thesis definition objective

Ryan, E. (2022, December 07). Research Objectives | Definition & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved February 28, 2023, from https://www.scribbr.com/research-process/research-objectives/

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Thesis Definition

The thesis is one of the most important concepts in college expository writing. A thesis sentence focuses your ideas for the paper; it's your argument or insight or viewpoint crystallized into a single sentence that gives the reader your main idea. It's not only useful for the reading audience to understand the purpose of the essay; this purpose is also useful for you as a writer, as it indicates the type of support that will follow in the paper and may indicate a logical structure or order for that support. Thus, you need to have a good grasp of the concept of thesis in order to proceed.

The thesis identifies two basics:

There are two parts to a thesis sentence that reflect these basics.

For example:

Do you understand the basic topic and angle concept? If so, then there are a few more things to consider about the thesis. (And if not, now's the time to start asking a learning coach for assistance! Email [email protected] or contact your regional Academic Support office ). It's important to investigate additional thesis characteristics at this point to make sure that you'll be creating a working thesis sentence that is workable and appropriate for college essays. In addition to knowing what a thesis is, you need to know what a thesis is not. A thesis sentence's angle should NOT be:

Once you create a working thesis, you should assess it to make sure that it fulfills thesis characteristics. Make sure it has a clear topic (indication of what the thesis is about) and angle (what your own ideas are about the topic, i.e. what you are trying to prove). Make sure that the angle is not too broad, too narrow, a statement of fact, or an announcement. Work with the angle to make it indicate the order of your support, if you choose to do that for yourself or for your reading audience. And realize that the thesis is a working thesis until you finalize the essay (it's okay to revise the thesis as you go along, just as long as you retain important thesis characteristics.)

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Before you start writing a thesis: Define the objectives and choose the literature

A thesis is the culmination of years of dedicated study. A future graduate demonstrates his knowledge as well as the ability to work independently and use relevant sources and demonstrates his understanding of an expert text. Half of the success of undergraduate studies is accomplished right at the beginning – it is dependent on what theme and professional literature the student follows.

Preparing to embark on your dissertation

The Theme must be Fun!

You should be interested in the theme of your choice. After all, you will spend many hours on it, so it should not lose its appeal or even start to bore you. You should care about the result, and be motivated not by the evaluation, but rather by the outcome of what new findings you may make along with what hypotheses you attempt to confirm.

If you have access to inspiring information, for example as a trainee in a significant company or through a job, it is worth considering whether and how it could be connected with the theme. This will make the subsequent search for practical information sources considerably easier.

Define the Objectives of the Thesis

What findings do you want to make? What questions do you want to answer? Create a well-arranged structure of the whole thesis, which will form the “Contents” later. In the case of your thesis being divided into theoretical and practical parts, consider what theoretical information should be presented in the first part in order to precede to the practical findings.

Suggest the approximate scope of individual chapters and subchapters, their topics, which will provide a basis for seeking the relevant literature .

Build on Other Authors

When searching for information sources, forget about “Uncle Google” or “Aunt Wikipedia”. While the Internet surely offers plenty of texts, these are unfounded and can only give you hints for further research orientation.

Elaboration of an academic text requires sufficient technical literature from which you will proceed. Any statement used in your thesis (in the theoretical part) must be supported by a reference to the particular author and publication, possibly also a specific page. The list of used literature is at the end of the thesis. In the case of passages of text taken from other authors, a reference can be made to the relevant page as a footnote.

When writing an academic text, always follow the instructions of the thesis supervisor, consultant or lecturer . You can also seek his or her advice regarding suitable literature. The library staff will help you obtain the recommended reference materials.

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One of the most important aspects of a thesis, dissertation or research paper is the correct formulation of the aims and objectives. This is because your aims and objectives will establish the scope, depth and direction that your research will ultimately take. An effective set of aims and objectives will give your research focus and your reader clarity, with your aims indicating what is to be achieved, and your objectives indicating how it will be achieved.

Introduction

There is no getting away from the importance of the aims and objectives in determining the success of your research project. Unfortunately, however, it is an aspect that many students struggle with, and ultimately end up doing poorly. Given their importance, if you suspect that there is even the smallest possibility that you belong to this group of students, we strongly recommend you read this page in full.

This page describes what research aims and objectives are, how they differ from each other, how to write them correctly, and the common mistakes students make and how to avoid them. An example of a good aim and objectives from a past thesis has also been deconstructed to help your understanding.

What Are Aims and Objectives?

Research aims.

A research aim describes the main goal or the overarching purpose of your research project.

In doing so, it acts as a focal point for your research and provides your readers with clarity as to what your study is all about. Because of this, research aims are almost always located within its own subsection under the introduction section of a research document, regardless of whether it’s a thesis , a dissertation, or a research paper .

A research aim is usually formulated as a broad statement of the main goal of the research and can range in length from a single sentence to a short paragraph. Although the exact format may vary according to preference, they should all describe why your research is needed (i.e. the context), what it sets out to accomplish (the actual aim) and, briefly, how it intends to accomplish it (overview of your objectives).

To give an example, we have extracted the following research aim from a real PhD thesis:

Example of a Research Aim

The role of diametrical cup deformation as a factor to unsatisfactory implant performance has not been widely reported. The aim of this thesis was to gain an understanding of the diametrical deformation behaviour of acetabular cups and shells following impaction into the reamed acetabulum. The influence of a range of factors on deformation was investigated to ascertain if cup and shell deformation may be high enough to potentially contribute to early failure and high wear rates in metal-on-metal implants.

Note: Extracted with permission from thesis titled “T he Impact And Deformation Of Press-Fit Metal Acetabular Components ” produced by Dr H Hothi of previously Queen Mary University of London.

Research Objectives

Where a research aim specifies what your study will answer, research objectives specify how your study will answer it.

They divide your research aim into several smaller parts, each of which represents a key section of your research project. As a result, almost all research objectives take the form of a numbered list, with each item usually receiving its own chapter in a dissertation or thesis.

Following the example of the research aim shared above, here are it’s real research objectives as an example:

Example of a Research Objective

It’s worth noting that researchers sometimes use research questions instead of research objectives, or in other cases both. From a high-level perspective, research questions and research objectives make the same statements, but just in different formats.

Taking the first three research objectives as an example, they can be restructured into research questions as follows:

Restructuring Research Objectives as Research Questions

Difference Between Aims and Objectives

Hopefully the above explanations make clear the differences between aims and objectives, but to clarify:

How to Write Aims and Objectives

Before we discuss how to write a clear set of research aims and objectives, we should make it clear that there is no single way they must be written. Each researcher will approach their aims and objectives slightly differently, and often your supervisor will influence the formulation of yours on the basis of their own preferences.

Regardless, there are some basic principles that you should observe for good practice; these principles are described below.

Your aim should be made up of three parts that answer the below questions:

The easiest way to achieve this would be to address each question in its own sentence, although it does not matter whether you combine them or write multiple sentences for each, the key is to address each one.

The first question, why , provides context to your research project, the second question, what , describes the aim of your research, and the last question, how , acts as an introduction to your objectives which will immediately follow.

Scroll through the image set below to see the ‘why, what and how’ associated with our research aim example.

Note: Your research aims need not be limited to one. Some individuals per to define one broad ‘overarching aim’ of a project and then adopt two or three specific research aims for their thesis or dissertation. Remember, however, that in order for your assessors to consider your research project complete, you will need to prove you have fulfilled all of the aims you set out to achieve. Therefore, while having more than one research aim is not necessarily disadvantageous, consider whether a single overarching one will do.

Research Objectives

Each of your research objectives should be SMART :

In addition to being SMART, your research objectives should start with a verb that helps communicate your intent. Common research verbs include:

Table of Research Verbs to Use in Aims and Objectives

Last, format your objectives into a numbered list. This is because when you write your thesis or dissertation, you will at times need to make reference to a specific research objective; structuring your research objectives in a numbered list will provide a clear way of doing this.

To bring all this together, let’s compare the first research objective in the previous example with the above guidance:

Checking Research Objective Example Against Recommended Approach

Research Objective:

1. Develop finite element models using explicit dynamics to mimic mallet blows during cup/shell insertion, initially using simplified experimentally validated foam models to represent the acetabulum.

Checking Against Recommended Approach:

Q: Is it specific? A: Yes, it is clear what the student intends to do (produce a finite element model), why they intend to do it (mimic cup/shell blows) and their parameters have been well-defined ( using simplified experimentally validated foam models to represent the acetabulum ).

Q: Is it measurable? A: Yes, it is clear that the research objective will be achieved once the finite element model is complete.

Q: Is it achievable? A: Yes, provided the student has access to a computer lab, modelling software and laboratory data.

Q: Is it relevant? A: Yes, mimicking impacts to a cup/shell is fundamental to the overall aim of understanding how they deform when impacted upon.

Q: Is it timebound? A: Yes, it is possible to create a limited-scope finite element model in a relatively short time, especially if you already have experience in modelling.

Q: Does it start with a verb? A: Yes, it starts with ‘develop’, which makes the intent of the objective immediately clear.

Q: Is it a numbered list? A: Yes, it is the first research objective in a list of eight.

Mistakes in Writing Research Aims and Objectives

1. making your research aim too broad.

Having a research aim too broad becomes very difficult to achieve. Normally, this occurs when a student develops their research aim before they have a good understanding of what they want to research. Remember that at the end of your project and during your viva defence , you will have to prove that you have achieved your research aims; if they are too broad, this will be an almost impossible task. In the early stages of your research project, your priority should be to narrow your study to a specific area. A good way to do this is to take the time to study existing literature, question their current approaches, findings and limitations, and consider whether there are any recurring gaps that could be investigated .

Note: Achieving a set of aims does not necessarily mean proving or disproving a theory or hypothesis, even if your research aim was to, but having done enough work to provide a useful and original insight into the principles that underlie your research aim.

2. Making Your Research Objectives Too Ambitious

Be realistic about what you can achieve in the time you have available. It is natural to want to set ambitious research objectives that require sophisticated data collection and analysis, but only completing this with six months before the end of your PhD registration period is not a worthwhile trade-off.

3. Formulating Repetitive Research Objectives

Each research objective should have its own purpose and distinct measurable outcome. To this effect, a common mistake is to form research objectives which have large amounts of overlap. This makes it difficult to determine when an objective is truly complete, and also presents challenges in estimating the duration of objectives when creating your project timeline. It also makes it difficult to structure your thesis into unique chapters, making it more challenging for you to write and for your audience to read.

Fortunately, this oversight can be easily avoided by using SMART objectives.

Hopefully, you now have a good idea of how to create an effective set of aims and objectives for your research project, whether it be a thesis, dissertation or research paper. While it may be tempting to dive directly into your research, spending time on getting your aims and objectives right will give your research clear direction. This won’t only reduce the likelihood of problems arising later down the line, but will also lead to a more thorough and coherent research project.

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Writing an essay can be difficult. Sometimes it can be hard to organize an essay and consistently stay on topic. However, ensuring that the essay has a strong thesis and thesis statement can help keep the paper concise, orderly, and easily understandable.

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Thesis Statement Definition

A thesis statement helps you to choose a side.

A thesis statemen t is a sentence — or two — that summarizes the central claims of an essay.

A thesis statement should be short and to the point but can cite specific evidence that the essay will expound upon later. Thesis statements are usually found in the first paragraph of the essay, the introduction, and often create the “roadmap” for the rest of the essay for both the writer and the reader.

Importance of a Thesis Statement

Writing a thesis statement is essentially the same as declaring one's thoughts and desires at the beginning of a conversation– it outlines what will be discussed and introduces what the speaker thinks. Though the thesis statement might seem like a small part of the essay, it's extremely important.

Imagine you're in the middle of a conversation with a friend when another person arrives and jumps into the middle of a discussion, not knowing what is actually being talked about. At that point, you have to explain the topic and the conversation's point. It's both tiring, and repetitive. Similarly, that's what it's like when an essay does not have a strong thesis statement.

A strong thesis statement introduces the paper's main ideas and helps readers relate to the author's feelings or central argument. Simultaneously, the thesis statement is an anchor for the entire paper and connects all the ideas expressed in the essay. Without it, the author would have to continually explain what they were writing about and why their ideas are significant.

Is a thesis statement and thesis different?

A thesis is a theory or statement – put forth as a premise – that an author is trying to prove.

A thesis statement is one or two sentences that summarize the main point of an essay, research paper, or other written piece.

Often, a thesis statement explains a thesis.

Different Types of Thesis Statements

There are several types of thesis statements: analytical, argumentative, and explanatory.

Looking at and knowing, each of these thesis statement types in depth can help a writer write a fantastic thesis statement that perfectly fits their specific essay.

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Expository Thesis Statements

Like all thesis statements, an expository thesis statement sets out to explain the main points of an essay. However, this type of thesis statement is not usually meant to support any specific claim, rather it presents various concepts and how they will be discussed in the essay. Expository thesis statements do not necessarily need to be arguable but should make a strong point.

An expository thesis statement provides readers with a detailed description of what the essay will be about by providing loose examples of what will be mentioned in the essay.

It provides an exact roadmap for what significant concepts will be presented in the essay, and in which order they will be presented. Unlike many other thesis statements, expository thesis statements are mostly fact-based, as no stand or opinion is interjected into the statement. Take, for example, the statement below:

The life of a typical high school student involves going to class, interacting with teachers and friends, completing homework, and taking part in a multitude of various extracurricular activities.

The above expository thesis explains what the life of a typical high school student consists of by listing characteristics that can be expounded upon later. This statement does not take any significant stand but instead sheds light on a subject. Like all thesis statements, be prepared to follow up on each of the components mentioned in the thesis statement later in the essay. Such information should be evidence that reinforces an expository thesis statement.

Argumentative Thesis Statements

An argumentative thesis statement is exactly as it sounds — a statement that presents an argument .

An argumentative thesis statement is most often used in argumentative essays to clearly make a claim and take a stand that the author then presents evidence for in the body of the essay.

Unlike an expository thesis statement, argumentative thesis statements allow room for the author to take a particular stance on the issue. However, because argumentative thesis statements typically require some personal input, the evidence presented in the essays must usually be supported by a lot of reliable research. Any arguments made in the essay inevitably relate back to the argumentative thesis statement because it is essentially what is trying to be proved. Consider the example below:

There is a definite correlation between the geography of Swinging London, the hierarchical class structure in Britain, and renewed consumerism, all of which ultimately excluded lower-class individuals and barred them from being part of this cultural phenomenon.

From the above argumentative thesis statement, one can deduce that the body of the essay will assert that there is a correlation between the geography of the social movement "Swinging London," class, and consumerism and that this correlation caused the exclusion of lower-class individuals from this movement.

Based on this thesis statement, the reader of the essay can expect the author to write several paragraphs on Swinging London as a cultural phenomenon, followed by how class and consumerism are related to the social movement. These explanations would then most likely transition into the essay's main argument : that lower-class individuals were excluded from the movement. This would be supported by specific arguments and followed by a conclusion.

Analytical Thesis Statements

Analytical thesis statements stand to analyze a specific topic or problem.

As one might guess, the goal of an analytical thesis statement is to present the issue at hand and then discuss ways that may solve any concerns surrounding the topic.

These types of thesis statements are used in analysis papers, often in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields. These fields typically necessitate the most data analysis or problem-solving. When writing an analytical thesis statement, it is still necessary to be mindful of the order in which the topic and possible solutions and analyses are presented. This means that an analytical statement should be precise, organized, and thorough, giving readers a brief overview of what's to come in the essay.

Sylvia Plath's poems, characterized by consistent stanza structures and carefully chosen repetitions , demonstrate that she is controlled and detail-oriented . Her writing is emotional and bold, riddled with unsettling Nazi imagery, intimate extended metaphors, and apostrophe — all striking tributes to her pain .

Based on this thesis statement, we can expect the author to expound upon how the rhetorical devices mentioned in the thesis statement are used in Sylvia Plath's poetry, most likely in that order. This specific thesis statement tells readers exactly what to expect in this analysis.

Elements That Make a Great Thesis Statement

Great thesis statements have the following characteristics:

demonstrable

Let's examine each attribute of these in-depth to see why they matter by again examining the previous analytical thesis statement on Sylvia Plath.

Specificity

As previously discussed in this article, a thesis statement must be focused on a specific topic or aspect of a broader theme. It is hard to write an efficient essay and make a strong claim if the writer is focused on more than one subject. When creating a thesis statement, it's best to focus on one specific aspect of a larger topic. Not only does this make writing the essay easier, but it also makes researching the topic easier, as it narrows down exactly what is to be explained and justified in the essay.

The analytical thesis statement on Plath is specific because it focuses solely on Plath's use of rhetorical devices, as highlighted below.

Sylvia Plath's poems, characterized by consistent stanza structures and carefully chosen repetitions , demonstrate that she is controlled and detail-oriented. Her writing is emotional and bold, riddled with unsettling Nazi imagery, intimate extended metaphors, and apostrophe — all striking tributes to her pain.

Conciseness

A strong thesis statement should be concise. A writer only has one to two sentences to present the topic, explain the argument , and make a claim/take a stance. That's a lot to get done in two sentences! Consequently, word choice is extremely important. Don't use confusing words or jargon that you might require an explanation for–that's what the body of the essay is for! Always remember that a writer mustn't fit everything into the thesis all at once. It's just meant to be an introduction, so keep your thesis statements short and clear!

The analytical thesis statement on Plath is concise because it explains in plain language what the essay will be explaining by making a clear claim and including relevant examples . No confusing jargon is used, and the word choice is exact.

Ability to be Argued

A thesis statement must present a specific claim that can be fully explored or argued. That means that while thesis statements can be based on previous knowledge or facts, a thesis statement itself cannot be factual. For instance, "junk food is bad for your health" is not an arguable thesis statement, as most people believe that junk food can negatively impact one's health.

The analytical thesis statement on Plath is easily arguable . Perhaps one might disagree with this thesis statement and argue that Plath's writing style is too emotional and messy to be "controlled and detail-oriented."

Sylvia Plath's poems, characterized by consistent stanza structures and carefully chosen repetitions, demonstrate that she is controlled and detail-oriented . Her writing is emotional and bold, riddled with unsettling Nazi imagery, intimate extended metaphors, and apostrophe — all striking tributes to her pain.

Ability to be Demonstrated

A thesis statement is a claim or theory, but what's a theory without evidence? Evidence is necessary so that your thesis statement is strong. Without reliable demonstrated evidence, a thesis statement is just a thought or an opinion , with no real ability to claim or pronounce anything true. Remember, your thesis statement is demonstrated in the body of your essay, not the thesis.

The analytical thesis statement on Plath is easily demonstrable. For instance, in the body of the essay, the author could expound upon Plath's Nazi imagery by writing:

Plath describes herself as "bright as a Nazi lampshade," an allusion to the cruel skinning of Jews to make lampshades ("Daddy," Line 5).

This would clearly demonstrate the concept mentioned in the thesis statement.

A thesis statement must be confident and believable. Though the body paragraphs are what will convince readers of a thesis statement, the thesis statement itself must first entice readers. Using phrases like "I believe" or "I think" actually weakens readers' confidence in the writer , as it suggests that any evidence to be presented in the essay is opinion-based and lacks substance.

By strongly stating your thesis without the aforementioned phrases, readers are more likely to read the rest of the essay, feeling confident in any arguments that support the thesis statement.

Consider the Sylvia Plath thesis statement below:

Sylvia Plath's poems, characterized by consistent stanza structures and carefully chosen repetitions, demonstrate that she is controlled and detail-oriented. Her writing is emotional and bold, riddled with unsettling Nazi imagery, intimate extended metaphors, and apostrophe — all striking tributes to her pain.

Now, read it again, but this time with the words "I think" and "I believe" in it.

I think Sylvia Plath's poems, characterized by consistent stanza structures and carefully chosen repetitions, demonstrate that she is controlled and detail-oriented. I believe her writing is emotional and bold, riddled with unsettling Nazi imagery, intimate extended metaphors, and apostrophe — all striking tributes to her pain.

Which do you find to be a more compelling and confident thesis statement?

Examples of Strong Thesis Statements

Let's take a look at some strong thesis statements.

By fusing these paradoxes with his own perceptions of death and life, and utilizing key literary devices such as allusions, exclamation, repetition, alliteration, enjambment, and rhetorical questioning, John Keats creates palpable tensions that not only resonate with his readers but also convey the confusion and strain he feels in relation to his melancholy tranquility.

Why is this a strong thesis statement? This thesis statement focuses solely on what rhetorical devices John Keats uses to create tension in his writing. It lists the evidence in the essay in plain, understandable language.

Europe's influence has spanned oceans and is recognized because of its extensive involvement in imperial colonization and exploration, its hand in warfare, and its developments regarding social and economic reform, all of which have contributed to the creation of modern western civilization.

Why is this a strong thesis statement? The argument in this statement is concise ( Europe's influence has contributed to the creation of modern western civilization ). The argument lists exactly what the evidence will be in the essay that supports this claim (i.e. warfare, social and economic development, and imperial colonization all impacted western civilization).

Mina Harker née Murray in Dracula embodies the submissive woman, as seen through her understated relationship with Jonathan Harker, her desire to be "useful" to her husband, and her choice to be a school teacher at a time when women were able to branch out into other professions.

Why is this a strong thesis statement? This thesis statement is straightforward and simply written. The argument is that Mina Harker embodies the submissive woman and then gives clear, demonstrable examples of why this is so. One can easily deduce these points will be addressed later in the essay.

As a play, Hamlet highlights free will and alludes to the significant social and political changes occurring at the time in which it was written.

Why is this a strong thesis statement? This statement is shorter than the previous thesis statements, but it's still just as good! Why? It presents a clear, focused argument! A writer does not always have to include examples in their thesis statement, but they do need to make sure their statement is specific, concise, arguable, demonstrable, and confident!

Thesis - Key Takeaways

Frequently Asked Questions about Thesis

--> what is a thesis.

A thesis is a theory or statement–put forth as a premise–that an author is trying to prove.

--> What is a thesis statement?

A thesis statement is one or two sentences that summarize the main point of an essay, research paper, or other written piece.

--> What is an example of a thesis statement?

An example of a thesis statement could be, “As a play, Hamlet highlights free will and alludes to the significant social and political changes occurring at the time in which it was written.”

--> How do I write a thesis statement?

The best way to write a strong thesis statement is to keep the statement specific, concise, arguable, and demonstrable, while also appearing confident.

--> What is the importance of a thesis statement?

A thesis statement is important because a strong thesis statement introduces the paper's main ideas in an orderly manner and helps relate the author's feelings or central argument to readers. Without it, the author would have to continually explain what they were writing about and why their ideas are significant.

Final Thesis Quiz

What is a thesis statement?

Show answer

Show question

What is a thesis?

A thesis is a theory or statement that an author is trying to prove.

What are the three types of thesis statements?

Expository, argumentative, and analytical thesis statements.

What are some characteristics that make a strong thesis statement?

Specificity, being concise, being arguable, being demonstrable, sounding confident.

What is an expository thesis statement?

An expository thesis statement is 1-2 sentences that present various concepts and how they will be discussed in an essay. They are mostly fact-based.

What is an argumentative thesis statement?

An argumentative thesis statement is a statement that presents an argument and clearly makes a claim/takes a stand that the author later presents evidence for in the body of the essay.

What is an analytical thesis statement?

An analytical thesis statement is a statement that presents the topic at hand and then discusses ways in which any concerns surrounding the topic may be solved.

Why are thesis statements important?

A strong thesis statement introduces the paper's main ideas in an orderly manner and helps relate the author's feelings or central argument to readers. Without it, the paper might feel aimless or redundant.

Where do you typically find a thesis statement?

In the introduction of a paper, oftentimes in the last couple lines of the paragraph.

How long should the average thesis statement be?

1-2 sentences

A thesis statement should be:

No more than a couple sentences

A thesis can present detailed evidence.

A thesis can allude to evidence.

The first paragraph of your essay is the introduction.

A thesis is like a:

A thesis statement does not summarize your main point.

A thesis is a thesis statement.

A thesis can be longer than a thesis statement.

It provides readers with a detailed description of the essay by providing examples.

Expository thesis statement

It makes a claim or takes a stance.

Argumentative thesis statement

It discusses an issue, its problems, and its solutions.

Analytical thesis statement

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Thesis and Purpose Statements

Use the guidelines below to learn the differences between thesis and purpose statements

In the first stages of writing, thesis or purpose statements are usually rough or ill-formed and are useful primarily as planning tools.

A thesis statement or purpose statement will emerge as you think and write about a topic. The statement can be restricted or clarified and eventually worked into an introduction.

As you revise your paper, try to phrase your thesis or purpose statement in a precise way so that it matches the content and organization of your paper.

Thesis statements

A thesis statement is a sentence that makes an assertion about a topic and predicts how the topic will be developed. It does not simply announce a topic: it says something about the topic.

Good: X has made a significant impact on the teenage population due to its . . . Bad: In this paper, I will discuss X.

A thesis statement makes a promise to the reader about the scope, purpose, and direction of the paper. It summarizes the conclusions that the writer has reached about the topic.

A thesis statement is generally located near the end of the introduction. Sometimes in a long paper, the thesis will be expressed in several sentences or an entire paragraph.

A thesis statement is focused and specific enough to be proven within the boundaries of the paper. Key words (nouns and verbs) should be specific, accurate, and indicative of the range of research, thrust of the argument or analysis, and the organization of supporting information.

Purpose statements

A purpose statement announces the purpose, scope, and direction of the paper. It tells the reader what to expect in a paper and what the specific focus will be.

Common beginnings include:

“This paper examines . . .,” “The aim of this paper is to . . .,” and “The purpose of this essay is to . . .”

A purpose statement makes a promise to the reader about the development of the argument but does not preview the particular conclusions that the writer has drawn.

A purpose statement usually appears toward the end of the introduction. The purpose statement may be expressed in several sentences or even an entire paragraph.

A purpose statement is specific enough to satisfy the requirements of the assignment. Purpose statements are common in research papers in some academic disciplines, while in other disciplines they are considered too blunt or direct. If you are unsure about using a purpose statement, ask your instructor.

This paper will examine the ecological destruction of the Sahel preceding the drought and the causes of this disintegration of the land. The focus will be on the economic, political, and social relationships which brought about the environmental problems in the Sahel.

Sample purpose and thesis statements

The following example combines a purpose statement and a thesis statement (bold).

The goal of this paper is to examine the effects of Chile’s agrarian reform on the lives of rural peasants. The nature of the topic dictates the use of both a chronological and a comparative analysis of peasant lives at various points during the reform period. . . The Chilean reform example provides evidence that land distribution is an essential component of both the improvement of peasant conditions and the development of a democratic society. More extensive and enduring reforms would likely have allowed Chile the opportunity to further expand these horizons.

For more tips about writing thesis statements, take a look at our new handout on Developing a Thesis Statement.

Writing Process and Structure

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Getting Started with Your Paper

Interpreting Writing Assignments from Your Courses

Generating Ideas for Your Paper

Creating an Argument

Thesis vs. Purpose Statements

Developing a Thesis Statement

Architecture of Arguments

Working with Sources

Quoting and Paraphrasing Sources

Using Literary Quotations

Citing Sources in Your Paper

Drafting 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

Successful Study Guide

Writing Dissertations

Dissertations home.

Getting Started

The first step is to put together your proposal.

I. What is a Thesis?

The thesis (pronounced thee -seez), also known as a thesis statement, is the sentence that introduces the main argument or point of view of a composition (formal essay, nonfiction piece, or narrative). It is the main claim that the author is making about that topic and serves to summarize and introduce that writing that will be discussed throughout the entire piece. For this reason, the thesis is typically found within the first introduction paragraph.

II. Examples of Theses

Here are a few examples of theses which may be found in the introductions of a variety of essays :

In “The Mending Wall,” Robert Frost uses imagery, metaphor, and dialogue to argue against the use of fences between neighbors.

In this example, the thesis introduces the main subject (Frost’s poem “The Mending Wall”), aspects of the subject which will be examined (imagery, metaphor, and dialogue) and the writer’s argument (fences should not be used).

While Facebook connects some, overall, the social networking site is negative in that it isolates users, causes jealousy, and becomes an addiction.

This thesis introduces an argumentative essay which argues against the use of Facebook due to three of its negative effects.

During the college application process, I discovered my willingness to work hard to achieve my dreams and just what those dreams were.

In this more personal example, the thesis statement introduces a narrative essay which will focus on personal development in realizing one’s goals and how to achieve them.

III. The Importance of Using a Thesis

Theses are absolutely necessary components in essays because they introduce what an essay will be about. Without a thesis, the essay lacks clear organization and direction. Theses allow writers to organize their ideas by clearly stating them, and they allow readers to be aware from the beginning of a composition’s subject, argument, and course. Thesis statements must precisely express an argument within the introductory paragraph of the piece in order to guide the reader from the very beginning.

IV. Examples of Theses in Literature

For examples of theses in literature, consider these thesis statements from essays about topics in literature:

In William Shakespeare’s “ Sonnet 46,” both physicality and emotion together form powerful romantic love.

This thesis statement clearly states the work and its author as well as the main argument: physicality and emotion create romantic love.

In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne symbolically shows Hester Prynne’s developing identity through the use of the letter A: she moves from adulteress to able community member to angel.

In this example, the work and author are introduced as well as the main argument and supporting points: Prynne’s identity is shown through the letter A in three ways: adulteress, able community member, and angel.

John Keats’ poem “To Autumn” utilizes rhythm, rhyme, and imagery to examine autumn’s simultaneous birth and decay.

This thesis statement introduces the poem and its author along with an argument about the nature of autumn. This argument will be supported by an examination of rhythm, rhyme, and imagery.

V. Examples of Theses in Pop Culture

Sometimes, pop culture attempts to make arguments similar to those of research papers and essays. Here are a few examples of theses in pop culture:

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America’s food industry is making a killing and it’s making us sick, but you have the power to turn the tables.

The documentary Food Inc. examines this thesis with evidence throughout the film including video evidence, interviews with experts, and scientific research.

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Orca whales should not be kept in captivity, as it is psychologically traumatizing and has caused them to kill their own trainers.

Blackfish uses footage, interviews, and history to argue for the thesis that orca whales should not be held in captivity.

VI. Related Terms

Just as a thesis is introduced in the beginning of a composition, the hypothesis is considered a starting point as well. Whereas a thesis introduces the main point of an essay, the hypothesis introduces a proposed explanation which is being investigated through scientific or mathematical research. Thesis statements present arguments based on evidence which is presented throughout the paper, whereas hypotheses are being tested by scientists and mathematicians who may disprove or prove them through experimentation. Here is an example of a hypothesis versus a thesis:

Hypothesis:

Students skip school more often as summer vacation approaches.

This hypothesis could be tested by examining attendance records and interviewing students. It may or may not be true.

Students skip school due to sickness, boredom with classes, and the urge to rebel.

This thesis presents an argument which will be examined and supported in the paper with detailed evidence and research.

Introduction

A paper’s introduction is its first paragraph which is used to introduce the paper’s main aim and points used to support that aim throughout the paper. The thesis statement is the most important part of the introduction which states all of this information in one concise statement. Typically, introduction paragraphs require a thesis statement which ties together the entire introduction and introduces the rest of the paper.

VII. Conclusion

Theses are necessary components of well-organized and convincing essays, nonfiction pieces, narratives , and documentaries. They allow writers to organize and support arguments to be developed throughout a composition, and they allow readers to understand from the beginning what the aim of the composition is.

List of Terms

IMAGES

Thesis
🏆 Can a thesis statement be an opinion. Thesis Statement Your Opinion: Thesis topics structural
Thesis Definition
️ Thesis sentence definition. 15 Thesis Statement Examples to Inspire Your Next Argumentative
Thesis Definition: 10 Adjectives Merriam Webster Forgot to Mention
Thesis specific objectives and corresponding publications.

VIDEO

The Thesis
Thesis Statements
Material Management
Master's Thesis Structure (5 Main Chapters)
Thesis Statements
What makes a thesis EXCELLENT?

COMMENTS

Research Objectives
What is a research objective? ... Research objectives describe what your research project intends to accomplish. They should guide every step of
Research Objectives: Definition and How To Write Them
Research objectives, which are specific outcomes that you aim to achieve through research, can drive your projects and help you achieve your
The Thesis Statement: Purpose and Process
What words in your assignment show it requires an objective thesis? Define “critical review”: ▫ Subjective: Requires the essay writer to make a claim or
Thesis Definition
The thesis is one of the most important concepts in college expository writing. A thesis sentence focuses your ideas for the paper; it's your argument or
Before you start writing a thesis: Define the objectives and choose
A thesis is the culmination of years of dedicated study. A future graduate demonstrates his knowledge as well as the ability to work independently and use
Aims and Objectives
Example of a Research Objective · Develop finite element models using explicit dynamics to mimic mallet blows during cup/shell insertion, initially using
Thesis: Definition & Importance
Analytical thesis statements stand to analyze a specific topic or problem. As one might guess, the goal of an analytical thesis statement is to present the
Thesis and Purpose Statements
A thesis statement makes a promise to the reader about the scope, purpose, and direction of the paper. It summarizes the conclusions that the writer has reached
Writing Dissertations: Aims and objectives
Aims are statements of intent. They are usually written in broad terms. They set out what you hope to achieve at the end of the project. Objectives, on
Thesis: Definition and Examples
The thesis (pronounced thee-seez), also known as a thesis statement, is the sentence that introduces the main argument or point of view of a composition (formal