Creating a Thesis Statement

1. Determine what kind of paper you are writing:
   


• An analytical paper breaks down an issue or an idea into its component parts, evaluates the issue or idea, and presents this breakdown and evaluation
  to the audience.


• An expository (explanatory) paper explains something to the audience.


• An argumentative paper makes a claim about a topic and justifies this claim with specific evidence. The claim could be an opinion, a policy proposal, an evaluation, a cause-and-effect statement, or an interpretation. The goal of the argumentative paper is to convince the audience that the claim is true based on the evidence
  provided.
  
  

If you are writing a text which does not fall under these three categories (ex. a narrative), a thesis statement somewhere in the first paragraph could still be helpful to your reader.



2. Your thesis statement should be specific—it should cover only what you will discuss in your paper and should be supported with specific evidence.


3. The thesis statement usually appears at the end of the first paragraph of a paper.


4. Your topic may change as you write, so you may need to revise your thesis statement to reflect exactly what you have discussed in the paper.

Writing Papers

Students too often put off a written assignment, considering it a chore too formidable to approach until the last minute. As a result, grades inevitably suffer. Writing is not a talent reserved for a select few, it is a skill that can be learned. Planning and organization are its essentials. With a knowledge of these, the student can through effort and practice improve his writing ability. Suggested below is a guide to organized writing. Use this outline in writing class assignments, essay tests, and term papers.

1. INTRODUCTION - OPENING PARAGRAPH

• a. Begin with a general statement.
  
  
• b. Narrow it down to the controlling idea (for thesis statement).

2. BODY - THREE DEVELOPING PARAGRAPHS

In each paragraph:

• a. Use transitions (repetition of key words and ideas) to connect paragraphs together.
  
  
• b. Develop the topic sentence with details, definitions, illustrations, comparisons, and contrasts.
  
  
• c. Conclude the paragraph with a summary of the main idea.

3. CONCLUSION - FINISHING PARAGRAPH

• a. Restate the thesis.
  
  
• b. End with a general statement finalizing the discussion.

What is a Research Paper?

A research paper is a piece of academic writing that requires a more abstract, critical, and thoughtful level of inquiry than you might be used to. But not to worry, you'll gradually pick up that mindset the more you envelop yourself in tutorial discussions and lectures at the college level, and of course, the more you write. Not just research papers but any paper, period.

Writing a research paper involves

1. First familiarizing yourself with the works of "experts"--for example, on the page, in cyberspace, or in the flesh through personal interviews--to build upon what you know about a subject and then
   
   
2. Comparing their thoughts on the topic with your own.

You'll end up using relevant information--facts and/or opinions--from these expert sources, these "others," to support the topic you have been given or chosen to explore. Then, as our subsequent steps will outline, the final product will be a unique and appropriate integration of evidence you have located outside yourself and personal insights generated from your own internal think tank--your mind!

(HOW) to Cheat In Your Term Papers

Things to Keep in Mind While Writing a Term Paper

• Eschew obfuscation! Don't write anything you don't understand. Don't fake it and don't force it. Understand first—then write.
  
  
• Make the focus and organization of your paper clear to the reader. Don't ramble from one thing to another aimlessly.
  
  
• Decide what level of understanding your intended reader has, and choose the language and style to suit. Never attempt to write to a reader whose understanding and knowledge of this subject is greater than your own. If you don't understand it, you can't help your readers to understand it.
  
  
• Find your natural style—don't imitate the writing style of others. Would you speak this way? If your professor gave a pop-quiz, would you write this way? One way to avoid this is to sit down at typewriter or word processor without any books, and simply put down your own thoughts on the matter. Then use your notes to fill in specifics, references, quotes, etc., but change the style and structure only if it is obviously inappropriate or clumsy.
  
  
• Avoid imitating the language or style of your scholarly sources, for if you do it reasonably well, the result will have all the appearance of plagiarism. If you do it badly, you'll look ridiculous.
  
  
• If you copy anything word-for-word from a source, set it in quotes (if short) or in an indented paragraph (if longer), and always reference it.
  
  
• A paper should be more than a scrap-book or a compilation of notes. You must put your personal stylistic stamp on it: a point of view, a method of selection, a central theme.
  
  
• Most students should avoid philosophical style, since at this stage of their education they probably don't have enough information or understanding to do it well. Stick to a clear and direct style, and stick with what you (and your readers) can understand. A good writer always tries to educate the reader, not merely pander to the reader's prejudices.

What is a Term Paper or Thesis?

In the Middle Ages, in order to be admitted to a trade guild, a craftsman had to demonstrate his ability by producing a piece of work, called his masterpiece, for examination by the officers of the guild. He was then granted the title of Master of his trade.

When universities were founded, they immediately emulated this practice and began to grant the degrees of Master and Doctor to people who had proved their ability to do scholarly work.

A thesis or dissertation today serves the same purpose as a medieval crafts- man’s masterpiece. It is proof of ability to do a certain kind of work. Specifically:

• To get a doctor’s degree, you must become familiar with current scientific knowledge of your subject, add to this knowledge by making an original discovery, and then report the results in a dissertation.
  
  
• To get a master’s degree, it is sufficient to make a new synthesis or application of knowledge already available, and report the results in a thesis.
  
  
• To pass certain courses, you must write a term paper, which demonstrates that you can connect information and report it in your own words. It is not necessary to make a new discovery or a new synthesis.

To get a degree from an English-speaking university, you must prove that you can write scholarly papers, in English, that reflect state-of-the-art knowledge of your subject.