University papers are rarely just explanatory. Most research papers and essays have a specific structure, which starts with a thesis statement. This is a declarative sentence that expands your topic from being a general idea into a scholarly proposal, which you will:

• prove;
• defend; or
• expand on in your paper.

A strong thesis statement also expresses the unifying theme of an academic paper. Without the thesis statement, you will not have a clear idea of the type of information that you need to find, and your research will be disorganized and frustrating.

Having a strong thesis statement will also help when you write your paper. The more precise the thesis statement is, the more likely the writing that supports it will be clear and organized.

As you work through the steps of writing your academic paper, you might refine your thesis statement based on the information you learn through your research. This is a normal part of the writing process.

Key Resources
Criteria for Writing a Thesis Statement
Writing a Thesis Statement, OWL Purdue University
Thesis Statements