LibGuides: Research &amp; Citation Tools: Creating a Thesis Statement

What is a Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is an important part of academic writing. Essentially, it tells what you want your readers to know, believe or understand after they have read your research paper. It is usually one and no more than two sentences long. It is usually at the end of your first paragraph. A thesis statement is focused and specific enough to be proven in the text of your paper.

Thesis Statement Resources

Developing a Thesis Statement
(created by the Writing Center of the University of Wisconsin)
Broken into several areas: Explains what a thesis statement is. Covers identifying a topic, deriving main points from a topic, composing a draft thesis statement, refining and polishing it, and completing it.
Tips and Examples for Writing Thesis Statements
(created by Purdue University Writing Center)
Provides essential information on creating a thesis statement.
How to Write a Thesis Statement
(created by Indiana University at Bloomington's Writing Tutorial Services)
Explains why a thesis statement is needed. Tells how to generate a thesis statement when a topic is or is not assigned and how to tell a strong thesis statement from a weak one.
Thesis Statement
(created at Saint Cloud State University)
Defines what a thesis statement is.
The Thesis Statement
(created by the University of Richmond Writing Center)
Defines what a thesis statement is, how it can suggest order or direction for paper development and provides examples of weak and strong thesis statements.
Thesis Statements: How to Write Them
(created at Seton Hill University by Dennis G. Jerz)
Defines and outlines thesis statements. Provides a formula for writing them and shows the various parts of thesis statements.