Developing a Research Thesis

A research thesis has most of the same thesis characteristics as a thesis for a non-research essay. The difference lies in the fact that you gather information and evidence from appropriate, valid sources to support your perspective on a topic or stand on an issue. Yet depth more than breadth is the hallmark of a sophisticated research paper.

main arguments and focus their research by specifying and ordering the reasons for their stance: a research thesis is your proposed answer to your research question, which you finalize only after completing the research.

Thesis Characteristics
Whenever you are writing to explain something to your reader or to persuade your reader to agree with your opinion, there should be one complete sentence that expresses the main idea of your paper.
"the main idea" and "the controlling idea. Based on everything you've read, and thought, and brainstormed, the thesis is not just your topic, but what you're saying about your topic.

once you've come up with the central question, the thesis is an answer to that question.

Handy reminders about the thesis:
1. Where to put it
2. Put it as a statement 3.
Don't go overboard4.
Focus further 5.
Choose the right shape
6. Exercise: Thesis statement

Were to Put the ThesisIn introductory paragraph, which prepares the reader to listen to your ideas, Hidden in it the questions your reader will expect you to answer in the body. the body of the paper, which develops the thesis with reasons, explanations, and evidence or examples.

Put the Thesis as a Statement
Make sure your thesis is in the form of a statement, not a question. "Can we save the Amazon rain forest?" is an ear-catching question that might be useful in the introduction, but it doesn't express an opinion or perspective as the following statements do:
"We can save the Amazon rain forest by limiting tourist presence, boycotting goods made by companies that deplete the forest's resources, and generally educating people about the need to preserve the rain forest in order to preserve the earth's ecological systems."

Don't go Overboard!
Make sure your thesis expresses your true opinion and not an exaggerated version of it. Don't say "Computers are wonderful" or "Computers are terrible" if what you really believe is "Computers do more good than harm" or "Computers do more harm than good."
Why commit yourself to an extreme opinion that you don't really believe in, and then look like you're contradicting yourself later on?

Focus Further
Make sure your thesis covers exactly the topic you want to talk about, no more and no less. "Drugs should not be legalized" is too large a thesis if all you want to talk about is marijuana. "Boxing should be outlawed" is too small a thesis if you also want to discuss wrestling and football. Bite off as much as you can chew thoroughly--then chew it!

Choose the Right Shape
Shape your thesis to fit the question you wish to answer. A thesis can come in many forms, including the following: Simply stating an opinion "Langston Hughes was a master stylist." Indicating categories or reasons "Langston Hughes was a master stylist because of his vivid imagery, surprising metaphors, and effective alliteration." Showing two aspects of a topic and emphasizing one (in this sample, the 2nd topic in the sentence is emphasized) "While Langston Hughes was a master stylist, as a critic he had several blind spots."

Exercise: Thesis Statement
Directions: Suppose you've been answering a research question about adult illiteracy in the United States, and have a fourteen-page draft about how widespread the problem is, six or seven pages analyzing the causes of the problem, and six or seven pages evaluating possible solutions and proposing one you feel would be effective.

Adult illiteracy poses the greatest threat to America today.
Adult illiteracy has many causes, but it can be eliminated.
How can the problem of adult illiteracy in America be effectively addressed?