not to mention safer and more nutritious.

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• Research Paper Thesis
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Scrutinize Research Paper Thesis Statement Examples

Explicit tips on writing a thesis, how to write a research paper thesis: a quick guide.

We all know that thesis for a research paper is very important. Thesis statement conveys the main debatable idea - the last sentence or two of your introduction . You need to make your thesis clear. If not, you may feel frustrated when your teacher asks what the main ideas of your writing were after all hours you spent developing the research paper.

Always analyze research paper thesis statement examples. Decent research thesis statements have much in common. You need to introduce a good argument, not a fact but a valid debatable point of your essay.

Search a pressing issue, questions within your topic; it is important the evidence discovered actually support your thesis. Coming up with a strong statement for a research work may be a daunting task. One may spend too much time formulating it still changing the wording at some stage of writing. Most likely you will need some assistance.

As Napoleon Bonaparte said, “if you want a thing done well, do it yourself”! It may not work for everyone. We have professional team of experienced writers who will provide you with assistance you need saving you from stress and wasted hours. We will write a paragraph and give you a thesis. If required, we will revise it up to the point where you like it.

Reading examples helps guide you to a clear thesis. It reveals important elements and can explain you the reasons why this is a strong statement. We will present the examples of good and bad theses . Then we will provide important tips on how to change your wording to make it worthy of professional writer.

No : We should avoid consuming food high in sugar.

Yes : People need to decrease the consumption of products high in sugar because this diet can cause health issues like diabetes and heart diseases.

No : A high number of young people cannot afford to pay tuition costs.

Yes : All young people willing to enroll in a college should have an opportunity to do so by having access to the governmental because this helps them get a job and repay the governmental investment in their education.

No : Prohibiting marijuana is a good cause to pursue, but there are some people who need it for medicinal use.

Yes : America should prohibit marijuana in all forms because this is a drug many people abuse. What’s worse, it causes many health issues like cancer.

Thesis statement examples for research paper are helpful. When a reader sees such examples, they analyze the text, information, and opinion expressed in a thesis. A claim you make should not be simple. Focus on what you want to argue and give reasons, keeping in mind that your position should be proven later in the project. Knowing how to write a research paper thesis gives you an upper hand in college. You can ask for writers’ assistance; relax – order your research project from us !

Effective statement makes a great impression on a reader. It gives you credit since you need to possess profound writing skills. We have prepared a quick list of tips you can follow to tailor your perfect assertion.

• Construct a thesis from a question

Formulate a question then give an answer. Your answer is now a basis for the research paper thesis statement; expand it providing more evidence, ideas which you will later support in your research.

• Keep in mind the type of research

There is a difference between theses of argumentative, expository, and analytical research. Expository essay should teach you something or clearly explain a point. The goal of an argumentative thesis is to change a reader’s mind on an issue analyzed in the essay. If you need to devise an analytical research, pay attention to the details that you will examine to better understand the whole concept.

• A powerful thesis takes a side

Never include an opposite opinion in your assertion. Make sure you take a specific side; come up with all possible supporting details that will make your position even stronger.

• Make sure you can prove your point

The golden rule is to come up with the thesis at the end of your research. This is required to ensure you can find strong evidence to prove your thesis . Avoid too complicated formulations that cover large scopes. If your assertion for a research paper is very subjective and hard to prove, you may want to reconsider your position.

We have prepared a short list of steps you need to follow if you have no idea how to write a research paper thesis.

• Choose a topic you are interested in
• It is much easier to find supporting evidence if the question you are researching interests you.
• Explore the resources, theme
• The topic should not be broad. Decide on a narrow subject within your topic. A good thesis is never vague since you cannot ensure a good research.
• Follow a structure
• Introduction – literature review – methodology – results – discussion – conclusion .
• It is okay to write, revise, rewrite, adjust your thesis in the process of doing research.

Following these tips will help you focus on the correct way to formulate a solid thesis for your research work. Along with that, it is recommended to consult experts in the field. Order from us – ensure your thesis is professionally composed, provable, debatable. Our writers are experts in thesis writing. They will help you devise the most appropriate and effective thesis for your paper.

25 Thesis Statement Examples

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 argumentative essays and dissertations). Below are examples of each.

Strong Thesis Statement Examples

1. School Uniforms

“Mandatory school uniforms should be implemented in educational institutions as they promote a sense of equality, reduce distractions, and foster a focused and professional learning environment.”

Best For: Argumentative Essay or Debate

Read More: School Uniforms Pros and Cons

2. Nature vs Nurture

“This essay will explore how both genetic inheritance and environmental factors equally contribute to shaping human behavior and personality.”

Best For: Compare and Contrast Essay

Read More: Nature vs Nurture Debate

3. American Dream

“The American Dream, a symbol of opportunity and success, is increasingly elusive in today’s socio-economic landscape, revealing deeper inequalities in society.”

Best For: Persuasive Essay

Read More: What is the American Dream?

4. Social Media

“Social media has revolutionized communication and societal interactions, but it also presents significant challenges related to privacy, mental health, and misinformation.”

Best For: Expository Essay

Read More: The Pros and Cons of Social Media

5. Globalization

“Globalization has created a world more interconnected than ever before, yet it also amplifies economic disparities and cultural homogenization.”

Read More: Globalization Pros and Cons

6. Urbanization

“Urbanization drives economic growth and social development, but it also poses unique challenges in sustainability and quality of life.”

Read More: Learn about Urbanization

7. Immigration

“Immigration enriches receiving countries culturally and economically, outweighing any perceived social or economic burdens.”

Read More: Immigration Pros and Cons

8. Cultural Identity

“In a globalized world, maintaining distinct cultural identities is crucial for preserving cultural diversity and fostering global understanding, despite the challenges of assimilation and homogenization.”

Best For: Argumentative Essay

Read More: Learn about Cultural Identity

9. Technology

“Medical technologies in care institutions in Toronto has increased subjcetive outcomes for patients with chronic pain.”

Best For: Research Paper

10. Capitalism vs Socialism

“The debate between capitalism and socialism centers on balancing economic freedom and inequality, each presenting distinct approaches to resource distribution and social welfare.”

11. Cultural Heritage

“The preservation of cultural heritage is essential, not only for cultural identity but also for educating future generations, outweighing the arguments for modernization and commercialization.”

12. Pseudoscience

“Pseudoscience, characterized by a lack of empirical support, continues to influence public perception and decision-making, often at the expense of scientific credibility.”

Read More: Examples of Pseudoscience

13. Free Will

“The concept of free will is largely an illusion, with human behavior and decisions predominantly determined by biological and environmental factors.”

Read More: Do we have Free Will?

14. Gender Roles

“Traditional gender roles are outdated and harmful, restricting individual freedoms and perpetuating gender inequalities in modern society.”

Read More: What are Traditional Gender Roles?

15. Work-Life Ballance

“The trend to online and distance work in the 2020s led to improved subjective feelings of work-life balance but simultaneously increased self-reported loneliness.”

Read More: Work-Life Balance Examples

16. Universal Healthcare

“Universal healthcare is a fundamental human right and the most effective system for ensuring health equity and societal well-being, outweighing concerns about government involvement and costs.”

Read More: The Pros and Cons of Universal Healthcare

17. Minimum Wage

“The implementation of a fair minimum wage is vital for reducing economic inequality, yet it is often contentious due to its potential impact on businesses and employment rates.”

Read More: The Pros and Cons of Raising the Minimum Wage

18. Homework

“The homework provided throughout this semester has enabled me to achieve greater self-reflection, identify gaps in my knowledge, and reinforce those gaps through spaced repetition.”

Best For: Reflective Essay

Read More: Reasons Homework Should be Banned

19. Charter Schools

“Charter schools offer alternatives to traditional public education, promising innovation and choice but also raising questions about accountability and educational equity.”

Read More: The Pros and Cons of Charter Schools

20. Effects of the Internet

“The Internet has drastically reshaped human communication, access to information, and societal dynamics, generally with a net positive effect on society.”

Read More: The Pros and Cons of the Internet

21. Affirmative Action

“Affirmative action is essential for rectifying historical injustices and achieving true meritocracy in education and employment, contrary to claims of reverse discrimination.”

Best For: Essay

Read More: Affirmative Action Pros and Cons

22. Soft Skills

“Soft skills, such as communication and empathy, are increasingly recognized as essential for success in the modern workforce, and therefore should be a strong focus at school and university level.”

Read More: Soft Skills Examples

23. Moral Panic

“Moral panic, often fueled by media and cultural anxieties, can lead to exaggerated societal responses that sometimes overlook rational analysis and evidence.”

Read More: Moral Panic Examples

24. Freedom of the Press

“Freedom of the press is critical for democracy and informed citizenship, yet it faces challenges from censorship, media bias, and the proliferation of misinformation.”

Read More: Freedom of the Press Examples

25. Mass Media

“Mass media shapes public opinion and cultural norms, but its concentration of ownership and commercial interests raise concerns about bias and the quality of information.”

Best For: Critical Analysis

Read More: Mass Media Examples

Checklist: How to use your Thesis Statement

✅ Position: If your statement is for an argumentative or persuasive essay, or a dissertation, ensure it takes a clear stance on the topic. ✅ Specificity: It addresses a specific aspect of the topic, providing focus for the essay. ✅ Conciseness: Typically, a thesis statement is one to two sentences long. It should be concise, clear, and easily identifiable. ✅ Direction: The thesis statement guides the direction of the essay, providing a roadmap for the argument, narrative, or explanation. ✅ Evidence-based: While the thesis statement itself doesn’t include evidence, it sets up an argument that can be supported with evidence in the body of the essay. ✅ Placement: Generally, the thesis statement is placed at the end of the introduction of an essay.

Try These AI Prompts – Thesis Statement Generator!

One way to brainstorm thesis statements is to get AI to brainstorm some for you! Try this AI prompt:

💡 AI PROMPT FOR EXPOSITORY THESIS STATEMENT I am writing an essay on [TOPIC] and these are the instructions my teacher gave me: [INSTUCTIONS]. I want you to create an expository thesis statement that doesn’t argue a position, but demonstrates depth of knowledge about the topic.

💡 AI PROMPT FOR ARGUMENTATIVE THESIS STATEMENT I am writing an essay on [TOPIC] and these are the instructions my teacher gave me: [INSTRUCTIONS]. I want you to create an argumentative thesis statement that clearly takes a position on this issue.

💡 AI PROMPT FOR COMPARE AND CONTRAST THESIS STATEMENT I am writing a compare and contrast essay that compares [Concept 1] and [Concept2]. Give me 5 potential single-sentence thesis statements that remain objective.

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 15 Animism Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 10 Magical Thinking Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ Social-Emotional Learning (Definition, Examples, Pros & Cons)
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ What is Educational Psychology?

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Home » Thesis – Structure, Example and Writing Guide

Thesis – Structure, Example and Writing Guide

Table of contents.

Definition:

Thesis is a scholarly document that presents a student’s original research and findings on a particular topic or question. It is usually written as a requirement for a graduate degree program and is intended to demonstrate the student’s mastery of the subject matter and their ability to conduct independent research.

History of Thesis

The concept of a thesis can be traced back to ancient Greece, where it was used as a way for students to demonstrate their knowledge of a particular subject. However, the modern form of the thesis as a scholarly document used to earn a degree is a relatively recent development.

The origin of the modern thesis can be traced back to medieval universities in Europe. During this time, students were required to present a “disputation” in which they would defend a particular thesis in front of their peers and faculty members. These disputations served as a way to demonstrate the student’s mastery of the subject matter and were often the final requirement for earning a degree.

In the 17th century, the concept of the thesis was formalized further with the creation of the modern research university. Students were now required to complete a research project and present their findings in a written document, which would serve as the basis for their degree.

The modern thesis as we know it today has evolved over time, with different disciplines and institutions adopting their own standards and formats. However, the basic elements of a thesis – original research, a clear research question, a thorough review of the literature, and a well-argued conclusion – remain the same.

Structure of Thesis

The structure of a thesis may vary slightly depending on the specific requirements of the institution, department, or field of study, but generally, it follows a specific format.

Here’s a breakdown of the structure of a thesis:

This is the first page of the thesis that includes the title of the thesis, the name of the author, the name of the institution, the department, the date, and any other relevant information required by the institution.

This is a brief summary of the thesis that provides an overview of the research question, methodology, findings, and conclusions.

This page provides a list of all the chapters and sections in the thesis and their page numbers.

Introduction

This chapter provides an overview of the research question, the context of the research, and the purpose of the study. The introduction should also outline the methodology and the scope of the research.

Literature Review

This chapter provides a critical analysis of the relevant literature on the research topic. It should demonstrate the gap in the existing knowledge and justify the need for the research.

Methodology

This chapter provides a detailed description of the research methods used to gather and analyze data. It should explain the research design, the sampling method, data collection techniques, and data analysis procedures.

This chapter presents the findings of the research. It should include tables, graphs, and charts to illustrate the results.

This chapter interprets the results and relates them to the research question. It should explain the significance of the findings and their implications for the research topic.

This chapter summarizes the key findings and the main conclusions of the research. It should also provide recommendations for future research.

This section provides a list of all the sources cited in the thesis. The citation style may vary depending on the requirements of the institution or the field of study.

This section includes any additional material that supports the research, such as raw data, survey questionnaires, or other relevant documents.

How to write Thesis

Here are some steps to help you write a thesis:

• Choose a Topic: The first step in writing a thesis is to choose a topic that interests you and is relevant to your field of study. You should also consider the scope of the topic and the availability of resources for research.
• Develop a Research Question: Once you have chosen a topic, you need to develop a research question that you will answer in your thesis. The research question should be specific, clear, and feasible.
• Conduct a Literature Review: Before you start your research, you need to conduct a literature review to identify the existing knowledge and gaps in the field. This will help you refine your research question and develop a research methodology.
• Develop a Research Methodology: Once you have refined your research question, you need to develop a research methodology that includes the research design, data collection methods, and data analysis procedures.
• Collect and Analyze Data: After developing your research methodology, you need to collect and analyze data. This may involve conducting surveys, interviews, experiments, or analyzing existing data.
• Write the Thesis: Once you have analyzed the data, you need to write the thesis. The thesis should follow a specific structure that includes an introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion, and references.
• Edit and Proofread: After completing the thesis, you need to edit and proofread it carefully. You should also have someone else review it to ensure that it is clear, concise, and free of errors.
• Submit the Thesis: Finally, you need to submit the thesis to your academic advisor or committee for review and evaluation.

Example of Thesis

Example of Thesis template for Students:

Title of Thesis

Table of Contents:

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Literature Review

Chapter 3: Research Methodology

Chapter 4: Results

Chapter 5: Discussion

Chapter 6: Conclusion

References:

Appendices:

Note: That’s just a basic template, but it should give you an idea of the structure and content that a typical thesis might include. Be sure to consult with your department or supervisor for any specific formatting requirements they may have. Good luck with your thesis!

Application of Thesis

Thesis is an important academic document that serves several purposes. Here are some of the applications of thesis:

• Academic Requirement: A thesis is a requirement for many academic programs, especially at the graduate level. It is an essential component of the evaluation process and demonstrates the student’s ability to conduct original research and contribute to the knowledge in their field.
• Career Advancement: A thesis can also help in career advancement. Employers often value candidates who have completed a thesis as it demonstrates their research skills, critical thinking abilities, and their dedication to their field of study.
• Publication : A thesis can serve as a basis for future publications in academic journals, books, or conference proceedings. It provides the researcher with an opportunity to present their research to a wider audience and contribute to the body of knowledge in their field.
• Personal Development: Writing a thesis is a challenging task that requires time, dedication, and perseverance. It provides the student with an opportunity to develop critical thinking, research, and writing skills that are essential for their personal and professional development.
• Impact on Society: The findings of a thesis can have an impact on society by addressing important issues, providing insights into complex problems, and contributing to the development of policies and practices.

Purpose of Thesis

The purpose of a thesis is to present original research findings in a clear and organized manner. It is a formal document that demonstrates a student’s ability to conduct independent research and contribute to the knowledge in their field of study. The primary purposes of a thesis are:

• To Contribute to Knowledge: The main purpose of a thesis is to contribute to the knowledge in a particular field of study. By conducting original research and presenting their findings, the student adds new insights and perspectives to the existing body of knowledge.
• To Demonstrate Research Skills: A thesis is an opportunity for the student to demonstrate their research skills. This includes the ability to formulate a research question, design a research methodology, collect and analyze data, and draw conclusions based on their findings.
• To Develop Critical Thinking: Writing a thesis requires critical thinking and analysis. The student must evaluate existing literature and identify gaps in the field, as well as develop and defend their own ideas.
• To Provide Evidence of Competence : A thesis provides evidence of the student’s competence in their field of study. It demonstrates their ability to apply theoretical concepts to real-world problems, and their ability to communicate their ideas effectively.
• To Facilitate Career Advancement : Completing a thesis can help the student advance their career by demonstrating their research skills and dedication to their field of study. It can also provide a basis for future publications, presentations, or research projects.

When to Write Thesis

The timing for writing a thesis depends on the specific requirements of the academic program or institution. In most cases, the opportunity to write a thesis is typically offered at the graduate level, but there may be exceptions.

Generally, students should plan to write their thesis during the final year of their graduate program. This allows sufficient time for conducting research, analyzing data, and writing the thesis. It is important to start planning the thesis early and to identify a research topic and research advisor as soon as possible.

In some cases, students may be able to write a thesis as part of an undergraduate program or as an independent research project outside of an academic program. In such cases, it is important to consult with faculty advisors or mentors to ensure that the research is appropriately designed and executed.

It is important to note that the process of writing a thesis can be time-consuming and requires a significant amount of effort and dedication. It is important to plan accordingly and to allocate sufficient time for conducting research, analyzing data, and writing the thesis.

Characteristics of Thesis

The characteristics of a thesis vary depending on the specific academic program or institution. However, some general characteristics of a thesis include:

• Originality : A thesis should present original research findings or insights. It should demonstrate the student’s ability to conduct independent research and contribute to the knowledge in their field of study.
• Clarity : A thesis should be clear and concise. It should present the research question, methodology, findings, and conclusions in a logical and organized manner. It should also be well-written, with proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Research-Based: A thesis should be based on rigorous research, which involves collecting and analyzing data from various sources. The research should be well-designed, with appropriate research methods and techniques.
• Evidence-Based : A thesis should be based on evidence, which means that all claims made in the thesis should be supported by data or literature. The evidence should be properly cited using appropriate citation styles.
• Critical Thinking: A thesis should demonstrate the student’s ability to critically analyze and evaluate information. It should present the student’s own ideas and arguments, and engage with existing literature in the field.
• Academic Style : A thesis should adhere to the conventions of academic writing. It should be well-structured, with clear headings and subheadings, and should use appropriate academic language.

Advantages of Thesis

There are several advantages to writing a thesis, including:

• Development of Research Skills: Writing a thesis requires extensive research and analytical skills. It helps to develop the student’s research skills, including the ability to formulate research questions, design and execute research methodologies, collect and analyze data, and draw conclusions based on their findings.
• Contribution to Knowledge: Writing a thesis provides an opportunity for the student to contribute to the knowledge in their field of study. By conducting original research, they can add new insights and perspectives to the existing body of knowledge.
• Preparation for Future Research: Completing a thesis prepares the student for future research projects. It provides them with the necessary skills to design and execute research methodologies, analyze data, and draw conclusions based on their findings.
• Career Advancement: Writing a thesis can help to advance the student’s career. It demonstrates their research skills and dedication to their field of study, and provides a basis for future publications, presentations, or research projects.
• Personal Growth: Completing a thesis can be a challenging and rewarding experience. It requires dedication, hard work, and perseverance. It can help the student to develop self-confidence, independence, and a sense of accomplishment.

Limitations of Thesis

There are also some limitations to writing a thesis, including:

• Time and Resources: Writing a thesis requires a significant amount of time and resources. It can be a time-consuming and expensive process, as it may involve conducting original research, analyzing data, and producing a lengthy document.
• Narrow Focus: A thesis is typically focused on a specific research question or topic, which may limit the student’s exposure to other areas within their field of study.
• Limited Audience: A thesis is usually only read by a small number of people, such as the student’s thesis advisor and committee members. This limits the potential impact of the research findings.
• Lack of Real-World Application : Some thesis topics may be highly theoretical or academic in nature, which may limit their practical application in the real world.
• Pressure and Stress : Writing a thesis can be a stressful and pressure-filled experience, as it may involve meeting strict deadlines, conducting original research, and producing a high-quality document.
• Potential for Isolation: Writing a thesis can be a solitary experience, as the student may spend a significant amount of time working independently on their research and writing.

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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Làm thế nào để viết một bài nghiên cứu 

• Nhóm biên tập Smodin
• Cập nhật: 17 Tháng Năm, 2024
• Tổng Quát

Hầu hết sinh viên ghét viết bài nghiên cứu. Quá trình này thường có thể kéo dài, tẻ nhạt và đôi khi hoàn toàn nhàm chán. Tuy nhiên, những bài tập này rất quan trọng đối với hành trình học tập của học sinh. Bạn muốn tìm hiểu cách viết một bài nghiên cứu nắm bắt được chiều sâu của chủ đề và duy trì sự quan tâm của người đọc? Nếu vậy, hướng dẫn này là dành cho bạn.

Hôm nay, chúng tôi sẽ chỉ cho bạn cách tập hợp một bài nghiên cứu được tổ chức tốt để giúp bạn chấm điểm. Bạn có thể chuyển bất kỳ chủ đề nào thành một bài nghiên cứu hấp dẫn với cách tiếp cận nghiên cứu chu đáo và lập luận thuyết phục.

Trong hướng dẫn này, chúng tôi sẽ cung cấp bảy mẹo đơn giản nhưng thiết thực để giúp làm sáng tỏ quy trình và hướng dẫn bạn thực hiện. Chúng tôi cũng sẽ giải thích cách các công cụ AI có thể đẩy nhanh quá trình nghiên cứu và viết bài để bạn có thể tập trung vào tư duy phản biện.

Đến cuối bài viết này, bạn sẽ có lộ trình rõ ràng để giải quyết những bài luận này. Bạn cũng sẽ học cách giải quyết chúng một cách nhanh chóng và hiệu quả. Với thời gian và sự cống hiến, bạn sẽ sớm thành thạo nghệ thuật viết bài nghiên cứu.

Sẵn sàng để bắt đầu?

Một bài nghiên cứu là gì?

Bài viết nghiên cứu là một bài luận toàn diện đưa ra phân tích, giải thích hoặc lập luận chi tiết dựa trên nghiên cứu độc lập của riêng bạn. Trong môi trường học thuật cấp cao hơn, nó vượt xa sự tóm tắt đơn giản và bao gồm một cuộc tìm hiểu sâu về chủ đề hoặc các chủ đề.

Thuật ngữ “bài nghiên cứu” là một thuật ngữ rộng có thể được áp dụng cho nhiều hình thức viết học thuật khác nhau. Mục tiêu là kết hợp suy nghĩ của bạn với những phát hiện từ tài liệu học thuật được bình duyệt.

Vào thời điểm bài luận của bạn được hoàn thành, lẽ ra bạn phải cung cấp cho người đọc một góc nhìn mới hoặc thách thức những phát hiện hiện có. Điều này thể hiện sự thông thạo của bạn về chủ đề này và góp phần vào các cuộc tranh luận học thuật đang diễn ra.

7 lời khuyên khi viết một bài nghiên cứu

Thông thường, bắt đầu là phần thử thách nhất của một bài nghiên cứu. Mặc dù quá trình này có vẻ khó khăn nhưng việc chia nhỏ nó thành các bước có thể quản lý được có thể giúp quản lý dễ dàng hơn. Sau đây là bảy mẹo để đưa ý tưởng của bạn ra khỏi đầu và xuất hiện trên trang giấy.

1. Hiểu nhiệm vụ của bạn

Nghe có vẻ đơn giản nhưng bước đầu tiên để viết một bài nghiên cứu thành công là đọc bài tập. Hãy ngồi xuống, dành một chút thời gian và xem qua các hướng dẫn để bạn hiểu đầy đủ nhiệm vụ của mình.

Việc hiểu sai bài tập không chỉ gây lãng phí thời gian đáng kể mà còn ảnh hưởng đến điểm số của bạn. Cho dù giáo viên hoặc giáo sư của bạn có kiên nhẫn đến đâu thì việc bỏ qua những hướng dẫn cơ bản thường là điều không thể tha thứ được.

Nếu bạn đọc hướng dẫn mà vẫn còn bối rối, hãy yêu cầu làm rõ trước khi bắt đầu viết. Nếu điều đó là không thể, bạn có thể sử dụng các công cụ như Trò chuyện AI của Smodin giúp đỡ. Smodin có thể giúp làm nổi bật những yêu cầu quan trọng mà bạn có thể bỏ qua.

Khoản đầu tư ban đầu này đảm bảo rằng mọi nỗ lực trong tương lai của bạn sẽ tập trung và hiệu quả. Hãy nhớ rằng, suy nghĩ cũng quan trọng như việc thực sự viết bài luận và nó cũng có thể tạo tiền đề cho quá trình viết suôn sẻ hơn.

2. Thu thập tài liệu nghiên cứu

Bây giờ đến phần thú vị: thực hiện nghiên cứu. Khi bạn thu thập tài liệu nghiên cứu, hãy luôn sử dụng các nguồn đáng tin cậy, chẳng hạn như các tạp chí học thuật hoặc các bài báo được bình duyệt. Chỉ sử dụng các công cụ tìm kiếm lọc các nguồn được công nhận và cơ sở dữ liệu học thuật để bạn có thể đảm bảo thông tin của mình đáng tin cậy.

Để tối ưu hóa thời gian của mình, bạn phải học cách nắm vững nghệ thuật đọc lướt. Nếu một nguồn có vẻ phù hợp và có giá trị, hãy lưu nó và xem lại sau. Điều cuối cùng bạn muốn làm là lãng phí thời gian vào những tài liệu không được đưa vào bài viết cuối cùng.

Để tăng tốc quá trình hơn nữa, hãy cân nhắc sử dụng Trình tóm tắt AI của Smodin . Công cụ này có thể giúp tóm tắt các văn bản lớn, làm nổi bật thông tin chính liên quan đến chủ đề của bạn. Bằng cách thu thập và lưu trữ các tài liệu nghiên cứu một cách có hệ thống ngay từ đầu quá trình viết, bạn sẽ xây dựng được nền tảng vững chắc cho luận án của mình.

3. Viết luận văn của bạn

Tạo một tuyên bố luận điểm vững chắc là điều quan trọng nhất bạn có thể làm để mang lại cấu trúc và trọng tâm cho bài nghiên cứu của mình. Luận điểm của bạn nên diễn đạt điểm chính của lập luận bằng một hoặc hai câu đơn giản. Hãy nhớ rằng, khi bạn viết luận văn, bạn đang thiết lập sắc thái và định hướng cho toàn bộ bài viết.

Tất nhiên, bạn không thể tự nhiên có được một luận văn đoạt giải. Bắt đầu bằng cách động não các ý tưởng luận án tiềm năng dựa trên nghiên cứu sơ bộ của bạn. Và đừng suy nghĩ quá nhiều về mọi thứ; đôi khi, những ý tưởng đơn giản nhất thường là những ý tưởng hay nhất.

Bạn muốn một luận điểm đủ cụ thể để có thể quản lý được trong phạm vi bài viết của mình nhưng cũng đủ rộng để cho phép một cuộc thảo luận độc đáo. Luận án của bạn nên thách thức những kỳ vọng hiện có và cung cấp cho người đọc cái nhìn sâu sắc mới mẻ về chủ đề này. Sử dụng luận điểm của bạn để thu hút người đọc vào đoạn mở đầu và thu hút họ cho đến từ cuối cùng.

4. Viết dàn ý của bạn

Dàn ý là một công cụ thường bị bỏ qua nhưng cần thiết để sắp xếp suy nghĩ và cấu trúc bài viết của bạn. Nhiều học sinh bỏ qua dàn bài vì cảm giác như đang làm bài kép, nhưng một dàn bài chặt chẽ sẽ giúp bạn tiết kiệm thời gian làm bài về lâu dài.

Đây là cách để cấu trúc dàn ý của bạn một cách hiệu quả.

• Giới thiệu: Liệt kê tuyên bố luận án của bạn và phác thảo các câu hỏi chính mà bài luận của bạn sẽ trả lời.
• Đánh giá văn học: Phác thảo các tài liệu chính mà bạn dự định thảo luận và giải thích nó sẽ liên quan như thế nào đến luận án của bạn.
• Phương pháp luận: Giải thích các phương pháp nghiên cứu bạn sẽ sử dụng để thu thập và phân tích thông tin.
• Thảo luận: Lập kế hoạch cách bạn sẽ giải thích các kết quả và ý nghĩa của chúng đối với luận án của bạn.
• Kết luận: Hãy tóm tắt lại các nội dung trên để làm sáng tỏ luận điểm của bạn một cách đầy đủ.

Để tiếp tục hợp lý hóa quá trình này, hãy xem xét sử dụng Nhà văn nghiên cứu của Smodin. Công cụ này cung cấp một tính năng cho phép bạn tạo và điều chỉnh một phác thảo theo ý thích dựa trên thông tin đầu vào ban đầu bạn cung cấp. Bạn có thể điều chỉnh dàn ý này để phù hợp hơn với kết quả nghiên cứu của mình và đảm bảo rằng bài viết của bạn được tổ chức tốt và tập trung.

5. Viết một bản nháp thô

Sau khi đã có dàn ý, bạn có thể bắt đầu quá trình viết. Hãy nhớ rằng, khi bạn viết một bản nháp thô, nó không có nghĩa là nó phải hoàn hảo. Thay vào đó, hãy sử dụng nó như một tài liệu làm việc nơi bạn có thể thử nghiệm và sắp xếp lại các lập luận và bằng chứng của mình.

Đừng lo lắng quá nhiều về ngữ pháp, văn phong hoặc cú pháp khi bạn viết bản nháp thô của mình. Tập trung vào việc viết ý tưởng của bạn ra giấy và trình bày các lập luận luận điểm của bạn. Bạn luôn có thể tinh chỉnh và sắp xếp lại nội dung vào lần tiếp theo.

Thực hiện theo cấu trúc cơ bản của dàn ý nhưng có quyền tự do khám phá những cách khác nhau để diễn đạt suy nghĩ của bạn. Người viết tiểu luận của Smodin cung cấp một giải pháp mạnh mẽ cho những người đang gặp khó khăn trong việc bắt đầu hoặc cấu trúc các bản nháp của mình.

Sau khi bạn phê duyệt dàn ý, Smodin có thể tạo một bài luận dựa trên những thông tin đầu vào ban đầu của bạn. Tính năng này có thể giúp bạn nhanh chóng tạo bản nháp toàn diện, sau đó bạn có thể xem xét và tinh chỉnh. Bạn thậm chí có thể sử dụng sức mạnh của AI để tạo nhiều bản nháp thô để lựa chọn.

6. Thêm hoặc bớt bằng chứng hỗ trợ

Khi bạn đã có bản phác thảo thô nhưng trước khi bắt đầu sửa đổi lần cuối, đã đến lúc phải dọn dẹp một chút. Trong giai đoạn này, bạn cần xem lại tất cả bằng chứng hỗ trợ của mình. Bạn muốn đảm bảo rằng không có gì dư thừa và bạn không bỏ qua bất kỳ chi tiết quan trọng nào.

Nhiều sinh viên gặp khó khăn trong việc đếm số từ cần thiết cho một bài luận và dùng đến việc đệm bài viết của mình bằng những câu thừa. Thay vì thêm nội dung không cần thiết, hãy tập trung vào việc mở rộng phân tích của bạn để cung cấp những hiểu biết sâu sắc hơn.

Một bài luận hay, bất kể chủ đề hay hình thức, đều cần phải được sắp xếp hợp lý. Nó phải truyền tải thông tin rõ ràng, thuyết phục, có liên quan hỗ trợ luận điểm của bạn. Nếu bạn thấy một số thông tin không làm được điều đó, hãy cân nhắc điều chỉnh nguồn của bạn.

Bao gồm nhiều nguồn khác nhau, bao gồm các nghiên cứu, dữ liệu và trích dẫn từ các học giả hoặc chuyên gia khác. Hãy nhớ rằng, bạn không chỉ củng cố lập luận của mình mà còn thể hiện chiều sâu nghiên cứu của mình.

Nếu bạn muốn có phản hồi toàn diện về bài luận của mình mà không cần đến trung tâm viết bài hoặc làm phiền giáo sư, hãy sử dụng Smodin. Các Trò chuyện AI có thể xem bản dự thảo của bạn và đưa ra đề xuất cải tiến.

7. Sửa đổi, trích dẫn và gửi

Các giai đoạn cuối cùng của việc soạn thảo một bài nghiên cứu bao gồm sửa đổi, trích dẫn và đánh giá cuối cùng. Bạn phải đảm bảo bài viết của mình được trau chuốt, trình bày chuyên nghiệp và không đạo văn. Tất nhiên, việc tích hợp các công cụ AI của Smodin có thể hợp lý hóa đáng kể quy trình này và nâng cao chất lượng bài gửi cuối cùng của bạn.

Bắt đầu bằng cách sử dụng công cụ Rewriter của Smodin. Tính năng được hỗ trợ bởi AI này có thể giúp diễn đạt lại và tinh chỉnh bản nháp của bạn để cải thiện khả năng đọc tổng thể. Nếu một phần cụ thể trong bài luận của bạn “nghe có vẻ không ổn”, AI có thể đề xuất các cấu trúc câu và lựa chọn từ thay thế.

Trích dẫn thích hợp là điều bắt buộc đối với tất cả các bài viết học thuật. Rất may, nhờ Bài nghiên cứu của Smodin app, quá trình từng tẻ nhạt này nay trở nên dễ dàng hơn bao giờ hết. AI đảm bảo tất cả các nguồn được trích dẫn chính xác theo hướng dẫn văn phong bắt buộc (APA, MLA, Chicago, v.v.).

Trình kiểm tra đạo văn:

Tất cả học sinh cần phải nhận ra rằng việc vô tình đạo văn có thể xảy ra. Chính vì vậy việc sử dụng một Kiểm tra đạo văn để quét bài luận của bạn trước khi bạn gửi nó luôn hữu ích. Công cụ kiểm tra đạo văn của Smodin có thể đánh dấu các lĩnh vực cần quan tâm để bạn có thể điều chỉnh cho phù hợp.

Bản gửi cuối cùng

Sau khi sửa đổi, diễn đạt lại và đảm bảo tất cả các trích dẫn đều theo thứ tự, hãy sử dụng Trình phát hiện nội dung AI của Smodin để đưa ra bài đánh giá cuối cùng của bạn. Công cụ này có thể giúp bạn phân tích chất lượng tổng thể và khả năng đọc của bài viết để bạn có thể thực hiện bất kỳ chỉnh sửa hoặc cải tiến cuối cùng nào.

Làm chủ các tài liệu nghiên cứu

Việc nắm vững nghệ thuật của bài nghiên cứu không thể bị cường điệu hóa, cho dù bạn đang học trung học, đại học hay sau đại học. Bạn có thể tự tin chuẩn bị bài nghiên cứu của mình để nộp bằng cách tận dụng các công cụ AI được liệt kê ở trên.

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Với những tiến bộ của các công cụ AI như smodin , việc viết một bài nghiên cứu đã trở nên dễ tiếp cận hơn bao giờ hết. Những công nghệ này hợp lý hóa quá trình tổ chức, viết và sửa đổi công việc của bạn. Hãy viết với sự tự tin vì biết rằng tác phẩm tốt nhất của bạn vẫn chưa đến!

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Tufts seniors see their academic achievements come to fruition, one thesis at a time

Seniors julio dominguez, olivia calkins and becca kaplan discuss thesis origins and research..

Olivia Calkins examines cells under a microscope in the Kaplan Lab in the Science and Technology Center on Nov. 17, 2023.

As the Class of 2024 approaches the end of their final semester at Tufts , some have concluded this year with a senior thesis, a culmination of their academic journey. These students have worked incredibly hard throughout the year to complete extensive papers and capstone projects in their respective courses of study.

Julio Dominguez  is a senior double-majoring  in sociology and international relations. Dominguez wrote his senior thesis on how second-generation Latinos balance their ethnicities and sexuality.

“ I’m  looking at how they balance and navigate these different identities ,” Dominguez said. “ [Queer Latinos a re] very marginalized since their forms of masculinity are not aligned with hegemonic masculinity … [and] Latino circles  … tend to be very homogenous thinking, especially in terms of culture and expectations.”

For his thesis, Dominguez pulled from his own lived experiences.

“ I, m yself, am a queer, second-generation Latino. My parents are also foreign-born,” Dominguez said. “I’ve always had these tensions, and there’s a lot of literature on the subject.”

Dominguez views these cultural expectations as something that causes queer individuals to hide or conceal their sexuality. When researching these themes, he focused on literature relating to queer identities, masculinity and belonging.

“ I  attem pted to look at masculinity as a very multifaceted topic in the sense that there’s so many different types of masculinity that people can perform or embody,” Dominguez said. “ Gender itself exists in a hierarchy .  … A t the top is this form of hegemonic masculinity that essentially   perpetuates these marginalizations of other masculinities.”

To incorporate more perspectives into his thesis, Dominguez also interviewed 12 people about their personal experiences.

“ In ter ms of recruitment, I couldn’t find too many people … there was sort of a lack of community for them, ” Dominguez said.

Dominguez also noted that a hookup culture contributes to this lack of community.

“Ge nerally, many queer second-generation Latino men aren’t friends with many people of the same community,”  Dominguez said. “[And there is a] stigma of like, ‘Oh, they’re messy,’ and many of them have hooked up with each other.”

Dominguez recommends pursuing a senior thesis, especially on a topic that is particularly important to you.

“I was able to employ my own positionality [and] perspectives on different issues,” Dominguez said. “It was very empowering.”

Dominguez will be working for the nonprofit organization Teach for America  for two years, and is interested in attending graduate school after.  

Olivia Calkins  is a senior majoring in chemical engineering and minoring in both food systems and cellular agriculture. Calkins was first introduced to the idea of cultivated meat while taking an introductory biomedical engineering course with p rofessor David Kaplan  during her freshman year.

“I took a BME class with Dr . David Kaplan, and on the first day, he was talking about how he works on cultivated meat, which is growing meat in a lab to essentially completely replace animal agriculture,”  Calkins said. “That helps not only the environment, but also my personal interest in animal welfare. And then I was like, ‘This is the perfect combination.’”

After reaching out to Professor Kaplan, Calkins got to work in his lab during her freshman summer . Within the Kaplan Lab , Calkins developed a particular interest in insect cell culture, which develops insect cell lines for food purposes. Specifically, the lab works with the tobacco hornworm  caterpillar.

“ The reason why insect cells are so beneficial to this field is because they’re able to grow at ambient room temperature, and they can withstand fluctuations in pH , and if you are thinking about growing meat for so many people, you want cells that are so adaptable,”  Calkins said.

This interest in insect cells eventually developed into a full-fledged senior thesis.

“Specifically, my t hesis is focused on scaling up insect cells [and] making them more adaptable to be able to grow,”  Calkins said. “I rea lly just wanted to tie [my research] all together in this one nice project and then share with everyone.”

Calkins’ senior thesis includes a written paper and a defense, which consists of a presentation of her research and time for questions from professors.

“ I’ve bee n really focused on building this story over the past year, ” Calkins said. “ It’s b een such a good learning opportunity for me to actually have independence and control over my projects.”

After graduation, Calkins plans to dedicate time to exploring a potential specialization before entering a Ph.D . prog ram.

Becca Kaplan  is a senior double-majoring in English and political science. Kaplan recently completed her English senior thesis entitled “ Split at the Root: A Critical Analysis of the Intersectional Feminism of Adrienne Rich and Audre Lorde .”

“ [I was] s pecifically looking at Adrienne Rich  and Audre Lorde , and how intersectionality, which is really a new term, came to fruition in practice much earlier,” Kaplan said. “So, f or Audre Lorde, she is both black and queer and also a feminist. For Adrienne Rich, she is a feminist but also Jewish and queer. So [I am] talking about their work and seeing how all of those identities are intertwined and expressed in their poetry and their prose.”  

Kaplan originally became interested in Adrienne Rich’s poems after taking an English course titled American Women Writers .

“We wer e reading her poetry and I was like, ‘This is amazing, and totally speaks to something that I felt in my life,’”  Kaplan said.  “So, I bought the whole book, read all of that poetry and just became kind of obsessed with her.”

Similar to Dominguez, Kaplan was inspired by her own experiences.

“It was re ally cool to see some of my own identities in their work, and how I can relate to what they’ve written,”  Kaplan said. “I think that was really the inspiration for [my thesis]: how Judaism and queerness has impacted my own version of feminism, and seeing how that has worked for these two women.”

Kaplan’s paper is around 40 pages, but English theses can range from  35 to more than 80 pages.

“It’s a very di fferent project than anything I’ve done,” Kaplan said. “This is so much longer, so the focus is not just the one thesis that you’re carrying all the way through. It’s essentially a bunch of mini essays together that all have a general overarching theme.”

Kaplan plans to work after graduation but hopes to later return to school for a Ph.D. in English.

Spanning sociology, English and engineering, each thesis is a unique reflection of these seniors’ passions and learnings from the past four years.

Peace in the unknown: Maddy Noah looks back on her time at Tufts

Senior Profile: Carl Svahn brings his love for art, journalism to the Daily and beyond

Breaking the mold: Unique double majors explore intersection of humanities, STEM

Letter to the editor, op-ed: today’s jewish life remains connected as ever to the past, faculty told to prepare for upcoming budget cuts, op-ed: tufts administration should respect protesters, not silence them, tufts denies medford alpha epsilon pi’s affiliation request.

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How to Add Page Numbers in Word for Your Papers? [For Students]

As a student, adding page numbers while writing your research papers, dissertations, and theses etc., can be tricky; especially if your document uses a specific formatting style. But, it's not impossible. How can you add page numbers in Word without any complications? After using Word for multiple papers of my own, I have identified the quickest and easiest way of adding page numbers in Word. In this article, I will show you exactly how.

Typical Issues with Adding Page Numbers in Word

It is common for students to encounter a number of different problems while inserting page numbers in Word. Let’s walk through each of these problems and solve them. Here are a few typical issues you might have come across while adding page numbers in your document:

1.Locating the “Insert Page Number” Option

You can normally find the “Page Number” option in the Insert tab on your Toolbar to add page numbers like below:

2.Errors While Adding Page Numbers

Some students have also encountered an error while adding page numbers by clicking the button “More page numbers from Office.com”. This further gives the resulting error, “no online content available”. To prevent this error you should follow the below steps to diagnose the problem:

Update your Office to ensure that everything is up to date or;

Disable add-ins;

Check for permissions.

In case the above options don’t work, you can try troubleshooting via the system, and proceed with using the built-in templates of page numbers without accessing online content.

3.Formatting Page Numbers

As per the format you will be using for your paper or thesis, you will need to format your page numbers accordingly. There are a variety of ways you can display your page numbers and edit them.

For this, we will explore all the ways you can do this in the guide below:

How to Add Page Numbers to Your Paper in Word [Basic]

In my experience, it was quite simple to add page numbers in my documents, and only got a little tricky when I wanted to format them. I can understand that for some students with a nearer deadline, this can be a frustrating experience. This is why I’ve compiled all the different ways you can add a page number to your paper in Word. To demonstrate, I’ll be using WPS Office, which is easy to follow along and compatible with all Word document versions and devices (Mobile, Windows, or Mac).

Step 1 : First, open the document where you want to add in your page numbers.

If you haven’t started on your document yet, that is okay. You can add in your page numbers and continue your writing later.

Step 2 : Head over to your Toolbar and go to your Insert tab to add in your page numbers

Step 3 : In your Insert tab, you will see the option of “Page Number” and click on it.

Step 4 : After clicking on “Page Number”, you will see a number of different ways you can display your page numbers.

These are built-in templates. Choose the one that best fits your needs.

Note : It might be helpful for you to note that certain academic writing styles require you to use only specific number formats.

For instance, if you are writing your thesis or research paper in APA, MLA, or Chicago format, your page number should be on the top right corner.

How to Add Page Numbers Starting from a Specific Page in Word

For certain academic documents you don’t need page numbers on specific pages, and sometimes you do. It can get a little annoying when you delete a page number from the first page but the next page is still numbered at 2.

It can be helpful to note that if your document is in APA or MLA format, your title page should be page numbered at 1. However, if you’re following the Chicago format, your title page should not have page number at all.

Here’s a simple number of steps you can follow to add page numbers starting from a specific page in Word:

Step 1 : Go to the specific page you want your page numbers to begin.

Step 2 : Insert a section break - “Next Page”  in your previous page.

If you have already written your paper, there are pretty good chances you have already inserted your section breaks. Well done on that!

Step 3 : Double click on either the Header or Footer of the page (where you want to add the page number)

Step 4 : Uncheck the box that says “Link to Previous”

Step 5 : Go to the Insert Tab

Step 6 : Click on “Page Numbers” and choose the format you want

If you want your page number to start from 1, follow these steps after the above:

Step 7 : Click on “Page Numbers” once more and scroll down the menu to “Insert Page Number…”. This will open a pop-up box.

Step 8. In the pop-up menu, go to the option “Start at” and enter 1.

Your page numbers will be in line after this. While this process may seem a little lengthy, it is always helpful in my experience to make sure that you insert your section breaks while you are writing your paper. This helps in giving your paper a finished look, makes creating your table of contents easier, and will make many formatting tasks simpler in the long-run.

Using this, you can even use different number formatting styles for different sections of your page, as per your writing format (APA, MLA or Chicago). For instance if you want to use Roman numbers in the initial sections:

Repeat Steps 1-7.

In the pop-up menu, go to the option “Number Format” and select the formatting you want.

Advanced Format of Page Numbers in Word

If you’ve been tasked with formatting page numbers as “Page X of Y'' in Word, there is no need to worry. This method adds clarity, enhances professionalism, and makes your paper easier to navigate for your reader.

You don’t need to manually add this in, as I’ve noticed some students attempt to do so.

While adding these page numbers manually is possible, I would not recommend it. Why? Here are a few downsides to it. If your document is long and consists of 200+ pages, you might be up all night adding these page numbers.

Secondly, even if your document is short, as soon as you add in an extra page in your paper, all your previous total page numbers will automatically be incorrect and you will have to go back in to edit them out.

Word, especially WPS, makes this a lot easier and makes this process a lot more dynamic. Let’s dive into this process:

Step 1 : When inserting page numbers, go to the Insert tab and the “Page Numbers” Option

Step 2 : When the menu opens up, go to Format Page Numbers

Step 3 : In the Format Option, select “Page 1 of X” and click Ok.

Now it will be easier for you and others to navigate through your paper. I have also noticed that it is also easier to refer to or bookmark pages in this particular case.

Use WPS AI to Refine Your Papers

With AI monopolizing the industry, I have found WPS Office readily equipped with everything I need for my writing. When writing research papers, theses, dissertations, WPS AI offers me invaluable assistance in refining my papers and adds finesse to them.

Using WPS has set aside any difficulty that I normally encountered in my writing. With all my writing easily proofread, I can also use simple word replacements and grammar checks to present my arguments in the best way possible.

Here is how students can make use of WPS AI during academic writing, whether it's a thesis or a class assignment:

Step 1 : One of the uses of WPS AI would be to utilize the WPS AI spell check feature to ensure your work is error-free. To do this, visit the Review tab in WPS Writer.

Step 2 : Next, click on the "AI Spell Check" button to open WPS AI Spell Check.

Step 3 : With WPS AI spell check open on the right side of the screen, where all the grammatical errors will be displayed, click on "Accept All" to avoid going through all the corrections.

Step 4 : Furthermore, WPS AI spell check can be tailored according to the academic style being followed. To do this, click on the "Set Goals" button.

Step 5 : Now, set the Domain as "Academic", and then click on the Academic Format of your choice.

WPS AI can also be used to improve writing, or we can also use it to shorten or elongate the content that we have.

Step 1 : Open your academic document on WPS Writer and use your cursor to select the text that you want to improve.

Step 2 : Now, right-click to open the context menu, and then click on the "WPS AI" button.

Step 3 : This will enable the WPS AI assistant, which provides a couple of options for students such as "Improve Writing", "Change Layout", "Make Longer", and others.

Step 4 : Once you have chosen any option, WPS AI will process your request, and the results will be displayed. If you're not content with the results, click on the "Rewrite" option.

Step 5 : Students can also decide to "Replace" or "Discard" the results accordingly.

WPS AI is not just a simple addition to office suites anymore. With the introduction of AI, it acts as an assistant for students, capable of helping them at every step, from brainstorming ideas to refining their work. So why wait? Download WPS Office now and see how it is making life easier for thousands of students!

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Converting Your Papers to PDF While Preserving the Format

As a student, most of your submissions require your papers and documents to be in a PDF format. There are a number of ways you can convert your papers to PDF, however there is no guarantee that your format will remain the same.

Sometimes, converting from Word to PDF will either change your font, or add something on a different page or mess up your alignment.

WPS makes your life easier by having a built-in option to convert your Word documents to PDF while preserving your format.

To make it simpler for you, follow the below steps to do the same.

Step 1 : Go to the Menu.

Step 2 : Click “Export to PDF”.

Step 3 : Select “Common PDF” and then “Export to PDF”.

You can go through your document as well and you will find all your formatting intact.

FAQs about Adding Page Numbers in Word

Q1. how do i stop page numbering from a specific page in word.

There are different ways you can remove page numbers from a specific page or stop page numbering in Word. You can follow the below steps and you will successfully remove your page number.

Click on the page number that you want to remove

Press Delete

If, however, you only want to remove the page number from the first page of the document, then you can simply go to the Header/Footer tab, and select “Different First Page”.

Q2. How do I exclude a page from page numbering?

If you want to exclude certain pages from page numbering, you can follow the below steps to make it simple:

Step 1 : Go to the specific page you want your page number to be excluded

Step 3 : Double click on either the Header or Footer of the page (where you want to delete the page number)

Step 6 : Click on “Page Numbers” and click “Remove Page Number”.

Q3. How to create different headers or footers for odd and even pages

Here is a straightforward guide on how to create custom headers and footers in Microsoft Word:

Step 1 : Open the Word document you wish to customize. Double-click on the header section of the document.

Step 2 : In the Header and Footer ribbon, locate and select the option for "Different Odd & Even Pages."

Step 3 : On an odd page, click on the header or footer area you want to edit. Enter your document title, then press Tab twice.

Step 4 : Go to "Page Number", select "Current Position", and pick a style.

Step 5 : Move to an even page. Repeat the process for page numbering on the even page.

Step 6 : Press Tab twice and type in your document title.

Step 7 : Finally, click on "Close Header and Footer" or press Esc to conclude.

Q4. Can we customize the appearance of page numbers in Word?

Word provides robust customization options for page numbers. You can adjust the font, size, color, style, and positioning of page numbers to align perfectly with your document's layout and design requirements.

Simplify Your Thesis with WPS Writer: Effortless Page Numbering

At the end of your thesis, adding page numbers will be one less problem for you now. With all the tricks up your sleeve on how to add page numbers in Word as per your need, you can format your file exactly the way you want to. WPS, a student-friendly Office-Suite, makes your life easier in more than one way. Download WPS Writer now, to get the full experience.

• 1. How to do page numbers in word on page 3 (Step-by Step)
• 2. How to Delete a Page in Word for Your Thesis/Dissertation? [For Students]
• 3. How to add page numbers on certain pages in word
• 4. How to Add Page Numbers In Word Starting on Page 2 (Step by Step)
• 5. How to add page numbers in word document excluding cover page
• 6. How to start page numbers on page 2 in WPS Writer

15 years of office industry experience, tech lover and copywriter. Follow me for product reviews, comparisons, and recommendations for new apps and software.