Topic & Thesis

Understanding the Scope of Your Assignment

Before you Begin, Ask Yourself:

What are the content requirements for this paper (number of pages/words/slides)?
What are the style expectations (margins, font, spacing, images, tables)?
What kinds of sources are acceptable for this project?
What "point of view" should be used?

Points of View:

First Person - Uses "I," employed in personal research papers when your experience or opinion is appropriate. "We" (first person plural) is often used as a writing style. Example: "We see that the characters are not fully developed." This stylistic choice has implications for a reader you have lumped into your Point of View. Carefully consider your intent and preferences of your instructor before using "we."
Second Person - Uses "you," useful when teacher wants you to directly address reader. Example: "You can see that this president made many enemies."
Third Person - No visible speaking voice. Author is implied (your name on paper, so ideas are yours, eliminating need for "I"). Using "I think" or "I believe" as opposed to impartial statements usually weakens a paper. Example: "I believe Dickens meant to symbolize the working poor in this section of the story," versus, "Dickens means to emphasize the working poor in this section of the story."

Choosing Your Topic

Note the kinds of topics your teacher allows, and date by which you need to make a selection.
Conduct preliminary research to help narrow your focus. Resource: Badgerlink Topic Exploration Guide

Research Question

A strong research question is:

Focused and researchable: single topic, answered using credible sources, not based on value judgements
Feasible and specific: answerable within practical constraints
Complex and arguable: cannot be answered with yes/no, nor with easily found facts
Relevant and original

Thesis Statements

Formulating the Problem/Thesis Statement

When your topic has been finalized, it's time to think about a related problem or question. A thesis statement is the declarative answer to a research question or problem posed from the topic. It becomes the point one is attempting to prove in the research paper.

Research: Where to Begin from OWL at Purdue

Closed Thesis Statements

A closed thesis is a statement of the main idea of the argument that also previews the major points the writer intends to make. It is "closed" because it limits the number of points the writer will make.

Example: The three-dimensional characters, exciting plot, and complex themes of the Harry Potter series make them not only legendary children's books, but enduring literary classics. OR The Harry Potter series consists of legendary children's books that are enduring classics because of the three-dimensional characters, exciting plot, and complex themes.

Thesis asserts that the series constitutes a "literary classic" and specifies three reasons: characters, plot and theme - each of which would be discussed in the paper. A closed thesis often includes (or implies) the word because.

A closed thesis is a reliable way to focus a short essay. Explicitly stating the points you'll make can help you organize your thoughts when you are working against the clock, and it can be a way to address specific points required by the prompt or argument.

Open Thesis Statements

If you are writing a longer essay (5+ main points), an open thesis is probably more effective.

An open thesis does not list all the points the writer intends to cover in an essay. If you have six or seven points in an essay, for instance, stringing them all out in the thesis will be awkward; plus, while a reader can remember two or three main points, it's confusing to keep track of a whole string of points made way back in an opening paragraph.

For instance, you might argue the Harry Potter series is far from an enduring classic because you think the main characters are either all good or all bad rather than a bit of both, the minor characters devolve into caricatures, the plot is repetitious and formulaic, the magic does not follow a logical system of rules, and so on. Imagine trying to line all those ideas up in a sentence or two having any clarity or grace at all. By making the overall point without actually stating every subpoint, an open thesis can guide an essay without being cumbersome.

Example: The popularity of the Harry Potter series demonstrates that simplicity trumps complexity when it comes to the taste of readers, both young and old.

Counterargument Thesis Statements

A variant of the open and closed thesis is the counterargument thesis, in which a summary of counterargument usually qualified by although or but precedes the writer's opinion. This type of thesis has the advantage of immediately addressing the counterargument. Doing so may make an argument seem both stronger and more reasonable. It may also create a seamless transition to a more thorough concession and refutation of the counterargument later in the argument.

Example: Although the Harry Potter series may have some literary merit, its popularity has less to do with storytelling than with merchandising.

This thesis concedes a counterargument that the series "may have some literary merit" before refuting that claim by saying that the storytelling itself is less popular than the movies, toys and other merchandise that the books inspired. The thesis promises some discussion of literary merit and a critique of its storytelling (concession and refutation), but will ultimately focus on the role of the merchandising machine in making Harry Potter a household name.

Example Thesis Statements

Topic: Etymology | Research Question: What influenced changes in language during a particular period?

Thesis Statement: Due to the influence of other languages, the English language developed dramatically during the period 800 AD to 1100 AD.

Topic: Criminals' Rights | Research Question: Are they spelled out? Are they federal, state, or local?

Thesis Statement: Forensic testing DNA can result in injustice.

Topic: College| Research Question: What is college life like?

Thesis Statement: The life of the typical college student is characterized by time spent studying, attending class, and socializing with peers.

Less Effective Thesis Example (Closed Thesis)

Example: Pearl demonstrates devilish qualities as a child because of her insubordinate behavior toward her mother, her treatment of other children and adults, and her fiery personality.

Listing your support within your thesis might be acceptable in some early high school writing. As your writing develops, supportive concepts should be addressed in the introductory paragraph prior to the thesis as it funnels to the most finite information. This allows the thesis statement to focus on the core concept of the paper. Your teacher can tell you which approach should be used.

More Effective Thesis Example (Open Thesis)

Thus, there is great evidence throughout the novel that demonstrates Pearl contained devilish qualities as a child as opposed to that of a devout Puritan.

More Effective Thesis Example (Counterargument, Open Thesis)

While Hester Prynne may arguably appear to maintain an evil persona contradictory to Puritan beliefs, there is great evidence through The Scarlet Letter that demonstrates Pearl contained devilish qualities as a child as opposed to those of a devout Puritan.

Restatement of Thesis

Restated thesis should be the first sentence of your concluding paragraph, but it should be a revised version of your current thesis. Do not copy the statement verbatim, but rewrite it. Check with your instructor for any other preferred concluding paragraph conventions.